It was designed to treat type 2 diabetes, but Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is now helping patients without diabetes lose weight—and it seems to be doing a better job than its competitors. To prove it, the maker of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, has begun a new study that compares Mounjaro to Wegovy, a similar weight loss drug made by Novo Nordisk. We’ll have to wait a little longer to see those results, but the initial performance of Mounjaro is pretty impressive.
How much weight do patients lose when taking Mounjaro?
In July of 2022, the New England Journal of Medicine reported a study of over 2,500 participants with obesity and overweight. After 72 weeks (that’s just over 1 year and 4 months) of taking Mounjaro, half of participants taking 10 mg per week lost an average of 20% of their body weight. For the group taking 15 mg per week, 57% of participants lost an average of 20% of their body weight.
The participants’ average weight loss in pounds looked like this:
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Participants taking the 5 mg weekly dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 35.5 pounds
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Participants taking the 10 mg weekly dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 48.9 pounds
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Participants taking the 15 mg weekly dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 52.0 pounds
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How does Mounjaro work?
Mounjaro works by lowering appetite so patients can eat less without the constant food craving. Nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables should be eaten to make sure that the body is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Increasing physical activity while lowering food intake is also a good idea, since metabolism slows down with decreased food intake.
How much does Mounjaro cost?
Like most GLP-1 agonists, the medication is quite expensive. The price of Mounjaro is about $1,000 for a one-month supply of four syringes, also called pens. To find the least expensive pharmacy near you, and to obtain a coupon, visit the GoodRX Mounjaro page.
How can I get a prescription for Mounjaro?
Tirzepatide is a prescription drug, available only by a licensed doctor or other licensed prescriber. QuickMD can prescribe Mounjaro online via telemedicine, when medically appropriate. Talk to a QuickMD provider to see if Mounjaro is a good solution for you.