If you are looking to understand if you can take Mounjaro for weight loss, you are in the right place. I’d like to help you make productive choices in your health journey. Making the choice to add Mounjaro for weight loss to help manage your diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes or to support your weight loss journey should not be taken lightly.
If you want things to change…
Then you have to actually do things differently. Making the same mistake twice isn’t a mistake. It’s a choice. If this one stings a little bit, then perhaps you know it’s true. Please know I’m not trying to shame you or make you upset if this one does sting. But we can’t change what we don’t acknowledge, and I’d like to help you make productive choices in your journey. You can’t keep doing the same things you’ve always done or try restrictive diets, and expect different results.
There were so many things you tried before taking an anti-obesity medication that didn’t work.
Weight Watchers didn’t work. Keto didn’t work. Liquid diets and detoxes didn’t work. Paleo didn’t work. Macro and calorie counting didn’t work. Whole 30 didn’t work. The list goes on. Most people have tried every single diet under the sun before taking anti-obesity medications.
So now that you’ve made the choice to add Mounjaro or other anti-obesity medication, why are you going back to things that didn’t work before? Why are they going to work now? Below you will find your roadmap to understanding what Mounjaro is and how it can help with weight loss. If you are interested in learning about meal planning while taking Mounjaro, or if you would like dinner meal plans that are high in protein click here, here, or here.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg per 0.5 mL injection, is a prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose). It is not known if Mounjaro can be used in people who have had pancreatitis. Mounjaro is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes. It is not known if Mounjaro is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.
It is a single molecule designed to bind to glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
Mounjaro represents a different class of medicines introduced for adults with type 2 diabetes. It works differently by directly activating GIP and GLP-1 pathways to help regulate blood sugar. (Source: https://www.lilly.com/news/media/media-kits/mounjaro)
Mounjaro for weight loss vs Ozempic
Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used:
- along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes.
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.
As with Mounjaro:
It is not known if Ozempic® can be used in people who have had pancreatitis.
Ozempic® is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes.
It is not known if Ozempic® is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.
Mounjaro and Ozempic are the same in that they are both injectable prescription medications for people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Mounjaro and Ozempic are different in that the active ingredient for Mounjaro is tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA). The active ingredient for Ozempic is semaglutide which is only a GLP-1 RA.
Mounjaro for weight loss vs Wegovy
WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity:
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
- that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.
Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
Mounjaro and Wegovy are the same in that they are both injectable prescription medications, but Mounjaro is for people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and Wegovy is FDA-approved for people with a diagnosis of obesity and is prescribed for people who would like to start a weight loss journey. Mounjaro and Wegovy are also different in that the active ingredient for Mounjaro is tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA). And the active ingredient for Wegovy is semaglutide which is only a GLP-1 RA.
Mounjaro Availability
According to the FDA website, as of this writing, Mounjaro has limited availability and projected limited availability through April 2024. The site notes an increase in demand for the drug as the reason for the shortage. For more information click here
Mounjaro Coupon
Savings cards are available on the Eli Lilly site
Mounjaro Cost
The list price for Mounjaro is $1,023.04 for a one-month supply without insurance. However, the price someone without insurance pays can range from around $1,000 to $1,200, depending on the pharmacy. For example, here are some prices for Mounjaro at different retailers:
- RiteAid: $1,040
- Target (CVS): $1,080
- Walgreens: $1,066
- Walmart: $1,112
- Costco: $1,158
Some insurance providers can help cover the cost of Mounjaro, but not every insurance plan will cover it. Insurance will only cover the medication for those with type 2 diabetes. If you have commercial insurance, you could pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month supply of Mounjaro.
Mounjaro Shortage
See Mounjaro Availability
Mounjaro Side Effects
Some of the most common side effects of Mounjaro include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Decreased appetite
- Gallbladder problems
- Injection site reactions
- Flatulence
- Heartburn
- Allergy
- Pancreatitis
- Bloating
- Fast heartbeat
- Hypoglycemia
- Kidney problems
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Thyroid tumors
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medication. Also, your health care provider may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care provider if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them. You can also join our Facebook Community for member strategies on how to improve side effects.
Mounjaro Weight Loss
In November 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (body mass index of 30 kilograms per square meter (kg/ m2) or greater) or overweight (body mass index of 27 kg/m2 or greater) with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol) for use, in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, is already approved under the trade name Mounjaro to be used along with diet and exercise to help improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
“Obesity and overweight are serious conditions that can be associated with some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes,” said John Sharretts, M.D., director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “In light of increasing rates of both obesity and overweight in the United States, today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need.”
Approximately 70% of American adults have obesity or overweight, and many of those overweight have a weight-related condition. Losing 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adults with obesity or overweight.
Zepbound activates receptors of hormones secreted from the intestine (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)) to reduce appetite and food intake. Zepbound is administered by injection under the skin once weekly, and the dosage must be increased over four to 20 weeks to achieve the target dosages of 5 milligram (mg), 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly. The maximum dosage of Zepbound is 15 mg once weekly.
Mounjaro Meal Plans
If you are just starting out, this Foods to Avoid list may help you navigate as you start your journey.
If you are interested in learning more about what to eat while taking Mounjaro, click here for free high protein meal plans or sign up for the premium meal planning service, and don’t forget to join our Free Facebook Community where you will find people on a weight loss journey while taking anti-obesity medications.
