Mounjaro Injections for Weight Loss

Fun fact: Mounjaro has been proven to be much more effective for weight loss than Saxenda, which is actually approved by the FDA as a weight loss injection.

To know more about Mounjaro, keep on reading the article. If you’re weighing the pros and cons of Mounjaro and other weight loss medications, we suggest you consult with us at My Concierge MD.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injection approved by the FDA for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 receptor agonist is a medicine component that mimics glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone in the intestine. It is used for improving blood sugar, i.e., glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, with the right kind of exercise and diet.

Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss?

Although Mounjaro is not approved by the FDA as a weight loss drug, it is possible that it can cause weight loss. It could be said that FDA may approve this drug for weight loss in the future.

Although Mounjaro hasn’t been approved by the FDA yet, there’s another drug from the same family that has been recently approved for weight management. It’s called Zepbound (Tirzepatide).

How quickly can you lose weight with Mounjaro?

A study suggested that people who kept taking tirzepatide for 72 weeks (a year and a half) lost 15% of their body weight on average. The duration depends on various pointers like age, gender, diet, lifestyle choice, etc.

How effective is Mounjaro for weight loss?

Clinical trials suggest that Mounjaro is somewhat effective in causing weight loss in people who take it. A study conducted by Eli Lilly amongst participants achieved a total average weight loss of 26.6% over 84 weeks.

Another Cleveland Clinic study showed that 2500 obese adults taking 5 mg of Mounjaro for 72 weeks lost 15% of their body weight [1].

Side effects of Mounjaro

• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting

More serious side effects include:

• Acute gallbladder disease
• Acute kidney injury
• Hypoglycemia
• Gastroparesis
• Pancreatitis
• Vision changes

Mounjaro vs. Ozempic for weight loss

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic are primarily approved to treat type 2 diabetes. However, one study compared the effects of Mounjaro and Ozempic for weight loss when used to treat type 2 diabetes. The study shows that people using Mounjaro lost more weight than Ozempic [2].

According to an article published by Healthline, the latest clinical trials show patients achieving 26.6% weight loss over 84 weeks with Mounjaro.

Mounjaro vs. Wegovy for weight loss

Mounjaro and Wegovy are both injected once every week for weight loss. Mounjaro is an FDA-approved injection for type 2 diabetes and not specifically for weight loss. Clinical trials for a 10mg dosage suggested weight loss in patients. The patients lost an average of 13.4% of their body weight compared to 30% for placebo in 72 weeks.

Whereas Wegovy has been approved by the FDA as a weight loss medication. It is recommended for adults and adolescents with a range of 12 and older.

Mounjaro vs. Zepbound weight loss

Mounjaro and Zepbound are both the same drug, Tirzepatide, with different brand names. They work the same way as they share the same active ingredient. While Zepbound is approved for the treatment of weight problems, Mounjaro is approved for treating type 2 diabetes.

A month’s supply of Zepbound costs $1,059.87, and Mounjaro costs $ 1,023.04.

Mounjaro vs. Saxenda for weight loss

Both Mounjaro and Saxenda are medicines that help in weight loss. While Saxenda contains Liraglutide, which mimics GLP-1 hormone, Mounjaro contains Tirzepatide, a dual agonist that impacts both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors.

Mounjaro is proven to be much more effective for weight loss than Saxenda.

Who is Mounjaro prescribed for?

Mounjaro is prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels. It is usually prescribed if you cannot take metformin, another type 2 diabetes treatment, or if other treatments do not control your blood sugar levels.

It can be used for weight loss for patients with type 2 diabetes as it (Tirzepatide)  delivers results compared to Ozempic.

Please note that Mounjaro is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes. It is not known if this medicine can be used in people who have had pancreatitis.