Mounjaro, is a weekly injection initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes and has thus been registered for weight loss treatment in adults. It gained its weight management title after it was internationally shown to benefit diabetics in their weight concerns.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) is a combination medication of GIP and GLP-1 receptors. There are multiple dosages of Mounjaro, ranging from 2.5mg to 15mg in single-dose pens, increasing in increments of 2.5mg at each dose. The lower dosages are designed to help the body adjust to the medication and its side effects before jumping to higher dosages where active weight loss is more likely to occur.
A comprehensive guide on how to use Mounjaro Pen
The steps to prepare and insert the pen safely can be watched on the video and are written below.
| Prepare to inject Mounjaro pen | |
| 1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Check the medication name and dosage. 2. Pull the kwikPen cap straight off – inspect the label to check the name and strength of the medication Make sure the medication has no particles, and ensure it is colorless and not cloudy. |  |
| Insert a new needle | |
| 1. Wipe the red inner seal with an alcohol swab. 2. Select a new pen needle. Always use a new pen needle for each injection to help prevent infections. 3. Pull the paper tab from the outer needle shield. |  |
| 4. Push the capped needle straight onto the KwikPen and twist the pen needle on until it is tight. |  |
| 5. Pull off the outer needle shield and keep it as this will need to be re-used. 6. Pull off the inner needle shield and dispose of it. |  |
| Check the flow with each new pen – Prime the pen | |
| 1. This is an important step before the first injection with each new pen. 2. Slowly turn the dose knob until you hear 2 clicks and the extended line shown in the dose window aligns with the dose indicator. This is the prime position. It can be corrected by turning the dose knob in either direction until the prime position is achieved. |  |
| 3. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up. 4. Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to 0. A drop should appear at the needle tip. This drop indicates the pen is ready. 5. If there is no drop, change the needle and check the flow again. |  |
| Set the dose | |
| 1. Prime the Kwikpen. Push and hold the dose knob in until it stops and the [ – 0] icon is shown in the dose window. Hold the dose known in and slowly count to 5. This will release an air bubble onto the tip. |  |
| Priming removes air from the cartridge and ensures that the Kwik pen is working correctly. Your Kwikpen has been primed once a small amount of medicine comes to the tip of the pen needle. | |
| Inject the dose | |
| 1. Choose an injection site – it can be the thigh, stomach, or upper arm. Rotate the injection site each week. |  |
| 2. Turn the dose knob until it stops and the [ -1 ] icon is shown in the dose window. |  |
| 3. Insert the needle into the skin 4. Inject the medicine by pushing the dose knob in until it stops. Hold the dose knob in and slowly count to 6. The window should show the [ 0 ] before removing the needle. |  |
| 5. Pull the needle out of the skin. A drop of medicine on the needle tip is normal. 6. If you see the [-0] icon, the dose is complete. If you don’t see the icon, insert the needle back in immediately and finish the injection, but do not turn the dose back to the [-1] icon. 7. Also, if it is not done immediately, the same injection can’t be re-inserted. |  |
| After the injection | |
| 1. If you see blood after you pull the needle out of your skin lightly press the injection site with gauze or a cotton ball. Do not rub the injection site. |  |
| 2. Carefully place the outer needle shield back on. |  |
| 3. Unscrew the capped needle in a sharps container. 4. Do not store the Kwikpen with the needle attached to prevent leaking. 5. Block the needle and air from entering the pen. Replace the Kwikpen cap. |  |
How to Use Mounjaro?
Wegovy FlexTouch pen is a dial dose pen that contains four of the prescribed doses of Wegovy to be used once a week for 4 weeks.
The pen
Before administering each injection, individuals should ensure that the Mounjaro pen is not expired and has been stored properly. If any irregularities or cloudiness is noticed, the doctor should be contacted and the pen not used. The dose window should be checked to ensure that the correct strength is used.
The needle
A new needle should always be used for each injection. The needle paper tab should be checked to see damages, if any, the needle should be disposed of. The paper tab should be removed and the needle put into the pen until it’s tight.
There are two caps – both caps need to be removed. Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later to help dispose of the needle after the injection. Pull off the inner needle cap and dispose of it.
The injection site
It should be administered in the fatty tissue of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The area chosen should be clean to reduce the risk of infection. The same body area may be used each week but not the same spot each time
Inject
Each pen has 4 doses and requires separate needles for each weekly injection. The pen must be primed by twisting the end to see the flow sign. Once the flow signs appear, tilt the pen straight up push the button, and wait for a drop on the needle.
Place the pen at the injection site, and twist the end until a ‘1’ appears in the window for a full dose. Press and hold the purple injection button for up to 10 seconds. Two clicks need to be heard, the first click is the injection started and the second click is the injection completed. When the gray plunger is visible, it indicates the injection is complete.
Protecting, storing, and disposing of the pen
It is important not to drop the pen on hard surfaces or expose it to liquids. If there is a doubt that the pen could be damaged, it’s best to dispose of it and use a different one. The cap should be kept on until it’s time to inject to ensure it stays sterile.
Mounjaro should be stored in a refrigerator within 2-8 degrees and not frozen. The Mounjaro carton can be kept between 8-30 degrees for up to 28 days given the cap has not been removed. It should always be stored in the original carton to protect it from light.
Mounjaro needles and pens should be disposed of carefully in a sharps bin. After the weekly dose, the needle should be disposed of in the sharps bin and a new needle used the following week. The pen has 4 weekly doses, after the 4 doses, it too should be disposed of in the sharps bin.
