Why do you have to increase the Mounjaro dose?

In this article, we explore whether you should increase your weight loss injections Mounjaro dose, the best time to do so and the recommended dosage timeline for Mounjaro UK.

What is Mounjaro?

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro pens, a glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which works by mimicking the natural hormone produced by your body to control blood sugar levels and aid in weight loss.

Mounjaro is approved to support weight loss for those who struggle to lose weight with exercise and dieting alone. [1]

In clinical trials, Tirzepatide was shown to manage the participant’s blood sugar levels as well as help them lose weight. [2]

According to studies on weight loss with Mounjaro, it was reported that you can expect to lose up to 22.5% of your starting body weight on these injections, making it a very popular weight loss aid. [3]

To be eligible for Mounjaro weight loss UK you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. 

You could also be eligible if your BMI is above 27, along with other conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some other weight-related health conditions.

Mounjaro injections help people reach their weight loss goals by suppressing and reducing their appetite and making them feel fuller for longer. While they do this very well for most people who use Mounjaro, it is not unusual to experience an occasional weight loss plateau. 

People may suffer from Mounjaro side effects at the start of treatment or when increasing their dose.

The saying one size does not fit all is especially true when it comes to our bodies and how they react to weight loss medication. 

While some people may tolerate 4 weekly dosage increases and see effective weight loss results with minimal side effects, others may have to take it slower, staying on the same dose for a while so their body can get used to the medicine.

Mounjaro dosage instructions

The Mounjaro Kwikpen should be injected weekly, on the same day each week (if possible). One pen contains four doses, equivalent to four weeks' worth of treatment.

The Mounjaro dosing schedule is as follows:

2.5mg pen: weeks 1 - 4

This strength is also known as the starter pen. Treatment can only begin with this strength of Mounjaro injection. 

5mg pen: weeks 5 - 8

You can choose to increase to this dose after at least 4 weeks of treatment on the 2.5mg pen. The 5mg Mounjaro pen is also a maintenance dose.

7.5mg pen: weeks 9 - 12

You can choose to increase to this dose after at least 4 weeks of treatment on the 5mg pen.

10mg pen: weeks 13 - 16

You can choose to increase to this dose after at least 4 weeks of treatment on the 7.5mg pen. The 10mg Mounjaro pen is also a maintenance dose.

12.5mg pen: weeks 17 - 20

You can choose to increase to this dose after at least 4 weeks of treatment on the 10mg pen.

15mg pen: weeks 21 - 24

You can choose to increase to this dose after at least 4 weeks of treatment on the 12.5mg pen. The 15mg Mounjaro pen is also a maintenance dose.

It is recommended to continue treatment with Mounjaro for at least a year to get the best weight loss results.

Do you have to increase the Mounjaro dose?

No, 4 weeks is the minimum amount of time you should stay on each pen before increasing your dose, which means you must stay on your current dose for at least 4 weeks before you can increase. You and your prescriber must decide what's best for your body and how the treatment is working for you. [4]

After 3 weeks of treatment (before you need to order your next pen), you should consider whether you will stay on the same dose, reduce your dose or increase your dose to the next strength.

Can I stay on a lower Mounjaro dose?

You don’t have to increase the dose if you find one you are happy with and are still losing or maintaining your weight, and your appetite is controlled.

Lots of patients will get to 7.5mg or 12.5mg and feel like they don’t need to increase any more, and that is okay. You don’t have to go up in strength, although it is rare for someone to stay on the starter 2.5mg dose.

Although the 5mg, 10mg and 15mg strengths are classed as maintenance doses, you can stop at any strength if it’s still working for you. This is not wrong, and at Oxford Online Pharmacy, we will continue to prescribe you even if you stay on 7.5mg or 12.5mg.

The Mounjaro cost is another reason why many people stay on the same/lower doses for as long as they can. The higher doses often mean the pen is more expensive than the lower doses.

For example, the 2.5mg Mounjaro pen costs £148.99 from Oxford Online Pharmacy and the 10mg pen costs £188.98.*

*These prices are as of 22.11.24 and are subject to change.

Increasing your Mounjaro dose

A dose increase is recommended after 4 weeks if you start to experience hunger in the few days before the next injection is due or if your weight starts to go up while you are on Mounjaro weight loss treatment. This means consistently going up for a few weeks, not a temporary change like water weight or bloating that only lasts a few days.

You should also increase your dose if the weight loss is plateauing but hasn’t reached the healthy BMI range yet.

It is important to note that increasing the dose at the right time will support ongoing weight loss or maintenance. We also want to make sure you're getting the most value for your money by using Mounjaro UK effectively and achieving the desired results.

Reducing your Mounjaro dose

If you are taking a dose of Mounjaro and feel like it may be too strong for you, you can always drop down to a dose that works better for you. You should speak to your prescriber for more advice if you’re unsure whether this is the best course of action.

Many people think that they have to increase their Mounjaro dose every 4 weeks but that isn’t necessarily the case, especially if the lower dose is still working well by suppressing your hunger and supporting sufficient weight loss (1 - 2 lb per week).

If you increase your dose sooner than your body is ready to, you could experience unwanted Mounjaro side effects. It is not uncommon to experience potential side effects like nausea, sickness and diarrhoea when increasing your dose, especially if done too soon.

The right Mounjaro dose for you

Together, we will make the best decision for you and your weight loss journey. At Oxford Online Pharmacy, our fully trained healthcare team is on hand to offer you support and share our best practice recommendations. 

Get in touch with a member of our team on 01295 262925, or email [email protected], where our team is more than happy to help.

Where is the best place to buy Mounjaro online?

You can find Mounjaro to buy online in the UK from Oxford Online Pharmacy. With our team of knowledgeable, Mounjaro-trained healthcare professionals, we can help you with your weight loss journey.

The independent Oxford Online GMC registered doctors can prescribe Mounjaro for those who meet the requirements with the free-of-charge consultation service, meaning you only pay for the medicine and delivery.

We guarantee our prices are some of the most competitive on the web. If you find a cheaper price for your Mounjaro elsewhere, we will match it with our price match promise.

FAQs

How long do Mounjaro side effects last?

Mounjaro side effects are common when increasing your dose. These should not last, and as your body gets used to the new strength of medicine, they should stop.

If you experience prolonged side effects that cause constant discomfort, speak to your healthcare provider, who can advise you.

Do Mounjaro side effects go away?

Side effects related to Mounjaro weight loss injections should be temporary and disappear when you stop using the medicine. Mounjaro has a half-life of 4 days, and you should expect the side effects to lessen by this time.

Do you lose more weight on a higher dose of Mounjaro?

Yes, according to a 2022 study on Mounjaro for weight loss, people who ended up on the higher strengths of Mounjaro lost more weight overall. In the study, participants who used 10mg of tirzepatide lost an average of 19.5% of their weight, while those who took 15mg lost 20.9%. This translated to an average weight loss of 48.9 to 52 pounds. Most of the weight loss occurred during the first half of the study.

Some people don’t have to go all the way up to the 15 mg pen to lose the weight they need to be a healthy weight. This will vary from person to person, and together, we will make the best decision for you.

Can you get Mounjaro on NHS?

Yes, Mounjaro is available on the NHS for diabetes management, but if you want Mounjaro for weight loss, there is a list of very specific requirements before they consider prescribing this treatment.

The NHS will only prescribe Mounjaro to those with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 and at least three of the following conditions: hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, or cardiovascular disease.

Can I restart Mounjaro after a long break and my BMI is no longer over 30?

Yes, it’s not impossible. We would assess this on a case by case basis as there are no official guidelines. 

For example, if someone has lost a lot of weight using Mounjaro treatment and they start to put it on again after stopping, we might let them restart before getting back up to a BMI of 30 because it's clear the treatment works for them and we wouldn't want someone to get bigger just so they can restart, as that's not healthy.

However, we'd need to have "known" that patient for a long time, we wouldn't just take someone's word for it.

References

1. Eli Lilly and Company. (n.d.). Diabetes. Eli Lilly and Company. 
2. Eli Lilly and Company. (2022, December 12). Tirzepatide reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 94% in adults with obesity and prediabetes. Eli Lilly and Company.
3. Jastreboff, Ania M., Louis J. Aronne, Nadia N. Ahmad, Sean Wharton, Lisa Connery, Breno Alves, Arihiro Kiyosue, et al. 2022. “Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity.” New England Journal of Medicine 387 (3).
4. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). (2023). Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) - Patient Information Leaflet.