Mounjaro
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription injection used to improve blood sugar control in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It works best when you also follow a nutritious diet and exercise regularly. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) belongs to the drug class called GIP and GLP-1 agonists. The dosage is convenient because it's injected under the skin once a week. Some common side effects of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) include nausea and diarrhea. It can also lower your appetite, which might lead to some weight loss.
What is Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
What is Mounjaro (tirzepatide) used for?
Type 2 diabetes, in addition to a balanced diet and routine exercise
How Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. For short, it's called a GIP and GLP-1 agonist.
This medication works by acting like GLP-1 and GIP, two hormones that your gut releases into the body. These hormones raise your insulin levels after you eat. They also help lower the amount of glucose (sugar) that's released in the body. And they help slow down digestion. All of these actions help lower blood sugar levels.
Drug Facts
More on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) essentials
Get your GoodRx coupon
What are the side effects of Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (12-18%)
- Diarrhea (12-17%)
- Low appetite (5-11%)
- Vomiting (5-9%)
- Indigestion (5-8%)
- Constipation (6-7%)
- Stomach pain (5-6%)
Other Side Effects
- Faster heart rate
- Injection site reaction
Serious Side Effects
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): severe stomach pain that might spread to your back, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Dangerously low blood sugar: feeling hungry, fast heartbeat, shakiness, anxiety, sweating, tingling, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, confusion
- Kidney damage: nausea, vomiting, trouble urinating, muscle cramps, feeling confused, swelling in the ankles or feet, trouble breathing
- Gallbladder problems: pain in the upper right side of the stomach, nausea, vomiting
- Serious allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face
Source: DailyMed
More on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Change in vision
- Dehydration—increased thirst, dry mouth, feeling faint or lightheaded, headache, dark yellow or brown urine
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Pancreatitis—severe stomach pain that spreads to your back or gets worse after eating or when touched, fever, nausea, vomiting
- Thyroid cancer—new mass or lump in the neck, pain or trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, hoarseness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
Pros and cons of Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Pros
Given once weekly
Can lower A1C by an average of up to 2.3% in about 9 months
Injections can be given with or without food
Comes in vials and ready-to-use injectable pens
Can use if you have liver or kidney problems
Cons
Only available as an injection given under the skin
Can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Takes time to reach a dose that works well
Not approved for children
Might not be safe during pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
You can inject Mounjaro (tirzepatide) at any time of the day. It's helpful to choose the same day of every week to inject. If needed, set reminders for your injections to help you remember.
If needed, you can change the day of the week that you inject Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Just make sure that there are at least 3 days (or 72 hours) between the injections.
If you miss a Mounjaro (tirzepatide) dose by 4 days or less, inject as soon as possible. If it's been more than 4 days, skip the missed dose and wait for your next scheduled dose. For both cases, you can continue your regular weekly schedule afterwards. Call your care team if you're not sure what to do.
It's common to have stomach upset as a side effect of Mounjaro (tirzepatide). You can have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. For most people, side effects get better over time. Be sure to stay hydrated, especially if you vomit or have diarrhea. Tell your care team if you have these side effects and they bother you a lot or they don't get better.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can make birth control pills not work as well. This can raise the risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Talk to your gynecologist or primary care provider about switching to the patch or ring. Another option is to add a barrier method like condoms. Take these precautions for a month after you start Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and a month after your dose gets raised.
Tell your prescriber if you take a medication that's very sensitive to dose changes. One example is warfarin (Coumadin). Your prescriber might need to monitor you more closely while you're taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide). This is because Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can change how your body absorbs other medications.
If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your prescriber about safe ways to manage your blood sugar. We don't know if Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is safe during pregnancy. But animal studies showed that it might harm an unborn baby. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits are greater than the risks.
How to use Mounjaro (tirzepatide):
Your care team will show you how to inject Mounjaro (tirzepatide). They'll make sure you know how before you can do it on your own at home. Read the instructions for the pen or vial, and ask your care team if you have any questions.
How to store Mounjaro (tirzepatide): Store the medication in the refrigerator in its original container until you're ready to use it. Don't let the medication freeze, and don't use it if it freezes. If needed, you can leave the medication at room temperature (up to 86ºF) for up to 21 days (or 3 weeks).
If you accidentally drop the Mounjaro (tirzepatide) pen on a hard surface, don't use it to be safe. Use a new pen for your injection.
Before injecting Mounjaro (tirzepatide): Check the medication inside the pen or vial. Make sure it isn't cloudy and doesn't have particles (solid chunks). It should be clear, colorless to slightly yellow. If it looks different, don't use it and get a new pen or vial for the injection.
Where to inject Mounjaro (tirzepatide): Inject the medication under the skin of your stomach or thigh. You can also ask someone to help inject it under the skin at the back of your upper arm. Remember to choose a different area to inject each week. Don't inject into areas of skin that are tender, red, bruised, hard, or cut. This helps lower your chances of skin irritation or damage.
After each Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection: Place your used pen or syringe in a sharps container. You can also use some other puncture-resistant container, like an empty laundry detergent bottle. This helps prevent you and other people from getting hurt from a needle stick.
More on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) tips
Frequently asked questions about Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
How to save using GoodRx
What are the risks and warnings for Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk of thyroid cancer
It's not known if Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can cause certain thyroid cancers in people. But in studies on rats, those that were given the medication had a higher risk of thyroid cancer. It was more likely to happen when higher doses were used or when the medication was given for a long time.
To be safe, don't take Mounjaro (tirzepatide) if you or someone in your family has medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Also don't take this medication if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Talk to your prescriber so they can find a different way to help with your high blood sugar.
If you notice a lump on your neck while taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide), call your care team right away. Also get help right away if you have trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or hoarseness that won't go away. These could be signs of thyroid cancer. Your care team can check what's going on.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Some people taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide) had swelling or inflammation in their pancreas. This problem is called pancreatitis. It can sometimes cause serious damage to the pancreas or bleeding.
Call your care team right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis. This can include severe stomach pain that can go to your back, nausea, vomiting, and fever. You might need to stop taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when used with other diabetes medications
Risk factors: Using insulin | Taking medications that raise the amount of insulin in your body (e.g., sulfonylureas like glipizide)
Your blood sugar can get too low if you take Mounjaro (tirzepatide) with medications that raise the amount of insulin in your body. Examples include insulins or sulfonylureas like glipizide. If you're taking one of these medications, tell your prescriber. They might need to make changes to them to prevent low blood sugar.
Very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can be dangerous. Make sure you know how to tell and what to do when you have low blood sugar. Keep glucose tablets or hard candy with you at all times so you can get your blood sugar back up quickly. Get medical help right away if you still feel shaky, nervous, dizzy, weak, or confused, even after you've treated yourself for low blood sugar.
Allergic reactions
Risk factors: Allergy to GLP-1 agonist medications
Although rare, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can cause a serious allergic reaction. If you've had a severe reaction to a GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic (semaglutide), you might have a higher risk of an allergic reaction to Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
If you have an allergic reaction to Mounjaro (tirzepatide), get emergency medical help. Signs of an allergic reaction can be trouble breathing; swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face; rash; or hives.
Stomach side effects
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can cause side effects like stomach upset. This includes stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sometimes, these problems can be severe. Because of this, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) isn't the best choice for people with severe stomach issues, like gastroparesis (slowed emptying of your stomach).
Kidney damage due to dehydration
Risk factors: History of kidney problems | Dehydration due to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Some people who took Mounjaro (tirzepatide) had gotten kidney problems. Most times, this happened in people who had nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea as side effects. These side effects can lead to dehydration. And if dehydration is severe enough, it could cause kidney damage.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea while taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Let your care team know if you have these side effects. And tell them if you don't urinate or if you're not urinating normally. You might need to get blood work to make sure your kidneys are okay.
Eye problems in people with diabetic retinopathy
If you have an eye problem called diabetic retinopathy, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) might make it worse for a short time. This might happen when you first start the medication or when your prescriber raises your dose.
Tell your prescriber if you have diabetic retinopathy. Remember to get your vision checked regularly while you're taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide). This helps check if your eye problem gets worse during treatment. Let your prescriber and eye specialist know if you notice any changes in your vision.
Gallbladder problems
It's rare, but some people who took Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have had gallbladder problems. This can include gallstones. Call your prescriber right away if you have severe pain in the upper stomach, nausea, vomiting, or fever. These can be signs of gallbladder issues.
Lung problems during general anesthesia or deep sedation
Some people taking GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) who are put under deep sleep for surgery have had a serious lung problem. This happens when food or liquid from the stomach gets into the lungs by mistake.
This lung problem is rare. But it can happen with Mounjaro (tirzepatide) because the medication slows down digestion. This means that even if you didn't eat before your surgery like you're told, some food could still be in your stomach.
Tell your prescriber if you have any surgery or procedure requiring anesthesia planned. And make sure you tell the surgery team that you're taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide). It helps the medical team watch out for this lung problem and keep you safe.
More on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) warnings
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
The typical starting dose is 2.5 mg injected under the skin once weekly. Inject into the stomach, thigh, or back of the upper arm.
After 4 weeks, your prescriber will raise your dose to 5 mg injected under the skin once weekly.
Depending on how well the medication works, your prescriber might keep raising your dose every 4 weeks or so until you're at a dose that works best for you. The maximum recommended dose is 15 mg injected once weekly.
More on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) dosage forms
How much does Mounjaro (tirzepatide) cost?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) contraindications
Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
Allergy to Zepbound (tirzepatide)
What are alternatives to Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
Type 2 diabetes, in addition to a balanced diet and routine exercise
Manage Type 2 diabetes in people 10 years and older, along with diet and exercise
Lower the risk of heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or heart-related risk factors
Lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Lower the risk of worsening kidney problems and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD)
What is the latest news about Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) images
Get savings updates for Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Receive price alerts, news, and other messages from GoodRx about Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and other healthcare topics and relevant savings offers.By providing your email, you consent to receive marketing communications from GoodRx, which may include content and/or data related to men’s health, women's health, reproductive care, or sexual health. You agree to the GoodRx Terms of Use and acknowledge the Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
References
Best studies we foundEli Lilly and Company. (2024). Instructions for use: Mounjaro® (mown-JAHR-OH) (tirzepatide) injection, for subcutaneous use.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2024). Instructions for use: Mounjaro® tirzepatide injection single-dose vial for subcutaneous use.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2025). Mounjaro- tirzepatide injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Frías, J. P., et al. (2021). Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine.
He, L., et al. (2022). Association of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use with risk of gallbladder and biliary diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Internal Medicine.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Aspiration pneumonia.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Dehydration.
National Cancer Institute. (2019). Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2023). Managing diabetes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2024). Pregnancy if you have diabetes.
National Organization for Rare Disorders. (2024). Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
Patel, H., et al. (2023). Gastrointestinal adverse events and weight reduction in people with type 2 diabetes treated with tirzepatide in the SURPASS clinical trials. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Rosenstock, J., et al. (2021). Efficacy and safety of a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-1): A double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet.
You and Your Hormones. (2021). Insulin.
Compare other Diabetes Type 2, Management with Incretin-based Therapies drugs
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.