8.4 million people in Germany suffer from type 2 diabetes!
Fortunately, there are now numerous medications available to treat this common chronic diabetes disease, including tablets such as metformin, insulin therapy, and antidiabetic injections such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, Victoza, Trulicity, Byetta.
Mounjaro, approved in Germany in September 2022 , is the newest product on the market and doctors are already prescribing it on a large scale.
Mounjaro is prescribed in injection pens for weekly self-injection by patients at home.
While using a Mounjaro pen is quite simple , subcutaneous injection can be very challenging for some. Here is a step-by-step guide to injecting Mounjaro correctly , efficiently, stress-free and pain-free!
Similar article:How does Mounjaro work for weight loss and diabetes?
Mounjaro approval in Germany
Mounjaro is an injectable, prescription drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that has been approved in Germany since September 2022. Its active ingredient , tirzepatide, belongs to the drug class of GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists.
It is important to understand that Mounjaro is not insulin and therefore will not work for people with type 1 diabetes, as their pancreas cannot produce insulin at all. Instead, it lowers blood sugar levels by simultaneously increasing the body's insulin secretion and decreasing glucagon secretion.
It is also different from other type 2 diabetes injections such as Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, and Byetta.
Mounjaro injections, together with diet and physical exercise, significantly help reduce the risk of serious diabetes-related complications such as heart and kidney disease, vision problems and peripheral neuropathy .
Mounjaro is approved in Germany for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as for weight loss . However, despite approval, the costs for the latter are not covered by health insurance companies.
Dosage of Mounjaro
Mounjaro is administered once weekly by subcutaneous injection (under the skin) using an easy-to-use single-dose injection device called an injector pen.
Patients are responsible for self-injecting the medication at home . Doctors and nurses should review injection instructions with patients before sending them home with their prescriptions.
Mounjaro - How to inject?
Mounjaro is available as a single-dose auto-injector pen with 6 different dosage strengths (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg). Remember that only your doctor can decide what dose you need.
The pens come in packs of 4 units , allowing treatment for 4 weeks (one month).
The Mounjaro pen is very practical. It is ready to use , does not need to be mixed and you never have to handle the needle or even see it .
Mounjaro Pen for syringes
How do I use the Mounjaro Pen?
You can inject Mounjaro yourself or ask someone to do it for you. Here's how to inject Mounjaro correctly :
Step 1. Prepare, wind and check the Mounjaro Pen
Mounjaro is a temperature-sensitive medicine that must be stored in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C.
Before injecting Mounjaro, take a new pen out of the refrigerator and make sure it is not damaged and suitable for use.
Before use, check that the expiry date on the pen has not passed and make sure it is the same dose as your doctor prescribed.
It is also advisable that you visually inspect the medicine. It should look colorless to slightly yellow and should not contain any particles. Do not use the pen if it looks cloudy, frozen or contains particles. These signs may indicate that the medicine has spoiled.
Step 2. Wash your hands and choose the injection site
Once you are sure your pen is safe, place it on a clean surface and wash your hands .
Then choose the place where you want to inject your medicine. Mounjaro is given subcutaneously (under the skin) and can be injected into the abdomen, thighs or upper arms .
Remember to rotate injection sites and use a different site each week to avoid skin complications .
Step 3. Remove the Mounjaro Pen cap
Make sure your Mounjaro pen is locked with the green lock symbol , then pull off the grey base cap and throw it in the household waste.
Please note that you cannot re-cap the pen once it has been removed as this may damage the needle.
Step 4. Attach the pen, unlock and inject
You can now place the transparent base of the Mounjaro pen on the skin at the chosen injection site. It must lie flat on the skin. Once it is well positioned, unlock the pen by turning the locking ring.
Then press the injection button and hold it for 10 seconds. You should hear two clicks . The first click indicates that the injection has started. The second click indicates that it is complete. Done!
Where do you inject Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is only injected subcutaneously (under the skin). The recommended injection sites for Mounjaro are the abdomen, thighs and the back of the upper arms .
You can inject yourself into the abdomen or thigh, but you will probably need help from someone to inject into the upper arms . Subcutaneous injections may cause mild pain or discomfort . Try different injection sites and find out which one works best for you. But remember to rotate injection sites every week to avoid skin complications.
When is the best time to have a Mounjaro injection?
The best time of day to take Mounjaro is simply the time that works best for you . Some people prefer to inject Mounjaro in the morning, while others feel more comfortable with injections in the evening. You can inject Mounjaro at any time you like , but it must be on the same day each week.
You do not need to eat anything before or after taking Mounjaro.
What if you forget an injection?
If you forget to take your Mounjaro injection, don't panic! According to the Eli Lilly company , the manufacturer of Mounjaro, here's what you should do if you forget one of your weekly injections:
- If it is less than 4 days since the missed dose , take the dose now and continue with your schedule without changing your next injection date.
- If more than 4 days have passed , skip this dose and take the next weekly dose as scheduled.
Always make sure that at least 3 days pass between two Mounjaro injections . If you are not sure whether you have forgotten your injection, do not take a second dose of Mounjaro . Instead, call your doctor and ask for advice.
Set a weekly reminder on your phone or download a reminder app to avoid missed injections!
Mounjaro injections: Frequently asked questions and answers
Storage of Mounjaro Pens
Tirzepatide, the active substance in Mounjaro, is a biological medicine that can degrade rapidly if not refrigerated . Therefore, Mounjaro requires special storage rules.
Your pens must be refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C and may only be stored at room temperature, below 30°C, for a maximum of 21 days .
If you want to learn more about how to properly store your Mounjaro pens , check out our complete guide to Mounjaro storage at home and while traveling .
Can Mounjaro also be injected cold?
Yes, you can inject cold Mounjaro directly from the refrigerator. However, cold medicine may cause more pain during the injection. Therefore, you can leave the pen at room temperature for 10-20 minutes before injecting Mounjaro, although this is not necessary.
It is important, however, that you do not heat the pen under any circumstances. High temperatures could destroy the medicine it contains.
How do you know if you have injected correctly?
During the injection, the Mounjaro Pen makes two "clicks": one to indicate that the injection has started and one when it is complete.
Make sure you hear these 2 clicks and wait at least 10 seconds while pressing the injection button. Another sign that you have injected Mounjaro correctly is the grey plunger inside the pen. It is not visible before the injection, but only after the medication has been administered.
Disposal of used Mounjaro Pens
Mounjaro pens are injection devices that contain a needle. They are sharp objects that should be disposed of safely so as not to endanger anyone, especially children and garbage collectors. Do the environment and your fellow human beings a favor anddispose of the pens and syringes properly. It is best to do so in a special plastic disposal box. These are available in various sizes for little money in the pharmacy, so you can safely dispose of your diabetes waste in the general waste.
Have you recently been prescribed Mounjaro? What do you think of it?
