Mounjaro for Weight Loss
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription drug that may be prescribed off-label for weight loss. The drug isn’t approved for this use, but it may be helpful for weight loss.
Mounjaro comes as a solution inside a single-use injection pen. It’s given as an injection under your skin.
The active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Mounjaro belongs to a group of drugs called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
Mounjaro is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come as a generic drug.
Note: Using Mounjaro for weight loss is an off-label use. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. Mounjaro is approved to treat type 2 diabetes. To learn more about Mounjaro and its approved use, see this in-depth article.
Keep reading for answers to frequently asked questions about using Mounjaro for weight loss.
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Can Mounjaro be FDA-approved for weight loss?
Yes, it’s possible the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may approve Mounjaro for weight loss. This could happen after more studies of Mounjaro for weight loss have been completed.
The FDA has agreed to use a fast-track process to possibly approve Mounjaro for weight loss. Fast-track approval is sometimes used for certain drugs that treat serious conditions without many treatment options, such as obesity.
With the fast-track process, the FDA will review Mounjaro’s study results more quickly than if the drug went through the usual approval process.
If you have questions about the possible FDA approval of Mounjaro for weight loss, talk with your doctor.
Will I experience a certain amount of weight loss each week with Mounjaro?
There isn’t a specific amount of weight loss that’s expected each week with Mounjaro. Weight loss results with this drug can differ for each person who uses it.
To learn more about what to expect when using Mounjaro for weight loss, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on how soon you may see results with Mounjaro.
For weight loss, how does Mounjaro compare with Ozempic?
Below are details about how Mounjaro may compare with Ozempic for weight loss.
Both Mounjaro and Ozempic are approved to treat type 2 diabetes. And both drugs can be used off-label for weight loss.
Studies have not specifically compared Mounjaro with Ozempic when they’re used for weight loss. But one study did compare the effects of Mounjaro and Ozempic on body weight when used to treat type 2 diabetes. In this study, people using Mounjaro lost more weight than people using Ozempic.
But keep in mind this study didn’t specifically look at Mounjaro and Ozempic for weight loss. More studies are needed to understand how these drugs compare as weight-loss treatments.
Is treatment with Mounjaro for weight loss long term?
It’s not known whether Mounjaro may be used long term for weight loss. The long-term effects of Mounjaro on weight loss are currently being studied.
For example, one study is looking at whether weight loss from Mounjaro is maintained after the drug is stopped. The same study also looks at how well Mounjaro helps maintain weight loss if the drug is continued for up to 2 years. The results of this study could help doctors understand whether treatment with Mounjaro should be long term.
One study of a drug similar to Mounjaro showed that after treatment with the drug for weight loss was stopped, people gained weight. It’s possible that your doctor may recommend using Mounjaro or a similar drug long term to maintain weight loss.
To learn more about how long you may use Mounjaro for weight loss, talk with your doctor.
