Being obese isn’t easy. The battle against your own body and mind can feel crushing, with attempts to get healthier the “traditional way” often feeling like a full-time job. Exercise and diet alone can easily be outrun by chronic weight issues, which is why solutions like oral tablets, GLP-1 patches and injections like Mounjaro are becoming more prominent. But how does Mounjaro work?
This relatively new, yet highly effective prescription drug is making huge waves in the medical community. This blog will expand on how the medication works, so you have a better understanding of what your options might involve.
How does Mounjaro work for weight loss?
Mounjaro, developed by Eli Lilly and Company, is fairly new on the market. However, it’s already set itself apart with many considering it the most effective weight loss treatment ever made. This is because its active ingredient, tirzepatide, acts as a “dual agonist”, meaning it mimics two gut hormones related to weight loss.
Mounjaro is a GLP-1 receptor agonist
GLP-1 is mimicked by Mounjaro, much like it is with Wegovy or Ozempic, containing the active ingredient semaglutide. GLP-1 is a naturally occurring gut hormone that acts in the following ways:
- Releasing insulin from the pancreas to lower high blood sugar levels
- Suppressing the release of glucagon, further maintaining lower blood sugar
- Slowing gastric emptying, meaning food doesn’t leave the stomach as quickly
- Activating receptors in the brain leading to reduced hunger and increased fullness
Mimicking GLP-1 means Mounjaro also triggers these reactions, with all of them making it easier to reduce calories in a diet, while also aiding metabolic health.
Mounjaro is also a GIP receptor agonist
How Mounjaro works stands out from Wegovy and Ozempic, in that it also acts as a Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. GIP, and in turn Mounjaro, trigger functions such as:
- Stimulating insulin release from the pancreas, aiding with blood sugar control
- Improving bodily sensitivity to insulin, improving glucose spread across the body
- Influencing fat metabolism, breakdown and utilisation, aiding energy expenditure
All of these functions help to support weight management efforts, reducing hunger and helping the body to process food more healthily. It’s also worth noting that Mounjaro
How is Mounjaro administered?
Much like Ozempic or Wegovy, Mounjaro is administered with a weekly injection, with doses increasing on a gradual basis from the lowest to the right dose for the individual. The slow approach helps to minimise side effects like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
How long does Mounjaro take to work?
So we know how dosing works, but how long does Mounjaro take to start working? This can’t be answered in exacts, considering the human body varies so much from person to person. However, a large swathe of patients have recorded weight loss within just a few weeks.
Remember, it’s not a miracle cure. Mounjaro needs to be prescribed by a doctor and then supported with consistent lifestyle changes, such as decreased calories and increased exercise. Use our BMI calculator, then book an appointment with your doctor to see if it’s right for you.
