Can Mounjaro Help You Lose Weight?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injectable medicine that helps folks with kind 2 diabetes handle their blood sugar ranges.

It was first accepted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 and is shortly gaining recognition to assist make diabetes administration simpler. 

One of many uncomfortable side effects of the medicine is weight reduction. So, can Mounjaro provide help to drop a few pounds? This text will clarify the whole lot you must know.

Key Factors:

• Mounjaro was initially accepted for kind 2 diabetes administration. In November 2023, its energetic ingredient, tirzepatide, was FDA-approved underneath the model identify Zepbound as a weight-loss medicine.
• Mounjaro is an injectable medicine used as soon as per week in varied dosages, starting from 2.5 to fifteen milligrams (mg). The suitable dose will depend on particular person well being components and objectives.
• Medical trials have proven important weight reduction in contributors utilizing Mounjaro. Probably the most important weight reduction was noticed in these on the very best dose (15 mg weekly) in comparison with placebo and different diabetes drugs.
• Zepbound is accessible in doses of two.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg, with the utmost dose being 15 mg taken as soon as weekly.
• Widespread uncomfortable side effects of Mounjaro and Zepbound embody nausea, diarrhea, decreased urge for food, and weight reduction. Critical uncomfortable side effects can happen, resembling pancreatitis, extreme low blood sugar, gallbladder illness, and elevated threat of thyroid most cancers.

What’s Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is the primary drugs in a drug class often known as GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists. It’s FDA-approved to enhance blood sugar management in folks with kind 2 diabetes together with a nutritious diet and train. 

Need to be taught extra? Learn: The whole lot You Must Know About Mounjaro.

Can Mounjaro provide help to drop a few pounds?

Sure. And in reality, the FDA accepted a drug referred to as Zepbound for weight reduction based mostly on medical analysis supporting this consequence. (Zepbound is similar drugs as Mounjaro on the identical power, however with a special identify 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 plan and a rise in bodily exercise in obese or overweight adults with at the least one weight-related situation.

The trials appeared 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, contributors 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).

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 peak) was 38. Those that obtained 15 mg, the very best accepted dose, misplaced a mean of 18% of their physique weight in comparison with these taking a placebo.

For the second trial, in adults with kind 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 folks with kind 2 diabetes. Zepbound is accepted to deal with adults with weight problems (a BMI of 30 or extra) or obese (a BMI of 27 or extra) with at the least one weight-related situation (resembling kind 2 diabetes, hypertension, or excessive ldl cholesterol).

Mounjaro shouldn’t be FDA-approved for folks with kind 1 diabetes, however your physician might counsel utilizing it off-label (in a way not formally accepted by the FDA) should you’re coping with excessive blood sugar ranges and low insulin sensitivity. 

Neither drug is really helpful for people who find themselves pregnant. You’ll have to communicate together with your healthcare supplier and cease the medicine in case you are pregnant or making an attempt to turn out to be pregnant. 

Don’t use both drugs should you or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or you probably have A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2). 

Don’t use Mounjaro or Zepbound in case you are allergic to tirzepatide or any of the opposite elements within the drugs.

Inform your physician all drugs that you simply 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.

Study potential uncomfortable side effects in: Mounjaro Aspect Results.

Can you are taking Mounjaro or Zepbound and different drugs on the identical time?

It will depend upon what different drugs you’re taking. 

Usually talking, you’ll be able to take Mounjaro and Zepbound with drugs like metformin and/or insulin, should you’ve been prescribed the entire drugs concurrently. At all times inform your healthcare supplier about the entire medicines you’re taking.

You shouldn’t mix Mounjaro with GLP-1 drugs. GLP-1 receptor agonists embody:

At all times speak together with your physician should you’re not sure 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 is no such thing as a really helpful dose for weight reduction as a result of Mounjaro isn’t explicitly accepted for weight reduction by the FDA. 

For Zepbound, out there 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.

Discuss together with your physician if you wish to drop a few pounds. Along with Zepbound, there are different diabetes therapies particularly accepted by the FDA for weight reduction. 

 Learn extra: Mounjaro Dosing Information.

How lengthy does it take to drop a few 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, resembling modifying your weight loss plan 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 premise for the FDA approval lasting practically a yr and a half. 

Discuss together with your physician should you want to drop a few pounds. They will present suggestions for sustainable, lasting weight reduction. 

Why am I not reducing weight on Mounjaro or Zepbound?

If you’re not reducing weight when taking this medicine, there are a variety of potential frequent culprits. 

You could 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 drop a few pounds once more.

You might not be taking the really helpful dose, or it’s possible you’ll not have made ample modifications to your way of life to assist help the burden loss promoted by the medicine. 

And for some folks, the drug might merely not be an efficient instrument for weight reduction and administration. Not each drugs will work for each particular person.

Is Ozempic or Mounjaro higher for weight reduction?

Ozempic and Mounjaro’s weight-loss counterpart Zepound each operate equally and will help with weight reduction.

Though Ozempic shouldn’t be FDA-approved as a weight-loss drug, each medicines suppress urge for food and gradual digestion. 

Moreover, each drugs assist to stabilize blood sugar ranges — which causes many individuals to drop a few pounds whereas taking both one.

Nevertheless, latest research present 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. 

Can I take Mounjaro or Zepbound if I don’t have diabetes? 

Mounjaro is just FDA-approved for folks with kind 2 diabetes. Zepbound, nonetheless, is accepted in obese 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 circumstances like:

By no means take a drugs that’s not prescribed for you, and speak to your physician earlier than beginning any medicine. 

Remaining ideas

Mounjaro represents a major improvement within the therapy of kind 2 diabetes and weight administration. Its latest FDA approval underneath the model identify Zepbound for weight reduction highlights its effectiveness on this space. 

As with every diabetes medicine, it’s essential to make use of Mounjaro (and Zepbound) fastidiously and underneath medical supervision, contemplating the dosage necessities and potential uncomfortable side effects. 

Particular person responses can fluctuate, and it’s important to debate the suitability of those medicines to your private well being wants together with your healthcare group.

Recommended subsequent article: The whole lot You Must Know About Mounjaro.