Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is a type of injectable anti-diabetic medication.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Mounjaro injections to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults.
Mounjaro is proven to be effective in improving blood sugar control when used along with exercise and diet modification.
Mounjaro works by:
- Improving your body’s response towards insulin (a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels)
- Reducing the production of sugar by the liver
- Slowing down food from leaving your stomach (so you feel full for longer)
- Reducing your appetite
How to inject Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
The way to inject Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) can be simplified into 7 simple steps:
1) Pick a day to inject Mounjaro
Mounjaro is injected once weekly, preferably on the same day. You can pick a day to do your Mounjaro injection based on your routine or schedule.
2) Check your Mounjaro pen
Before injecting Mounjaro into your body, you should check your Mounjaro pen to ensure that:
- You have the correct medication in the correct prescribed dose
- The medication has not expired
- Your Mounjaro pen is not damaged or broken
- The medicine is not discolored (it should be colorless or slightly yellow)
- Your Mounjaro shot is not frozen, cloudy, or contains particles
3) Choose your injection site
After you have inspected your Mounjaro pen, wash your hands and choose your injection site. You must inject Mounjaro subcutaneously, which means it must be injected under your skin and not into blood vessels or muscles.
Your doctor can help you to choose the injection site that is most suitable for you. Some of the common sites to inject Mounjaro include:
- Abdomen (at least 2 inches away from your belly button)
- Thigh
- Back of your upper arm – another person who is trained should give you the injection here.
You should rotate the injection sites each week. However, if you want to inject at the same site, make sure to choose a different area at the site.
Once you have chosen your injection site, clean the area with an alcohol swab to prevent any infection later on.
4) Pull off the gray base cap
Now you are ready to inject Mounjaro. With the pen locked, pull the gray base cap off and throw it away. You should not recap the pen as it could damage the needle.
Once the gray base cap is off, be careful not to touch the needle.
5) Place the base flat on your skin and unlock the pen
Once the gray base cap is off, place the clear base flat against your skin at the injection site. Then, unlock the Tirzepatide pen by turning the lock ring.
Unlike insulin injections, you do not have to pinch your skin before injecting yourself.
6) Press and hold the injector for 10 seconds until the injection is complete
Press and hold the purple injection button for up to 10 seconds. You will hear two clicks.
The first click tells you that the injection has started. The second click tells you that the injection is completed.
You will know your injection is complete when the gray plunger is visible.
This guide should not replace the instructions given to you by your healthcare provider. If you have further questions about how to inject Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), you should consult your healthcare provider.
7) Dispose of your Mounjaro shot safely
To dispose of your Mounjaro pen safely, you should put your used pen in an FDA-approved sharps disposal container right away after use.
You should not dispose of your Mounjaro pens in your household trash. If you do not have a sharps disposal container, you may use any household container that is:
- Made of heavy-duty plastic
- Can be closed tightly with a puncture-resistant lid
- Leak-resistant
- Upright and stable during use
- Not recycled
- Properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container
- Kept safely away from children
When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of them.
If you do not have a household container that is fit for sharps disposal, you can request a sharps container from the Mounjaro website here.
Alternatively, sharps disposal containers are also available from pharmacies, medical supply shops, and your healthcare providers.
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Where is the best place to inject Mounjaro?
Since Mounjaro is supposed to be injected subcutaneously, you should choose an injection site that has more fatty tissues, such as the abdomen, upper arms, upper thighs, or hips.
You should avoid injecting Mounjaro into a joint or near bony parts (such as elbows, knees, or ankles), into lean or muscular areas, or areas containing a lot of blood vessels.
The best place to inject Mounjaro depends on where you have the most subcutaneous fat, as well as your comfort and sensitivity levels.
You should rotate the injection sites each week. However, if you want to inject at the same site, make sure to choose a different area at the site.
If you are injecting Mounjaro into your upper arm, another person who is trained should help you with it.
How often do you inject Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is injected once every week. You should not take more than the prescribed dose.
There are different doses of Mounjaro that are available. Your doctor can help you find the right one for you.
Usually, your doctor will start you off with the minimum dosing (2.5 mg) and monitor your body’s response to the dose throughout the next 4 weeks.
They will then adjust the dose accordingly during your follow-up visits.
What happens if the Moujaro injection goes wrong?
Sometimes, you may experience pain or swelling around the injection site. This is also known as injection site reaction, and it can last for a few days.
This could happen if the needle is inserted at the wrong angle or if it is moved around during the injection.
If you have an injection site reaction from Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), you can apply an ice pack to the area to relieve the pain and swelling. You should also change the site where you inject the drug each time.
Rarely, Mounjaro may be accidentally injected into a vein instead of the subcutaneous layer of your skin. If this happens, the medication would work rapidly and cause severe low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
Take a tablespoon of sugar or honey to reverse the hypoglycemia, and inform your healthcare provider during your follow-up visits.
If you are having an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction towards Mounjaro, you should stop using Mounjaro and seek medical attention immediately.
Some signs and symptoms include:
- Swelling of your throat and tongue.
- Rapid or difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling a tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice.
- Wheezing, coughing, or noisy breathing.
- Feeling tired or confused.
- Feeling dizzy
- Fainting
- Having skin that feels cold to the touch.
FAQs
Does Mounjaro hurt to inject?
Different people tolerate pain differently. Pain is not usually reported from Mounjaro use. However, some people would feel slight discomfort from the injection.
If you or your caregiver are administering Mounjaro correctly, there should be little to no pain during the injection.
If you have concerns about how the injection is hurting or may hurt you, you should consult your doctor.
How deep should the Tirzepatide needle go when injecting?
When injecting Mounjaro, you do not need to push the pen forcefully against the skin. Simply place the pen flatly against your skin when administering the injection.
The Mounjaro pens are autoinjectors that contain a small 32-gauge needle that will deliver the medicine into your subcutaneous tissues.
Is there a best time to inject Mounjaro?
There is no one best time to inject Mounjaro. You can inject Mounjaro at any time of the day, once a week. Mounjaro can be injected before or after a meal. You should try to inject Mounjaro on the same day each week if possible.
How do I know if I injected Mounjaro correctly?
You will know if you have injected Mounjaro correctly if you:
- Hear the first click at the start of the injection
- Hear the second click when the injection is completed (usually after 10 seconds)
- See a gray plunger in the pen when the injection is completed
Is it normal for me to see a little bit of blood after an injection?
Yes, it is normal to see a little bit of blood or liquid after injecting Mounjaro into your skin. You should compress the area with a cotton ball or gauze of the site. You should not rub the injection site.
It is rare for Mounjaro to be injected into a vein. However, if you have concerns about accidentally hitting a vein, you should consult your doctor to find an alternative injection site for you.
Can I take my Mounjaro injection a day early?
Yes. It is normal for schedules to change. If you need to take Mounjaro a day early due to certain circumstances, make sure that there are at least 3 days (72 hours) after your last dose.
Can I change the day of the week for my Mounjaro injection?
Yes, absolutely. You can change your preferred day of the week to take your Mounjaro injection. However, you should leave at least 3 days (72 hours) between each dose.
After the change, you should try to take Mounjaro on the same day each day if possible.
What should I do if I miss my Mounjaro dosage?
If you miss a dose of Mounjaro, you should take the missed dose as soon as possible, within 4 days (96 hours) after the missed dose.
If more than 4 days (96 hours) have passed, you should skip the missed dose and take the next dose on the scheduled day.
For example, your scheduled injection days are Mondays. If you realize you have missed your dose on a Friday, you should skip the dose for the week and take your Mounjaro on the following Monday.
How should I store my Mounjaro pens?
You should store your Mounjaro pen in a refrigerator (between 2°C to 8°C). However, you should not freeze your pen. If your Mounjaro pen is frozen, you should discard it safely and use a new pen.
You can also store your pen at room temperature, away from light (below 30°C), for up to a total of 21 days.
This way, you can bring your Mounjaro pen on trips where you do not have access to refrigerators.
Do I have to warm my Mounjaro pen to room temperature before injecting it?
No, you do not have to warm your Mounjaro pen to room temperature before using it.
Conclusion
Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is an effective drug prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults along with exercise and diet modification.
It comes in the form of a subcutaneous injection, delivered via an auto-injector Mounjaro pen. You can inject Mounjaro into your abdomen, thighs, or the back of your upper arms with the help of another trained person.
Mounjaro is taken once weekly, preferably on the same day. There is no specific time of the day to take Mounjaro. If you have any questions regarding Mounjaro and how to use it, you should consult your healthcare provider.
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