Administration of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, available in single-dose prefilled pens and single-dose vials. 1
Route and Formulation
- Subcutaneous injection is the only approved route of administration for tirzepatide 1
- The medication comes in two formulations:
Dosing Schedule
- Once-weekly administration is the standard dosing frequency 1
- Tirzepatide is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus 1, 2
Mechanism and Clinical Context
- Tirzepatide is a first-in-class dual incretin agonist targeting both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors 1, 2
- It can be used as monotherapy or as add-on therapy to oral glucose-lowering medications and insulin 1
Important Safety Considerations
- The most common adverse events are gastrointestinal (nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting), typically mild to moderate in severity 1
- There is a low risk of clinically significant or severe hypoglycemia 1
- One case report has documented pulmonary embolism following tirzepatide initiation, though the relationship remains unclear and requires further investigation 3