Mounjaro, a new injectable medication on the market, is comparable to Ozempic for those with type two diabetes, and is being used for weight loss as well.
News Center 7’s Kayla McDermott recently visited Ziks Family Pharmacy to discuss the two prescriptions with a pharmacist. While Ozempic was scarce at the beginning of the year due to people using it for weight loss, Maunjaro, which has a dual mechanism of action and is already used for type two diabetes, is now readily available.
Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, reported in a study that people who took the medication achieved superior weight loss in just over a year, losing nearly 16% of their body weight. The company is seeking FDA approval for weight loss. Pharmacist believes that Maunjaro would be helpful for people struggling with obesity and could also assist in keeping Ozempic on the shelves. However, if taking the medication, individuals should be aware of the side effects listed on the company’s website.
According to Dr. Kimberly Gudzune, the medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, drugs like tirzepatide can be prescribed for any medically necessary reason once they are approved by the FDA. Though Gudzune was not involved in the tirzepatide study, she is aware that it has been used off-label for weight loss by individuals who do not have diabetes.
However, the success stories of tirzepatide and similar drugs caused shortages last year, making it difficult for diabetes patients to obtain their medication. Tirzepatide mimics two gut hormones, increasing insulin production to lower blood sugar and delaying food movement from the stomach to help people feel fuller for longer.
Clinical trials have shown that it can lead to substantial weight loss, but it also causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in some people. Semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, has been approved as a weight loss medication for overweight adults with at least one associated health problem since 2021.
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