How To Use The Mounjaro Single Dose Pen: A Guide For Beginners

Mounjaro can help you lose up to 20% of your body weight [1], but taking it correctly is essential to help you achieve best results and minimize discomfort and adverse effects. We've created this guide to help you learn how to inject Mounjaro yourself at home so you can approach your weight loss journey with confidence. 

How Mounjaro works

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, a dual gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) inhibitor. It mimics the action of two naturally occurring hormones in your gut and helps you lose weight by regulating your blood sugar levels and appetite. [1]

How to take Mounjaro

Your Mounjaro is sent to you as pre-filled pens (one for each week), which means you don't need to use a syringe or measure out your doses yourself. It's taken as a once-weekly injection — we recommend taking each dose at the same time of day, so you develop a routine and reduce the risk of missing a dose. 

Here's a step-by-step guide of how to take your injections: [2]

1. Check your pen 

You should refrigerate your pens between 36°F and 46°F before use. Store them in their original packaging to protect them from light. Before starting your injection, check your pen for the following things: 

  • The medicine name and dose should match your prescription 
  • The expiry date shouldn't have passed
  • The medicine should be clear or slightly yellow in color
  • Your pen contains glass parts. Don't use it if you’ve dropped it on a hard surface.

If your medication is cloudy, discolored, frozen or contains any particles, don't use it.  

2. Wash your hands 

Your hands should be clean when you administer your injection to prevent infection. Wash your hands with hot water and soap and dry with a clean towel. If someone is helping you with your dose, they should also wash their hands. 

3. Choose your injection site 

Mounjaro is a subcutaneous injection, which means you inject it into the layer of fatty tissue just below your skin. You should choose an injection site from one of the following areas:

  • Your stomach, at least two inches from your belly button. Avoid any scar tissue. 
  • The back of your upper arm. You will need someone to help you. 
  • The front or side of your thigh. Choose a different area from your last dose to reduce the risk of hard lumps. 

4. Prepare your injection pen 

Make sure the pen is locked then remove the gray base cap. Throw the cap in the trash – never replace it as it could damage the needle.   

5. Inject the medication 

Place the clear base of the pen flat against your skin wherever you’ve chosen to inject it. Next, unlock it by turning the lock ring. Press and hold the purple injection button for up to 10 seconds. Once you hear the first click, it means the injection has started. When you hear the second click, your injection is complete. You’ll also see the gray plunger once the injection has been fully administered. 

6. Safely dispose of the needle

Your Mounjaro pen cannot be disposed of with your household trash. You’ll need a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container to put each empty single dose pen in. If you don’t have access to one, you can use a household container made of a heavy-duty plastic with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid. It must be leak-resistant and properly labeled to warn that there’s hazardous waste inside.

Different states and local laws specify how needles should be disposed of. You can read your state’s specific instructions on the FDA website here.

If you have any other questions about taking Mounjaro, get in touch with your clinical team for additional support. 

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Find out which is the right treatment for you by visiting our website here.  

References:

1. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2022 Jun 4;387(3). Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038

2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE MOUNJAROTM (mown-JAHR-OH) [Internet]. Available from: https://pi.lilly.com/us/mounjaro-us-ifu.pdf

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