Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription medication recently approved by the FDA for improving blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro is delivered as a once-weekly injection and works by mimicking natural hormones in the body that regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.
While Mounjaro is not specifically indicated for weight loss, research has shown its effectiveness for significant weight reduction in people with obesity and diabetes. If you are hoping to lose weight, you may be wondering how to get a prescription for Mounjaro and have insurance cover some of the costs.
This guide covers how to get Mounjaro for weight loss, from eligibility requirements to tips for affording Mounjaro treatment.
How Mounjaro Promotes Weight Loss
To understand how to get Mounjaro for weight loss, it helps to know how it works. Mounjaro acts similarly to the hormones GLP-1 and GIP. By activating receptors for these hormones in areas of the brain that control appetite and food intake, Mounjaro makes you feel fuller faster so that you eat less food. It also slows down digestion, allowing the food you eat to stay in your stomach longer, further promoting feelings of fullness.
When combined with lifestyle measures like choosing healthier foods and getting regular exercise, the appetite-suppressing effects of Mounjaro make it easier to maintain a calorie deficit needed for shedding excess pounds. Clinical studies found that people taking Mounjaro lost 26% body weight over 84 weeks, though individual results can vary considerably. Such significant weight reduction can translate to better cardiovascular health, improved mobility, lower cancer risk, and diabetes remission.
How to Get Mounjaro for Weight Loss
Mounjaro is only available with a valid prescription written by a licensed healthcare provider. To get Mounjaro for weight loss, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or endocrinologist. At this initial consultation, openly discuss your weight loss goals and why you feel you may benefit from pharmacological therapy.
Be prepared to give your complete medical history, including any conditions, medications, or supplements you currently take, so the provider can determine if Mounjaro is clinically appropriate and safe for you. Certain contraindications like pregnancy, history of thyroid cancer, and endocrine disorders may preclude using the medication. Your physician will also want to rule out any identifiable secondary causes contributing to obesity other than behavioral and lifestyle factors alone.
If given the green light, your healthcare provider will furnish a prescription with clear instructions for using Mounjaro properly. This includes injecting the correct dose as scheduled, being aware of potential side effects, and adhering to follow-up monitoring requirements. You’ll also receive guidance on recommended diet and exercise changes to complement the effects of Mounjaro for achieving sustainable, healthy weight loss.
Who Can Prescribe Mounjaro?
In the United States, licensed medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathy (DOs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs) can all prescribe Mounjaro legally. This includes your regular primary care physician, endocrinologists who treat diabetes and obesity, as well as certain specialty weight loss clinics with certified clinicians.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can write prescriptions within their licensed scope of practice as determined by state laws. While this can vary regionally, most states allow NPs and PAs fairly wide prescription privileges. Seeing one of these providers for accessing Mounjaro may offer more convenience and affordable options compared to traditional physician offices.
Considerations Regarding How to Get Mounjaro for Weight Loss
When aiming how to get Mounjaro for weight loss, some additional factors warrant consideration beyond basic eligibility requirements:
1. Cost and insurance coverage
Mounjaro is expensive without insurance, often valued from $1000 to $1500 for a one-month supply. While insurance plans typically cover it for diabetes management, those seeking Mounjaro solely for obesity may need to pay substantial out-of-pocket costs.
2. Manufacturer savings
Eli Lilly, the company that makes Mounjaro, offers savings cards and patient assistance programs that can lower expenses for those meeting select criteria. Uninsured patients may benefit most from these special savings options.
3. Lifestyle regimen
Success with Mounjaro depends on more than just taking medication alone. Adopting healthy eating habits, exercising, getting enough sleep, and coping with stress are all pivotal lifestyle components that promote sustainable weight loss.
4. Potential side effects
As with most medications, Mounjaro can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort—especially when first starting. These adverse effects often resolve within a month of continued use.
5. Alternatives
Other FDA-approved medications for chronic weight management include semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda). These viable alternatives have a similar mechanism of action to Mounjaro.
Affording Mounjaro Treatment
One of the biggest barriers that patients run into regarding accessing Mounjaro is the high price tag. With GoodRx coupons, Mounjaro costs about $1200 monthly without insurance. While eligible patients can acquire manufacturer savings cards and enroll in patient assistance programs to significantly cut costs, these resources primarily center on those using Mounjaro for diabetes.
For individuals seeking how to get Mounjaro for weight loss, insurance coverage can be difficult to obtain. That said, those with supplemental Medicare plans or existing obesity diagnoses may find their providers more amenable to prescribing Mounjaro with at least partial insurance coverage following appeals and prior authorizations. Contact your insurance carrier directly to better understand specific policies regarding Mounjaro coverage in your unique situation.
Complementary Lifestyle Strategies
While tremendously beneficial for many seeking to lose excess weight, using Mounjaro alone isn’t enough. Employing positive lifestyle strategies builds upon the medication’s effects so that you can shed pounds safely and sustainably. When addressing underlying drivers of obesity, having a multi-pronged game plan leads to better outcomes long term.
To complement pharmacotherapy, adopt the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasizing nutritious whole foods. If needed, get referrals to registered dietitians or nutritionists to help formulate heart-healthy, balanced eating habits catered to your food preferences. Additionally, strive for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity at the minimum, working up to 300 minutes over time.
Beyond diet and exercise, prioritize proper sleep, relaxation techniques, social connection opportunities, and positive reframing of unhelpful thought patterns around food and body image. Some individuals benefit from targeted counseling as well. Discuss adding ancillary weight loss resources with your overseeing provider to identify options covered by your health insurance.
Tracking Progress
Consistency tracking progress gives helpful feedback on how well Mounjaro is working for you. Beyond just the numbers on the scale, monitor waist circumference, body fat percentage, blood sugar trends, blood pressure levels, lipids panels, and inflammation markers. Keeping an accurate food and activity log allows you and your care team to analyze the data, making dosage or lifestyle adjustments as needed.
Set realistic, measurable goals around improved mobility, reduced joint pain, stabilized comorbidities, enhanced self-confidence, decreased medication burdens, and other benefits stemming from successful weight reduction. Weigh yourself, take progress photos, and assess how well clothes fit around once monthly. More frequent measurements may falsely show plateaus that obscure the overall downward trajectory.
Celebrate milestones through this journey to keep you motivated, like dropping a clothing size, being able to walk longer distances, fitting comfortably in airplane seats and small spaces, completing 5Ks, lowering A1c levels, or simply feeling healthier. Track and highlight your victories, big and small!
Bottom Line
So, you have the answer to the question “how to get Mounjaro for weight loss” meeting with a licensed healthcare provider to evaluate if the obesity medication is clinically appropriate and safe for you. If approved, receive instructions for properly administering the weekly injection.
For best results, combine Mounjaro with healthy lifestyle changes like nutritious eating, regular exercise, and positive behaviors. Consistently track progress, celebrating small milestones that motivate the ongoing success of your weight loss journey.