While it was originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, 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 Mounjaro’s initial performance is pretty impressive. Let’s see what you may expect from Mounjaro for weight loss.
Weight loss results: How much do patients lose with 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 one year and four months) of taking Mounjaro, half of the 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:
- Participants taking the 5 mg weekly dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 35.5 pounds
- Participants taking the 10 mg weekly dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 48.9 pounds
- Participants taking the 15 mg weekly dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 52.0 pounds
The mechanism: How does Mounjaro work?
Mounjaro lowers appetite so patients can eat less without constant food cravings. Nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables should be eaten to ensure 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.
Understanding the price: How much does Mounjaro cost?
Like most GLP-1 agonists, the medication is quite expensive. The price of name-brand Mounjaro is about $1,000 for a one-month supply of four syringes, also called pens.
Getting started: How to get a prescription for Mounjaro
Tirzepatide is a prescription drug available only by a licensed doctor or other licensed prescriber. When medically appropriate, QuickMD can prescribe Mounjaro online via telemedicine. Talk to a QuickMD provider to see if Mounjaro is a good solution for you.
