Mounjaro (active ingredient: Tirzepatide) is a once-weekly prescription medicine administered by subcutaneous injection, indicated for:
- Glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (can be used alone, or in combination with other antidiabetic medicines and/or insulin)
- Chronic weight management (weight loss and maintenance), to be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
- An initial doctor’s assessment is recommended (available doses: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg) to tailor the treatment plan.
What is Mounjaro best suited for?
- Chronic weight management (adults):
- BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (obesity), or
- BMI ≥ 27 kg/m² with weight‑related health conditions (e.g., prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease).
- Type 2 diabetes (adults):
- When diet and exercise alone are insufficient.
- As monotherapy if metformin is not appropriate or not tolerated.
- May be combined with other oral antidiabetic agents or insulin.
How does Mounjaro work?
- Dual receptor agonist of GLP-1 and GIP:
- GLP-1: slows gastric emptying, increases satiety, enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, and suppresses glucagon to help lower blood glucose and appetite.
- GIP: boosts insulin secretion after meals and acts on adipocytes to reduce fat storage.
- Synergistic advantages:
- More comprehensive and stable blood glucose control with reduced post‑meal glucose fluctuations.
- Stronger appetite regulation and weight reduction; clinical data suggest superior weight‑loss outcomes versus traditional GLP‑1–only regimens.
- May lower certain cardiovascular risk factors.
Extended reading：GLP-1 與 GIP 雙重機制如何幫助體重管理與控糖
