Tirzepatide

💊 What is Tirzepatide used for?

• •Used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic control) in adults and in children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The label says it is not known if it is safe and effective in children under 10.

How it works

The label describes tirzepatide as a once-weekly GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It also says the medicine delays gastric emptying, which means food leaves the stomach more slowly.

How it is usually taken

• •The label says it is injected once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals. It is injected under the skin of the stomach (abdomen), the thigh, or the back of the upper arm (for someone else to inject). It must not be injected into a muscle or a vein. The label says to change the injection site with each weekly dose. The day of the week can be changed as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) pass between doses. Doses usually start low and increase in steps over time, as set by the prescriber. Do not mix it with insulin in the same injection. Read the Instructions for Use that come with the medicine, and follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Comes as

• •Pre-filled single-dose pens in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg strengths (each 0.5 mL)
• •Single-dose vials in the same strengths
• •Multi-dose vials that contain 4 doses per vial
• •Single-patient-use KwikPens that contain 4 doses per KwikPen

⚠️ Tirzepatide side effects

🛑 Who should not take Tirzepatide, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You or any of your family have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
• 🚨You have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• 🚨You have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in MOUNJARO.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your provider if you have or have had pancreas problems.
• •Tell your provider if you have severe stomach problems, such as slowed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food.
• •Tell your provider if you have a history of diabetic retinopathy.
• •Tell your provider if you are scheduled for surgery or procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). The label says these can cause pulmonary aspiration.
• •Tell your provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
• •Tell your provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
• •Talk to your provider about how to manage low blood sugar, especially if you take insulin or sulfonylureas.
• •Never share a KwikPen or needles with other people, even if the pen needle has been changed.

🔀 Tirzepatide with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •Insulin or insulin secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas): these may raise the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar. The label says the dose of these medicines may need to be reduced.
• •Oral (by mouth) medicines: tirzepatide delays stomach emptying and may affect how well other oral medicines are absorbed. The label says caution is needed, and patients taking medicines that depend on exact levels or that have a narrow therapeutic range (such as warfarin) should be monitored.
• •Birth control pills taken by mouth: they may not work as well. The label says to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.
• •Hormonal birth control that is not taken by mouth is not expected to be affected, according to the label.

Alcohol and food

The label says the medicine may be taken with or without food. The label does not give specific guidance about alcohol.

🤰 Tirzepatide in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label says there is not enough data to know whether tirzepatide causes birth defects, miscarriage, or other problems in pregnancy. Animal studies showed possible risks to the fetus. The label says it should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. It also notes that poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy carries risks to the mother and fetus. Tell your provider right away if you become pregnant.

Breastfeeding

The label says tirzepatide may pass into breast milk. Talk to your provider about the best way to feed your baby while using this medicine.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

The storage section of this label does not list storage temperatures. Follow the storage instructions that come with your pen or carton, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.

If a dose is missed

The label says to take a missed dose as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours) after the missed dose. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. Do not take 2 doses within 3 days of each other.

If too much is taken

The label says that if you take too much, call your healthcare provider or the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the nearest emergency room right away. The label notes that observation and treatment may be needed, and that the medicine has a half-life of about 5 days.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Tirzepatide

• How will I know which pen or vial I am getting, and how do I get trained to use it?
• What should I do if I miss a dose, and how do I decide on a new weekly day?
• Are my other diabetes medicines, such as insulin or a sulfonylurea, likely to need a dose change?
• Do I need a non-oral birth control method or a backup method, and for how long?
• What signs of thyroid problems should I watch for, given my personal and family history?
• What low blood sugar symptoms should I watch for, and how do I manage them?
• Will this medicine affect any of my other medicines, such as oral medicines or warfarin?

❓ Tirzepatide: frequently asked questions