Mounjaro KwikPen (Tirzepatide)

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus by reducing the level of sugar in the body only when the levels of sugar are high.

Mounjaro is also used for adults living with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems to help them lose weight and keep it off. It should be used with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.

Please click the following link:- https://www.lillydiabetes.co.uk/patient/obesity/mounjaro

The active ingredient in Mounjaro is called tirzepatide.

It’s the First and Only licensed glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist in the UK. It’s dual action causes you to feel less hungry and prevent cravings. It also slows down the emptying of the stomach to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

The action of GIP potentiates the action of the GLP-1 resulting in a much greater weight loss.

Mounjaro has been shown to have greater weight loss potential than medicines that work on GLP-1 alone eg Saxenda and Wegovy.

Clinical trials have shown that patients could achieve at least 20% weight loss after using Mounjaro for 52 weeks when used with healthy changes to their lifestyle.

You can use your pen at any time of the day, with or without meals. You should use it on the same day each week if you can. To help you remember when to use Mounjaro, you may wish to tick the day of the week when you inject your first dose on the box that your pen comes in, or mark it on a calendar.

You might find it helpful to get into a routine, like taking it on a Monday just before bed.

The Mounjaro starting dose is 2.5 mg subcutaneously, SC, on the same day each week for 4 weeks.

You should increase the dose as indicated every 4 weeks until the full maintenance dose of 15mg is reached.

By the start of the sixth month you should be on the maximum maintenance dose.

1-4 weeks ı 2.5mg SC once a week, on the same day each week, for 4 weeks

5-8 weeks ı 5 mg SC once a week for 4 weeks

9-12 weeks ı 7.5 mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks

13-16 weeks ı 10 mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks

17-20 weeks| 12.5mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks

Week 21 onwards ı 15mg SC once a week on the same day each week

Each package contains :-

Two package leaflets, one patient information leaflet and one to explain how to use your Mounjaro KwikPen.

One Mounjaro KwikPen of the 6 strengths, 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg 12.5mg, 15mg. Your pen is to be used once a week for 4 weeks.

4 NovoFine Plus or Carepoint needles

4 Swabs

Choose an injection site in one of the body areas indicated below. You can choose your upper arms, upper legs or stomach (keep a 5 cm distance from your belly button). You may inject in the same body area each week, but make sure it is not in the same spot as used the last time.

If you forget to inject a dose and it has been 4 days or less since you should have used Mounjaro, use it as soon as you remember. Then inject your next dose as usual on your scheduled day. • If it has been more than 4 days since you should have used Mounjaro, skip the missed dose. Then inject your next dose as usual on your scheduled day. Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. The minimum time between two doses must be at least 3 days.

If necessary, you can change the day of your weekly Mounjaro injection, as long as it has been at least 3 days since your last injection. After selecting a new dosing day, continue with once-a-week dosing on that new day.

We will supply the Mounjaro KwikPen with the needles required and a yellow sharps box to dispose of used needles.

When the sharps bin is full, it should be returned to your nearest local Household Waste Recycling Centre where it will be disposed of properly.

Only fill the bin up to where it says "Do not fill above this line". You can find your local council here www.gov.uk/find-local-council

You must not put used needles or other sharps in any of your household waste bins.

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the pen label and on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

• Store in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C). Do not freeze. If the pen has been frozen, DO NOT USE.

• Store in the original packaging in order to protect from light.

• Mounjaro can be stored unrefrigerated not above 30 ºC for up to 30 cumulative days and then the pen must be discarded.

• Do not use this medicine if you notice that the pen is damaged, or the medicine is cloudy, discoloured or has particles in it.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Very common ones are gastrointestinal such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. These are mainly seen with dose increases, and lessen as your body gets used to the medication.

Other common side effects may be fatigue, feeling lightheaded, excess wind (flatulence), gallstones, gastroesophageal reflux, injection site reactions, hair loss and hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, we only supply those whose type 2 diabetes is controlled by diet alone.

Serious side-effects can occur rarely and include:-

Pancreatitis where you may experience severe abdominal pain, with or without persistent vomiting, and you would need to get medical help as soon as possible.

Anaphylaxis where you may experience difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or tongue and difficulty swallowing. This is a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that requires you to go to A&E immediately.

For a full list please download the patient information leaflet

• As there is limited therapeutic experience in patients 85 years of age or over, use in these patients is not recommended

• Hypersensitivity to Tirzepatide or to any of the excipients listed in the patient information leaflet.

• This medicine is not recommended if you have a severe stomach or gut problem which results in delayed stomach emptying (called gastroparesis), or if you have an inflammatory bowel disease.

• Tirzepatide should be used with caution in patients with thyroid disease.

• you have a problem with your eyes (diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema)

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding:- This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, as it is not known if it may affect your unborn child. Therefore, it is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you wish to become pregnant, you should stop using this medicine at least one month in advance. If you become or are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby when using this medicine, talk to your doctor straight away, as your treatment will need to be stopped. Do not use this medicine if you are breast-feeding, as it is unknown if it passes into breast milk.

• Oral contraceptives :-There is limited information about the effect of tirzepatide on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of oral contraceptives in women with obesity or overweight. Since reduced efficacy of oral contraceptives cannot be excluded, it is advised switching to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception upon initiating tirzepatide therapy (for 4 weeks), or after each dose escalation (for 4 weeks).

The manufacturer, Lily, recommends that if a patient wishes to become pregnant, Mounjaro should be discontinued at least 1 month before a planned pregnancy.

Adults taking Mounjaro KwikPen experienced improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Thus improving their overall cardiovascular health.

We will not only supply you with medication to control your appetite but offer you lots of vital support to help you reach your weight loss goal and live your best life. Just click here.

We have introduced 5 pillars of support to enable you to be successful on your weight loss journey and to give you the best possible outcome. These pillars will help you change to adopting healthy habits that will enable lifelong success.

Most importantly we will introduce you to our wellness coach who will offer you weekly interactive group coaching sessions to inspire you and help you overcome any obstacles that are holding you back from achieving your goal.

This will all be offered at no extra charge!

Send us your email address, to team@webmedpharmacy.co.uk, to be notified when our new holistic weight management service will begin.

PIL