From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
No, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) does not typically cause an increase in blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes; in fact, it is specifically designed to lower blood glucose levels. Mounjaro is a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist medication that works by enhancing insulin secretion when blood sugar is high, slowing gastric emptying, reducing glucagon secretion, and decreasing appetite. The typical starting dose is 2.5 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks, then increased gradually to a maintenance dose of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly based on glycemic response and tolerability. While Mounjaro effectively lowers blood sugar, patients should be aware of potential hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially when used with other diabetes medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, and constipation, but these often improve over time. Patients should monitor their blood glucose regularly when starting or adjusting Mounjaro doses to ensure appropriate glycemic control, as supported by the most recent study 1. Some key points to consider when using Mounjaro include:
- Its ability to lower HbA1c levels, with reductions of -1.87 to -2.59% reported in clinical trials 2
- Its effectiveness in promoting weight loss, with patients losing 5.4-11.7 kg in clinical trials 3
- Its potential to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, with a low risk of hypoglycemia when used without insulin or insulin secretagogues 4
- Its safety profile, which is generally similar to that of GLP-1 receptor agonists, with common adverse events including gastrointestinal events such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting 2, 5