Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

Description Mounjaro® is a weekly injection containing tirzepatide for weight loss in adults with high BMIs. Description Directions You administer Mounjaro® weekly into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Starting at 2.5 mg, the dosage increases gradually every 4 weeks, reaching a maximum of 15 mg. This method ensures tolerance to potential side effects. Assuming treatment tolerance, your dosing schedule progresses as follows: Weeks 1-4: 2.5 mg weekly Weeks 5-8: 5 mg weekly Weeks 9-12: 7.5 mg weekly Weeks 13-16: 10 mg weekly Weeks 17 onwards: 15 mg weekly. Directions Warnings If you use more Mounjaro than you should, talk to your doctor immediately. Too much of this medicine may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and can make you feel sick or be sick. If you forget to use Mounjaro • 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 you stop using Mounjaro Do not stop using Mounjaro without talking with your doctor. If you stop using Mounjaro, and you have type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar levels can increase. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Serious side effects Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): • Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which could cause severe pain in the stomach and back that does not go away. You should see a doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms. Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): • Severe allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic reaction, angioedema). You should get immediate medical help and inform your doctor if you experience symptoms such as breathing problems, rapid swelling of the lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty swallowing and a fast heartbeat. Other side effects Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): • Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) when tirzepatide is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with medicines that contain sulphonylurea and/or insulin. If you are using a sulphonylurea or insulin, the dose may need to be lowered while you use tirzepatide. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, feeling hungry, confusion, irritability, fast heartbeat and sweating. Your doctor should tell you how to treat low blood sugar. • Feeling sick (nausea) • Diarrhoea • Being sick (vomiting) – this usually goes away over time • Constipation (constipation and vomiting are very common when used for weight management, but common when used for type 2 diabetes.) These side effects are usually not severe. They are most common when first starting tirzepatide but decrease over time in most patients. Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): • Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) when tirzepatide is used for type 2 diabetes with both metformin and a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (another diabetes medicine). Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, feeling hungry, confusion, irritability, fast heartbeat and sweating. Your doctor should tell you how to treat low blood sugar. • Allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) (e.g., rash, itching, and eczema) • Dizziness observed in patients treated for weight management • Low blood pressure observed in patients treated for weight management • Feeling less hungry (decreased appetite) observed in patients treated for type 2 diabetes • Stomach (abdominal) pain • Indigestion (dyspepsia) • Bloating of the stomach • Burping (eructation) • Gas (flatulence) • Reflux or heartburn (also called gastroesophageal reflux disease – GORD) - a disease caused by stomach acid coming up into the tube from your stomach to your mouth • Hair loss observed in patients treated for weight management • Feeling tired (fatigue) • Injection site reactions (e.g. itching or redness) • Fast pulse • Increased levels of pancreatic enzymes (such as lipase and amylase) in blood. • Fast pulse is a common side effect when used for type 2 diabetes and uncommon when used for weight management. • Increased levels of amylase is uncommon in weight management. Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): • Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) when tirzepatide is used with metformin for type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, feeling hungry, confusion, irritability, fast heartbeat and sweating. Your doctor should tell you how to treat low blood sugar. • Gallstones • Weight loss observed in patients treated for type 2 diabetes •