Mounjaro® contains tirzepatide and is a prescription medicine used for weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Our Wolverhampton-based medical weight management clinic welcomes patients from across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, West Bromwich, Solihull and surrounding areas.
How Does Mounjaro® Help with Weight Loss?
Mounjaro® contains tirzepatide, which acts on two naturally occurring hormone receptors known as GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
These pathways are involved in appetite and energy regulation. Tirzepatide can reduce appetite and food intake and support weight loss when used alongside appropriate dietary and physical activity changes.
Who May Be Suitable for Mounjaro®?
For weight management in adults, Mounjaro® may be considered for people with:
-
A BMI of 30 kg/m² or above (obesity), or
-
A BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but below 30 kg/m² (overweight) together with at least one weight-related health condition.
Examples of weight-related conditions include high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Suitability is not determined by BMI alone. A clinical assessment is required before treatment is prescribed.
Is Mounjaro® a Tablet or an Injection?
Mounjaro® is given as an injection under the skin once a week.
It can be injected into the abdomen or thigh. The back of the upper arm may also be used when another person administers the injection.
It can be taken at any time of day, with or without meals.
Injection sites should be rotated with each dose.
What Are the Mounjaro® Doses?
Treatment begins with a low dose and is gradually increased.
The usual starting dose is:
-
2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks
-
Then 5 mg once weekly
If further treatment effect is required and the medicine is tolerated, the dose can subsequently be increased in 2.5 mg steps, with at least 4 weeks at each dose before another increase.
Available dose strengths include:
-
2.5 mg
-
5 mg
-
7.5 mg
-
10 mg
-
12.5 mg
-
15 mg
The recommended maintenance doses for adults are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg once weekly.
The maximum recommended dose is 15 mg once weekly.
Your dose should only be increased following appropriate clinical assessment.
What Happens If I Miss a Mounjaro® Dose?
If you miss a dose, it can be taken as soon as possible provided this is within 4 days of the missed dose.
If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your usual scheduled day.
Do not take additional doses to compensate for a missed injection.
The weekly injection day can be changed if necessary, provided there are at least 3 days between two doses.
How Effective Is Mounjaro® for Weight Loss?
Clinical studies have shown that tirzepatide can produce substantial weight loss when combined with appropriate dietary and physical activity changes.
Individual results vary. Weight loss can depend on several factors including the dose tolerated, treatment response, diet, physical activity, medical conditions and adherence to treatment.
Mounjaro® should therefore be considered as part of a wider personalised weight management programme rather than relied upon in isolation.
The 6-Month Treatment Review
Your response to Mounjaro® should be monitored.
For weight management, if at least 5% of starting body weight has not been lost 6 months after reaching the highest tolerated dose, a clinical decision should be made about whether continuing treatment remains appropriate.
This decision should consider the potential benefits and risks for the individual patient.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Mounjaro®?
The most frequently reported side effects are gastrointestinal.
These include:
-
Nausea
-
Diarrhoea
-
Vomiting
-
Constipation
-
Abdominal pain
-
Indigestion
-
Abdominal bloating
-
Burping
-
Flatulence
-
Acid reflux
Digestive side effects are often more noticeable while the dose is being increased and commonly decrease over time.
Are There Serious Side Effects?
Serious adverse effects can occur.
Acute pancreatitis has been reported in people receiving tirzepatide. Severe and persistent abdominal pain can be a symptom and requires immediate medical assessment.
Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, have also been reported rarely.
Vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration, which in some circumstances may lead to deterioration in kidney function.
Who Should Take Extra Care with Mounjaro®?
Your medical history should be assessed before Mounjaro® is prescribed.
Particular consideration may be required if you have:
-
A previous history of pancreatitis
-
Severe gastrointestinal disease
-
Severe gastroparesis
-
Kidney impairment
-
Severe liver impairment
-
Diabetic retinopathy
-
Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin or a sulfonylurea
-
Planned surgery requiring general anaesthesia or deep sedation
Your clinician will assess whether Mounjaro® is appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Does Mounjaro® Interact with Other Medicines?
Mounjaro® delays stomach emptying and can affect how quickly some medicines taken by mouth are absorbed.
Most oral medicines do not require dose adjustment, but additional monitoring may be appropriate for medicines with a narrow therapeutic range, such as:
-
Warfarin
-
Digoxin
People taking insulin or sulfonylureas may also have an increased risk of low blood glucose and may require adjustment of their diabetes treatment.
Your complete medication history should therefore be reviewed before treatment.
Mounjaro® and Oral Contraception
Mounjaro® can affect the absorption of oral contraceptive medicines.
For women with overweight or obesity using an oral contraceptive, the UK prescribing information advises switching to a non-oral contraceptive method or adding a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro® and for 4 weeks after each increase in dose.
This should be discussed as part of your clinical assessment.
Mounjaro® and Pregnancy
Mounjaro® should not be used during pregnancy.
If you are planning a pregnancy, tirzepatide should be stopped at least 1 month before the planned pregnancy.
Women who could become pregnant should discuss appropriate contraception with their clinician while using Mounjaro®.
Mounjaro® and Breastfeeding
Current UK prescribing information states that tirzepatide could be considered during breastfeeding.
The decision should nevertheless be individualised and discussed with your prescribing clinician, taking into account the mother's treatment needs and the circumstances of the breastfed infant.
Why Have a Clinical Assessment Before Taking Mounjaro®?
Weight loss medicines are not suitable for everybody.
Before prescribing Mounjaro®, we assess factors including your:
-
BMI and weight
-
Medical history
-
Current medicines
-
Previous weight management attempts
-
Relevant health conditions
-
Diet and physical activity
-
Individual weight management goals
Where clinically appropriate, additional health measurements or investigations may also be considered.
Mounjaro® will only be prescribed when the prescribing clinician considers treatment clinically appropriate.
Mounjaro® Weight Loss Treatment in the West Midlands
Our medical weight management clinic is based in Wolverhampton and welcomes patients travelling from across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, West Bromwich, Solihull and surrounding areas.
Our approach combines clinical assessment, appropriate prescribing, nutrition, physical activity and ongoing monitoring to provide personalised weight management support.
Book a Mounjaro® Weight Loss Assessment
If you are considering Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) for weight loss, you can book a consultation with our prescribing clinician.
We will assess your medical history, current medicines, weight and individual circumstances to determine whether Mounjaro® or another weight management treatment may be appropriate for you.
A consultation does not guarantee that Mounjaro® or any other medicine will be prescribed.
