Mounjaro on the NHS: What you need to know about ‘King Kong of weight-loss drugs’
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The NHS spending oversight body has advised that Mounjaro, also referred to as tirzepatide and produced by Eli Lilly, should be offered to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 35 who also have at least one health condition related to their weight.
The medication will be introduced to the NHS step by step over the next 12 years.
On Thursday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced that individuals with the greatest needs will be given priority access. As a result, initially, fewer than 10% of eligible patients in England will be able to use the NHS for these services.
Professor Jonathan Benger, the chief medical officer at Nice, stated, "In three years, things will have changed significantly. That's why we've made the unusual choice to reassess how this medication is provided to patients."
Tirzepatide and similar medications, like semaglutide, can assist individuals dealing with obesity in shedding pounds. This, in turn, lowers their chances of experiencing heart disease or suffering a stroke.
"However, tirzepatide isn’t suitable for everyone, and initially, only individuals with the most pressing medical needs will receive this treatment."
“This means that a lot of individuals will need to be patient. We’ve had to make this tough choice to safeguard other essential NHS services and to experiment with how to provide this new type of weight loss treatment.”
"Mounjaro is the trade name for tirzepatide, a weekly injection designed for weight loss that has recently received approval for use in the UK and can now be ordered online with a prescription," explains Dr. Mitra Dutt, a general practitioner at Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor. "Similar to many weight-loss drugs introduced in recent years, Mounjaro was initially created and approved for individuals with Type 2 diabetes."
In November 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the medication for weight loss and management as part of efforts to address obesity.
So, how does it actually function?
Mounjaro's main component is tirzepatide. According to Dr. Kathryn Basford from Asda Online Doctor, it functions by imitating the effects of the hormones GIP and GLP-1, which are released from the intestines after a meal and help communicate a sense of fullness to the brain. Additionally, it promotes the secretion of insulin, a hormone that reduces blood sugar levels, and slows the movement of food through the digestive system.
Eventually, this will help with weight loss, as individuals will consume less because they feel fuller for an extended period.
Typically, individuals perform it on their own.
Basford recommends that the ideal spots for administering Mounjaro weight-loss pens are the abdomen or thighs, and the back of your upper arms if someone else is giving you the injection. It's important to keep the injections at least a finger’s width apart from the last injection site, and if you are injecting in the abdomen, make sure to stay at least 5cm away from your belly button.
Nonetheless, Dutt wants to emphasize that it isn’t a “magic pill.”
"Though it can be a helpful tool for losing weight, it's not a magic solution," Dutt points out. "It's crucial to pair this medication with other lifestyle adjustments, like eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity."
Who Can Use Mounjaro? Eligibility Explained
"According to Basford, the NHS plans to provide this service to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 who also have at least one health issue related to obesity, which could affect about 3.4 million people. However, the implementation will take place in stages."
NICE has advised that patients undergoing treatment at specialized weight-management clinics should be given priority for accessing the medication, which will be available to them within 90 days of the guidance's release on December 23.
NHS England is set to create a strategy that details additional patient groups who will be provided access to Mounjaro over the next three years, as stated by NICE.
Dutt explains, "This medication isn't intended for individuals with a normal BMI who simply want to lose weight. Mounjaro is specifically meant for those who are clinically obese and require medical assistance to achieve a healthier weight."
Are there any recognized adverse effects?
"When you begin taking Mounjaro, your doctor will give you an initial dose to help your body acclimate to the medication and to any potential side effects," Dutt explains. "The typical side effects of Mounjaro are similar to those of other weight-loss injections and include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and upset stomach."
