Mounjaro KwikPen (Tirzepatide)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Mounjaro KwikPen Used For?
Mounjaro KwikPen contains tirzepatide, a medicine that belongs to a group called ‘GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists’. It helps your body control blood sugar and manage weight.
Primary Uses
In adults with type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro KwikPen improves blood sugar control. For adults who are overweight or have obesity, it’s used for weight management including weight loss and weight maintenance. In adults with obesity, it also treats moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a condition that causes frequent brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.
How It Works
Diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to control your blood sugar levels. Mounjaro KwikPen helps improve this control and can be used alone or with other diabetes medicines. For sleep apnoea, it may be used with or without positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.
Good to know: Mounjaro KwikPen can be used at any time of day, with or without meals, making it convenient to fit into your routine.
How to Take Mounjaro KwikPen
Mounjaro KwikPen is a pre-filled pen that contains 4 doses. You inject it under the skin of your stomach or upper leg once a week on the same day each week.
Dosage Instructions
Starting dose is 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, your dose increases to 5 mg once weekly. Your doctor may increase your dose by 2.5 mg every 4 weeks to reach 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg once weekly if needed. The maximum dose is 15 mg once weekly. Change injection sites to different areas to reduce pain and irritation. After 4 doses, throw away the pen – there will be leftover medicine, but this is normal.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Take your missed dose as soon as possible. If there are fewer than 3 days until your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regular day. You can change your weekly injection day as long as it’s been at least 3 days since your last injection.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Do not inject the leftover medicine after using your 4 doses.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Stomach bloating
- Burping or belching
- Flatulence (farting)
- Decreased appetite
- General tiredness
- Injection site reactions (redness, swelling, itching)
- Dizziness
- Hair loss
- Low blood pressure
- Changes in taste
- Changes in skin sensation
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Acute pancreatitis (severe stomach and back pain that doesn’t go away, with vomiting and/or diarrhea)
- Allergic reactions (rashes, itching, rapid swelling of neck/face/mouth/throat, hives, breathing problems)
- Gallbladder problems (sudden severe upper stomach pain, fever, yellowing of skin or eyes, clay-colored stools)
- Intestinal blockage (severe stomach pain, bloating, difficulty passing gas, nausea, vomiting, constipation)
- Severe low blood sugar when used with other diabetes medicines
Important Warnings
Before using Mounjaro KwikPen, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and other medicines you take.
Who Should Not Take Mounjaro KwikPen
Do not use if you’re allergic to tirzepatide or any ingredients in the medicine. Not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years as it hasn’t been studied in this age group.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: gastrointestinal disease including severe gastroparesis, malnutrition, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), eye problems (diabetic retinopathy), thoughts of suicide or death, congestive heart failure, kidney or liver disease. Also mention if you take other diabetes medicines like sulfonylurea or insulin as this may cause low blood sugar.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not use during pregnancy as effects haven’t been studied. Use contraception if you could become pregnant while using this medicine. Mounjaro KwikPen may affect how well birth control pills work – consider switching to different birth control or adding barrier methods for 4 weeks when starting treatment and after each dose increase. It’s unknown if tirzepatide passes into breast milk – discuss with your doctor if breastfeeding.
Dehydration Risk: When starting treatment, you may experience dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea, which can lead to kidney problems. Drink plenty of fluids and watch for symptoms like dry mouth, decreased urination, dark urine, headache, muscle weakness, or dizziness.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Mounjaro KwikPen and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take.
Stomach Emptying: Mounjaro KwikPen delays stomach emptying, which can affect how well other oral medicines work. Check with your doctor about timing of other medications.
- Sulfonylurea medicines (may cause low blood sugar – dose reduction may be needed)
- Insulin (may cause low blood sugar – dose reduction may be needed)
- Slow-release medicines (absorption may be affected)
- Quick-absorption medicines from stomach (absorption may be affected)
- Medicines with narrow therapeutic index like warfarin, digoxin (effectiveness may be affected)
- Oral birth control pills (effectiveness may be reduced)
Alcohol & Driving
Be cautious with alcohol consumption and driving while using Mounjaro KwikPen, especially if you have diabetes.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may mask the symptoms of low blood sugar or make it worse, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Mounjaro KwikPen affects you. Low blood sugar may affect your ability to concentrate, so avoid driving or using machines if you experience any signs of hypoglycemia.
Storage
Store Mounjaro KwikPen in the refrigerator at 2°C – 8°C. When refrigeration isn’t possible, keep at room temperature below 30°C for up to 30 days total. Do not freeze – do not use if it has been frozen. Keep in original package to protect from light. Handle carefully as it contains glass parts – if dropped on a hard surface, discard and use a new pen. Never use after the expiry date. Keep away from children.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve used too much Mounjaro KwikPen, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. Do this even if you don’t feel unwell or show signs of poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
You start with 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then your doctor increases the dose to 5 mg. Your doctor may continue to increase your dose every 4 weeks until you reach the right dose for your condition.
Yes, you can inject Mounjaro KwikPen at any time of the day, with or without meals. This makes it convenient to fit into your routine.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without consulting your doctor. If you stop using it, your blood sugar levels may increase.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may mask the symptoms of low blood sugar or make it worse, which can be dangerous especially if you have diabetes.
Take your missed dose as soon as possible. If there are fewer than 3 days until your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regular day. Never take a double dose.
Store in the refrigerator at 2°C – 8°C. If refrigeration isn’t available, you can keep it at room temperature below 30°C for up to 30 days total. Never freeze it, and keep it in the original package to protect from light.
Symptoms include sweating, hunger, headache, tremor, light-headedness, drowsiness, dizziness, mood changes, irritability, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, increased heart rate, and tingling in hands, feet, lips, or tongue. If you experience these, eat some sugary food or drink like jellybeans or orange juice.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.