All About Mounjaro, The Likely Equivalent Of Weight Loss Drug Ozempic

India has introduced its first weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, with Eli Lilly launching the medicine in the country, Bloomberg reported.

Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is designed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes to help improve blood sugar levels, when used alongside diet and exercise. The drug will be available in single-dose vials, priced at Rs 3,500 for 2.5 mg and Rs 4,375 for 5 mg, with pricing tailored to the Indian market to enhance accessibility.

Mounjaro works by activating both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Mounjaro is not recommended for individuals with type 1 diabetes or those who have had pancreatitis. It is also not known if the drug is safe and effective for children under 18 years of age. The medication may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer, and should not be used by individuals with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, information available on Eli Lilly website indicated.

The most common side effects of Mounjaro include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Patients are advised to consult their healthcare provider if they experience any side effects.

It was also pointed on the website that, risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher, while using Mounjaro with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. 

Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, or mood changes, hunger, weakness and feeling jittery.