Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injectable medicine that helps individuals with sort 2 diabetes handle their blood sugar ranges.
It was first authorized by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 and is shortly gaining reputation to assist make diabetes administration simpler.
One of many unintended effects of the medicine is weight reduction. So, can Mounjaro aid you shed pounds? This text will clarify all the things it’s worthwhile to know.
What’s Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is the primary medication in a drug class often called GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists. It’s FDA-approved to enhance blood sugar management in individuals with sort 2 diabetes together with a nutritious diet and train.
Wish to be taught extra? Learn: Every part You Must Know About Mounjaro.
Can Mounjaro aid you shed pounds?
Sure. And actually, the FDA authorized a drug referred to as Zepbound for weight reduction based mostly on scientific analysis supporting this end result. (Zepbound is identical medication as Mounjaro on the identical power, however with a special title to be used as a weight-loss therapy.)
The FDA’s approval of the drugs was based mostly totally on the outcomes from two trials.
Each research evaluated the drug’s effectiveness for weight reduction and upkeep together with a reduced-calorie weight loss program and a rise in bodily exercise in chubby or overweight adults with at the least one weight-related situation.
The trials regarded on the outcomes after 72 weeks of taking the drugs at doses of both 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg as soon as weekly. On the finish of the examine interval, individuals who had obtained any dose of the medicine misplaced a major quantity of weight in comparison with those that had obtained a placebo (inactive therapy).
Learn extra in: Mounjaro Dosing Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
How a lot weight will you lose taking Mounjaro/Zepbound?
The bigger of the trials enrolled adults with out diabetes. The beginning common physique weight was 231 kilos (105 kilograms) and the typical body-mass index (BMI, a measure of weight relative to top) was 38. Those that obtained 15 mg, the best authorized dose, misplaced a mean of 18% of their physique weight in comparison with these taking a placebo.
For the second trial, in adults with sort 2 diabetes, the beginning common physique weight was 222 kilos (101 kilograms), with a mean BMI of 36. On the finish of the trial, these taking 15 milligrams of the drugs misplaced a mean of 12% of their physique weight in comparison with these taking a placebo.
Who shouldn’t take this medicine?
You need to solely take these medicines in case your physician has prescribed them for you.
Mounjaro is FDA-approved to deal with individuals with sort 2 diabetes. Zepbound is authorized to deal with adults with weight problems (a BMI of 30 or extra) or chubby (a BMI of 27 or extra) with at the least one weight-related situation (comparable to sort 2 diabetes, hypertension, or excessive ldl cholesterol).
Mounjaro will not be FDA-approved for individuals with sort 1 diabetes, however your physician could counsel utilizing it off-label (in a way not formally authorized by the FDA) for those who’re coping with excessive blood sugar ranges and low insulin sensitivity.
Study extra in: Can You Take Mounjaro If You Have Sort 1 Diabetes?
Neither drug is beneficial for people who find themselves pregnant. You’ll have to communicate together with your healthcare supplier and cease the medicine if you’re pregnant or making an attempt to turn out to be pregnant.
Don’t use both medication for those who or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if in case you have A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2).
Don’t use Mounjaro or Zepbound if you’re allergic to tirzepatide or any of the opposite substances within the drugs.
Inform your physician all drugs that you just use earlier than beginning therapy with both of those medication.
See the prescribing info for Mounjaro and Zepbound for full details about who ought to use and keep away from these drugs.
Find out about potential unintended effects in: Mounjaro Aspect Results.
Can you are taking Mounjaro or Zepbound and different drugs on the identical time?
This can depend upon what different drugs you’re taking.
Typically talking, you’ll be able to take Mounjaro and Zepbound with drugs like metformin and/or insulin, for those who’ve been prescribed all the drugs concurrently. All the time inform your healthcare supplier about all the medicines you’re taking.
You shouldn’t mix Mounjaro with GLP-1 drugs. GLP-1 receptor agonists embrace:
Mounjaro must also not be mixed with DPP-4 inhibitors. These embrace:
- Sitagliptin (Januvia)
- Saxagliptin (Onglyza)
- Linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- Alogliptin (Nesina)
All the time speak together with your physician for those who’re uncertain of how any drugs you are taking will work together with any new drugs you’re contemplating taking.
How a lot do you are taking for weight reduction?
There isn’t a beneficial dose for weight reduction as a result of Mounjaro isn’t explicitly authorized for weight reduction by the FDA.
For Zepbound, obtainable doses are 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg taken by injection as soon as weekly, with 15 mg being the utmost dose.
Speak together with your physician if you wish to shed pounds. Along with Zepbound, there are different diabetes remedies particularly authorized by the FDA for weight reduction.
Learn extra: Mounjaro Dosing Information.
How lengthy does it take to shed pounds on Mounjaro?
Taking Mounjaro’s weight-loss counterpart Zepbound won’t achieve success in a single day.
Any weight reduction skilled whereas taking Zepbound may even require way of life modifications, comparable to modifying your weight loss program and growing bodily exercise.
Many research trying on the efficacy of Zepbound for weight reduction have been carried out over many months, with the trials used as the idea for the FDA approval lasting practically a 12 months and a half.
Speak together with your physician for those who want to shed pounds. They’ll present suggestions for sustainable, lasting weight reduction.
Why am I not shedding weight on Mounjaro or Zepbound?
If you’re not shedding weight when taking this medicine, there are a selection of potential frequent culprits.
You’ll have merely hit a weight-loss plateau as your physique slows its metabolism and adjusts to a brand new set level. Over time, it’s possible you’ll start to shed pounds once more.
You might not be taking the beneficial dose, or it’s possible you’ll not have made adequate modifications to your way of life to assist help the burden loss promoted by the medicine.
And for some individuals, the drug could merely not be an efficient software for weight reduction and administration. Not each medication will work for each particular person.
Is Ozempic or Mounjaro higher for weight reduction?
Ozempic and Mounjaro’s weight-loss counterpart Zepound each perform equally and may help with weight reduction.
Though Ozempic will not be FDA-approved as a weight-loss drug, each medicines suppress urge for food and sluggish digestion.
Moreover, each drugs assist to stabilize blood sugar ranges — which causes many individuals to shed pounds whereas taking both one.
Nonetheless, current analysis reveals that Mounajaro/Zepbound causes extra weight reduction than Ozempic in people who find themselves overweight.
The common trial participant misplaced 12 kilos extra when taking Mounjaro/Zepbound than Ozempic on the most weekly dosage of 15 mg.
Study extra about how these drugs evaluate in: Ozempic vs. Mounjaro: Which One Ought to You Select?
Can I take Mounjaro or Zepbound if I don’t have diabetes?
Mounjaro is simply FDA-approved for individuals with sort 2 diabetes. Zepbound, nevertheless, is authorized in chubby or overweight adults with at the least one weight-related situation.
Moreover, many drugs for blood sugar management and weight reduction are prescribed by physicians off-label.
In case your physician has decided that you’re a candidate for Mounjaro, they might prescribe you the medicine off-label to deal with situations like:
By no means take a medicine that’s not prescribed for you, and speak to your physician earlier than beginning any medicine.
Closing ideas
Mounjaro represents a major growth within the therapy of sort 2 diabetes and weight administration. Its current FDA approval underneath the model title Zepbound for weight reduction highlights its effectiveness on this space.
As with all diabetes medicine, it’s essential to make use of Mounjaro (and Zepbound) fastidiously and underneath medical supervision, contemplating the dosage necessities and potential unintended effects.
Particular person responses can differ, and it’s important to debate the suitability of those medicines to your private well being wants together with your healthcare crew.
Recommended subsequent article: Every part You Must Know About Mounjaro.
