What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a dual-function medication for individuals living with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Its active ingredient is tirzepatide.
Tirzepatide is sold under the brand name Mounjaro in the UK, or Zepbound for obesity in the U.S., and manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lily.
Tirzepatide mimics two hormones in the body: GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
When we eat food, our gut releases a hormone that helps the body regulate hunger and blood sugar levels. This hormone is called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).
The actions of GLP-1 are the target of Mounjaro and other medications like Wegovy, Saxenda, and Ozempic.
This class of medications are known as GLP-1 receptor activators (GLP-1s). They mimic the actions of the hormone GLP-1 to activate the GLP-1 receptors.
GLP-1s improve insulin function to lower blood sugar levels and delay gastric emptying, decreasing appetite. GLP-1s also communicate with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to reduce food-seeking behaviour.
Separately to GLP-1s, the other hormone that Mounjaro mimics is called GIP.
GIP is a hormone released in response to food that helps regulate blood sugar levels and helps our fat cells ‘absorb’ more excess energy, preventing fat from being stored in the liver or pancreas.
GIP also has receptors in the brain, similar to GLP-1, and scientists believe it’s also involved in regulating appetite.
The medications that mimic GIP are known as GIP mimetics. These additional actions are the target of Mounjaro.
So, tirzepatide has a dual function that mimics two hormones in the body that support blood glucose levels and weight loss.
How do you get a prescription for Mounjaro?
To receive a Mounjaro prescription via the NHS in the UK, here are the eligibility criteria confirmed by NICE for people living with type 2 diabetes:
- Triple therapy with metformin and two other oral antidiabetic drugs is ineffective, not tolerated or contraindicated, and
- they have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m2 or more and specific psychological or other medical problems associated with obesity,
- or they have a BMI of less than 35 kg/m2, and:
- insulin therapy would have significant occupational implications, or
- weight loss would benefit other significant obesity-related complications.
Lower BMI thresholds (usually reduced by 2.5 kg/m2) apply for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family backgrounds.
If you’re living with obesity, here are the prescription requirements outlined by the MHRA:
- BMI of 30kg/m² or more (obesity),
- as well as those with a BMI between 27-30kg/m² (overweight) who also have weight-related health problems such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart problems.
- You’ll need to meet additional eligibility criteria that we can’t outline in this article.
How much does Mounjaro cost?
To purchase a prescription for Mounjaro via the NHS in England, you’ll only need to pay the base fee for a prescription of £9.95.
To purchase Mounjaro privately via Second Nature as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme, starts from £229 per month.
Can I buy Mounjaro in the UK?
You can buy Mounjaro from pharmacies, approved online retailers, and specialist weight-loss programmes like Second Nature in the UK.
Mounjaro is currently available to buy from Second Nature as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Can I get Mounjaro over the counter?
Mounjaro will not be available over the counter in the UK; it will only be available via prescription.
Does Mounjaro have side effects?
All medications have potential side effects, and Mounjaro is no different. The most common side effects of Mounjaro are nausea, constipation, vomiting, and other symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, like diarrhoea.
You might also experience less common side effects like tiredness or headaches.
These symptoms most commonly occur around the time of the injection, during dose escalation, and are typically transient and will ease after you’ve adapted to the medication.
However, everyone responds differently to these medications; some people won’t experience any side effects, while others will have to discontinue their medication due to the discomfort the side effects cause.
Not a magic pill
Weight-loss injections are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.
Mounjaro and other weight loss injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.
These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.
They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.
The core focus of our medication programmes is to calm down the feeling of food noise, lower your cravings, and allow you to build healthier habits to keep the weight off for good.
The ultimate goal is to make losing weight feel second nature.
Second Nature’s medication-supported programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
If you’ve made the decision to try Wegovy or Mounjaro (assuming you’re eligible), why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
Whilst our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes with a focus on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
