Weight loss drug Mounjaro launched in India

Weight loss drugs make an irresistible promise: Take this drug and lose weight. So far, the promise has been delivered.

Countless people around the world tried them and they worked well. In India too, where weight loss drugs were not approved or available, crores of Indians tried to get their hands on the magic medicine through off-label prescriptions or scouring the grey market to keep the weight off.

And now, the wait is over.

Blockbuster anti-obesity and type 2 diabetes drug Mounjaro has been launched in India.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into understanding what is Mounjaro, how it works, whether can you lose weight with Mounjaro, how to take it, what Mounjaro costs in India, and much more.

But before that, here’s what you should know about Mounjaro launch in India.

Mounjaro launch in India: All you need to know about this weight loss injection

Eli Lilly and Company (India) has announced the launch of Mounjaro, a one-of-a-kind weight loss and type 2 diabetes injection in India. Mounjaro is approved in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Eli Lilly, the company which also manufactured Mounjaro, has launched the injection in a once-weekly, single-dose vial form.

Mounjaro is designed for chronic weight management. It is supposed to be used alongside a balanced diet and adequate exercise in individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of:

• 30 kg/m2 or more
• 27 kg/m2 or more + at least one weight-related condition

Mounjaro is also used to manage type 2 diabetes in addition to diet and exercise.

What does Mounjaro injection cost in India?

According to Reuters, in India, the starting dose for Mounjaro, 2.5 mg is expected to cost INR 14,000 per month. This means a single-dose vial of Mounjaro, 2.5 mg costs INR 3,500. Mounjaro 5 mg injection or vial is expected to cost INR 4,375.

But is that all there is to Mounjaro?

Let’s find out.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is a prescription-only, once-weekly injection that is used for weight management and type 2 diabetes control.

Its active ingredient, Tirzepatide, removes excess sugar from the blood and slows digestion, which makes you feel fuller for longer and lose weight.

Developed by Eli Lilly, Mounjaro activates GIP-1 and GLP-1 to trigger insulin control and weight loss.

Mounjaro is available in multiple doses, starting from 2.5 mg, then increasing to 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg, which is the highest dose.

How does Mounjaro work?

Mounjaro’s active ingredient, Tirzepatide, is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor as well as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

For the unversed, GIP is a hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar levels and metabolism. It encourages fat reduction and prevents fat accumulation, helping you manage weight.

GLP-1, on the other hand, is a hormone in the body that regulates appetite and insulin production. The hormone curbs hunger and makes you feel fuller for longer, helping you manage calorie intake.

Tirzepatide mimics these hormones and works in five simple ways:

• When the body releases too much sugar in the blood, it helps the body release more insulin to curb sugar levels.
• It helps the body remove excessive sugar from the blood.
• It stops the liver from making and releasing further sugar into the blood.
• It signals the brain to eat less, thereby suppressing appetite and unnecessary bingeing.
• It slows down the speed at which the food leaves the stomach. This helps lose weight over time.

How much weight can you lose with Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is finally available in India. So, of course, the first question that comes to mind is: Does Mounjaro really help lose weight?

The answer is - Yes, it does!

In fact, several studies have shown that Mounjaro is a revolutionary weight loss injection that can help people tackle obesity with ease.

In a study^[1] published in Nature Medicine, involving 579 obese adults (with an average weight of 109.5 kg) who were given Tirzepatide over 12 weeks, results showed:

• Participants who took Tirzepatide lost 6.9% (7.6 kg) of their body weight.
• Participants who continued taking Tirzepatide even after the 12-week trial period lost an additional 21.1% of their body weight.
• Overall, participants who took Tirzepatide lost 26.6% (29.2 kg) of their body weight over 84 weeks.
• In comparison, participants who took placebo lost only 3.8% (4.1 kg) of their body weight over 84 weeks.

This study clearly shows that Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) can help people lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time.

Are you eligible to take Mounjaro?

We have now established that Mounjaro helps people effortlessly lose weight. However, can anyone who considers himself/herself overweight or obese take the weight loss injection in India?

No.

Mounjaro is a prescription-only weight loss injection. This means, you need a doctor’s prescription to take it for weight loss. This also means, your doctor should find it reasonable to prescribe Mounjaro to you.

If you meet any or all of the below conditions, you are eligible to take Mounjaro:

• You have a BMI of:
  • > 30 kg/m2
  • > 27 kg/m2 with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as:
    • Prediabetes
    • Type 2 diabetes
    • High blood pressure
    • History of heart attack or stroke
• You have type 2 diabetes, and all other forms of medication have failed to manage it

Be careful, though. You might not be eligible to take Mounjaro if you have any or all of the following medical conditions:

• If you have type 1 diabetes
• If you have pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas)
• If you or anyone from your family has Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC), a type of thyroid cancer
• If you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome Type 2 (MEN 2)
• If you are allergic to Mounjaro or any of the ingredients present in Mounjaro

Inform your doctor if any or all of the following apply to you before taking Mounjaro:

• You are taking birth control pills
• You have severe problems with your stomach or kidneys, such as gastroparesis (slowed emptying of the stomach)
• You are taking other diabetic medicines, such as sulfonylureas or insulin
• You have a history of diabetic retinopathy (vision issues due to diabetes)
• You are scheduled for surgery that involves anaesthesia or sleep medicines
• You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• You are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed

How and when to take Mounjaro

Unlike other weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Ozempic, it is very easy to take Mounjaro for weight loss.

When to take Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a once-weekly weight loss injection. This means you have to take Mounjaro only once a week.

You can take Mounjaro on any day of the week, and any time of the day. But, ensure that you take Mounjaro on the same day, at the same time every week.

Mounjaro dosage

Mounjaro comes in multiple dosages - starting from 2.5 mg and going upto 15 mg.

The usual Mounjaro dosage is as follows:

*After keeping you on 5 mg for 4 weeks, your doctor may decide to keep you at 5 mg or increase your dosage to 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg. This depends on whether you are meeting your weight loss goals and if the medicine is working well for you.

What if you miss a dose of Mounjaro

If you miss a dose of Mounjaro, do the following:

• Take the missed dose as soon as possible, preferably within 4 days (96 hours) of the last missed dose.
• If more than 4 days have passed since you missed the dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose as planned.
• Do not take more than one dose of Mounjaro within 3 days.

How to take Mounjaro

Taking Mounjaro injection for weight loss is a pretty easy process.

Mounjaro is a single-dose pre-filled injection pen. Before you inject yourself with Mounjaro, make sure the pen is working well.

Mounjaro injection pen looks like this:

Mounjaro injection pen

Before you inject:

• Remove the pen from the refrigerator
• Do not remove the grey base cap until you are ready to inject
• Check the label on the pen. Ensure you are injecting the right dose
• Ensure the medicine has not expired
• Ensure the medicine is not frozen, not cloudy, is colourless to slightly yellow, and does not have particles
• Carefully inspect the pen to ensure that it is not damaged
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Injecting Mounjaro

Step 1: Choose an injection site

• You can inject Mounjaro into your stomach (abdomen) and on either of your thighs
• You can also ask a trusted person or your doctor to inject the medicine for you
• If another person is giving you the injection, they should inject it in the back of your upper arm
• Change your injection site every week
• You can inject in the same area every week, but ensure you are choosing a different injection site in that area

Step 2: Pull off the grey base cap

• Before you do so, make sure that the injection pen is locked
• Place the clear base on your skin. Unlock the pen when you are ready to inject
• Pull off the grey base cap and throw it in your household trash
• Do not put the grey base cap on the pen again - this can damage the needle
• Do not touch the needle

Step 3: Unlock the injection pen

• Place the clear base against your skin at the chosen injection site
• Turn the lock ring and unlock the injection pen

Step 4: Press and hold to inject the medicine

• Press and hold the purple injection button for upto 10 seconds
• When you hear the first click, it means that the injection has started injecting the medicine
• When you hear the second click, it means that the injection has finished injecting the medicine
• Once the dose has the injected, a grey plunger will be visible

That’s it. You are done!

How to store and dispose of Mounjaro?

Mounjaro weight loss injection in India comes with special storage and disposal instructions.

Here is how to store Mounjaro the right way:

• You can store Mounjaro in a refrigerator at 2℃ to 8℃
• You can store Mounjaro at room temperature below 30℃ for upto 21 days
• Do not freeze Mounjaro. If you find Mounjaro is frozen, do not use it
• Store Mounjaro in its original packaging to protect it from direct heat and sunlight

Here is how to dispose of Mounjaro the right way:

• Use a sharps container to throw away used Mounjaro injection pens
• Do not recycle your sharps container. Follow community guidelines to dispose of the sharps container
• Keep the sharps container out of reach of children and pets

What are the side effects of taking Mounjaro?

Like all medicines, Mounjaro comes with its own set of side effects. Most of these side effects are mild and rare, and they go away on their own with time.

These are some of the most common side effects of Mounjaro that you should look out for:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain

Other adverse reactions to Mounjaro include:

• Hypoglycemia
• Changes in vision
• Increase in heart rate
• Allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, eyes, and lips
• Reactions to injection sites
• Acute gallbladder disease

If Mounjaro's side effects do not go away on their own or get worse, get immediate medical attention.

How to manage nausea

Nausea can disrupt day-to-day life. Here are some ways you can manage nausea while taking Mounjaro:

Tips for managing nausea
	Eat smaller portions. Try 4-5 small meals a day instead of 2 big meals a day
	Stop eating when you feel full
	Avoid fried, fatty food items such as chips, pakoras, samosas, burgers, etc.
	Try eating light foods such as biscuits, dals, soups, rice, etc

4 lifestyle changes to make while taking Mounjaro

Mounjaro weight loss injection works best when it is taken alongside a balanced diet and routine exercise. This is why, it is very important to make the following lifestyle changes when you take Mounjaro for weight loss in India.

Lifestyle changes to make while taking Mounjaro

Eat well

• Eat healthy foods that are low in calories to prevent weight gain.
• You can swap your ice cream with a crunchy, crispy, juicy apple.
• Or substitute wheat rotis with a millet one.
• Have light dinners - tomato soup and some rice or millet khichdi are easy to digest and help you stay away from fats.

Exercise well

• Exercise goes a long way in keeping the lost weight off.
• Simply try doing 3 minutes of exercise or activity every 30 minutes for best results.
• You can walk a bit, dance a bit, clean a bit, play a bit, or workout a bit - whatever makes you happy.

Think well

• Stress can cause weight gain.
• Relax, breathe, and take in all the positivity around you to beat that stress.
• Meditate when you get time. Even 10 minutes a day can go a long way.
• Think about good things. Keep a journal. You are losing weight. Why not celebrate?

Sleep well

• Getting less than 7 hours of sleep every night is not good for health.
• Get at least 7 hours of sleep.
• Try guided meditation to fall asleep. White noise in the background works even better.
• Stay away from blue light before bedtime - your phones and television screens are for the daytime.
• Try scented candles at night for a fragrance-filled sleep.

What are the alternatives to Mounjaro?

Is Mounjaro the only weight loss injection available in India?

Yes.

Of course, around the world, Wegovy, Ozempic , and Zepbound are available as weight loss injections for those struggling with obesity. However these injections are not yet approved in India.

Is Mounjaro the only weight loss medicine available in India?

No. There is Rybelsus. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Rybelsus is approved in India as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but its active ingredient, Semaglutide, also leads to weight loss.

However, Rybelsus is not approved for weight loss in India.

So, is there an alternative at all?

Yes.

Aktive offers a weight loss programme, designed for Indians looking to lose weight without going through complicated fad diets, intense workout routines, and haywire schedules.

Plus, Aktive provides a non-invasive way to lose weight. No injections. No complications.

With Aktive’s clinically-proven weight loss treatment, you can lose upto 15% of your body weight within a year.

To sum it up…

Mounjaro is here. Weight loss is no longer a distant dream for those struggling with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

But Mounjaro is not magic. You can inject it with all your might, but without a good diet and the right exercise, you will most likely not see results.

To sum it up, Mounjaro is a means to an end, and not the end goal itself.

But at least, India can take a step forward and defeat obesity with Mounjaro.

That’s news worth celebrating.