Mounjaro doses: What to expect at each stage of treatment

Over the last few years, medication for weight loss has increasingly offered a pathway for people to achieve their health and weight loss goals.

These medications are prescription-based and generally offered as a part of a treatment plan for those at risk of obesity-adjacent medical issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

One of these newer medications is known as Mounjaro, an injectable form of tirzepatide that helps to alter blood sugar levels and decrease appetite. Knowing what to expect when your doctor recommends Mounjaro can be vital in helping you make an informed choice about whether this medication is right for you.

So, here, we'll talk about what Mounjaro is, what the different Mounjaro doses mean, and how to navigate your escalation dose and your maintenance dose.  

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is a medication designed to lower blood sugar levels. It works by activating two of your internal receptors — GLP-1 and GIP — to increase the level of hormones in your body.

Those hormones help you to produce more insulin when needed and reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver, slowing down how quickly food is digested [1].

Mounjaro has long been prescribed safely in the treatment of diabetes, but recent years have found it to be effective as a weight loss medication as it reduces your appetite and changes how your body reacts to food.

How do you take Mounjaro?

Mounjaro doses are available as a pre-filled injection pen that you inject once a week. This means you don't draw up your dose, and everything is ready to take as soon as you remove it from the box.

Mounjaro should be taken at the same time and on the same day each week and injected either into the upper legs, abdomen, or upper arm. You should switch injection sites each week to prevent any irritation, pain, or bruising from the Mounjaro pen.

Your healthcare professional will provide you with more information about how to take your Mounjaro prescription during your consultation if the medication is prescribed.

What strengths does Mounjaro come in?

Mounjaro doses are available in a range of strengths, with the current dose strengths available being:  

• 2.5mg/0.5mL
• 5mg/0.5mL
• 7.5mg/0.5mL
• 10mg/0.5mL
• 12.5mg/0.5mL
• 15mg/0.5mL.

The right Mounjaro dosage for you will be calculated on a range of factors, particularly your body mass index (BMI), any underlying weight-related medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as any other medications you may be on.

It's vital to follow what your doctor prescribes in your Moujaro treatment plan [2].

How many doses are in a Mounjaro pen?

That ultimately depends on the pen that you get. Generally speaking, Mounjaro is offered either as a one-dose pen, or a multi-dose pen called the Mounjaro Kwikpen.

The Mounjaro Kwikpen has 4 doses of the medication pre-filled, which you take at a starting dose of 2.5mg once a week for 4 weeks [1]. Both lower and higher strength doses are available though, and should be discussed with your doctor.

What is the starting dose for Mounjaro?

The starting mounjaro dose is 2.5 mg, with the view to start escalating to the next dose strength after 4 weeks [3].

What does the Mounjaro escalation schedule look like?

The Mounjaro escalation schedule will depend on how your body responds to Mounjaro treatment. Generally speaking though, you will have the option to increase your dose every 4 weeks in 2.5 mg increments until you hit the maximum dosage of 15mg.

Some doctors may recommend a lower maintenance dose if you have any adverse reactions or a longer window between escalations i.e. 6 weeks instead of 4.

The recommended maintenance dose for Mounjaro injections is 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg per week [2].

Can you stay on 2.5 mg of Mounjaro?

The Mounjaro dosage chart specifies that 2.5 mg is just the starting dose for this medication. It's designed to get your body accustomed to injecting Mounjaro and to the treatment itself.

While some might stay at this low dosage, particularly if they are experiencing severe side effects, they should only do so under the guidance of a medical professional.

Can you start at 5 mg?

The short answer is no. 5 mg is a maintenance dose of Mounjaro, as is 10 mg and the maximum maintenance dose of 15 mg.

These are doses that need to be built to through 2.5 mg increments in order to help your body adjust to the medication.

Following what your doctor prescribes, or the guidance of medical professionals through Juniper's Weight Reset Programme, and the recommended dosage schedule, is the safest way to take Mounjaro and the best way to reduce the risk of side effects.

What are the side effects of Mounjaro?

Almost all potential side effects of taking Mounjaro are gastrointestinal, with the most common being:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Decreased appetite
• Hypersensitivity reactions

In rare cases, there has also been found to be a risk of acute gallbladder disease [2]. If you experience severe symptoms, you should speak to your doctor immediately.

What happens if I miss a Mounjaro dose?

When it comes to a missed dose of Mounjaro, don't panic! If it's been 4 days or less since you should have taken it, inject your prescribed Mounjaro dose as soon as you remember and take your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.

If it's been more than 4 days since you should have taken it, skip your missed dose and use your Mounjaro pen again on your scheduled day.

Don't inject a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose. The minimum time between 2 Mounjaro injections is at least 3 days [3].

Image credit: Julian Bock via Unsplash