Diabetes medication Mounjaro’s new ‘trending’ weight loss medication
Another diabetes medication called Mounjaro is the latest in
a new wave of drugs being used for dramatic weight loss.
Tirzepatide, marketed under the brand name Mounjaro, is the
most recent drug to gain international attention for its quick-fix results.
However, UAE doctors believe that because the drug has not
yet been approved by the FDA for weight loss, it should not be used for this
purpose.
Mounjaro is a drug approved by the US Food and DrugAdministration for type 2 diabetes patients,” Dr. Mustafa Saif of Aster
Hospital Mankhool in Bur Dubai told Al Arabiya English.
It aids in the reduction of blood sugar levels in adults.
When the patient follows a strict diet and exercises regularly, the results are
better.”
The drug appears to help overweight people lose
weight,” he continued. It is one of the drug’s side effects. It has yet to
be clinically proven, however. The drug is not approved for weight loss by the
US FDA.
The demand for Mounjaro follows worldwide reports of an
increasing number of people, including those in the UAE, attempting to obtain
diabetes injections such as Saxenda and Ozempic in order to use the medications
for weight loss.
Interest peaked after TikTok videos and Instagram
advertisements promoted the drugs as a miracle cure for stubborn fat.
Celebrities using the drug to lose a few dress sizes also played a role.
Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, and other similar drugs,
such as Wegovy, began as diabetes medications and were FDA-approved to treat
obesity in 2021, causing shortages.
When blood sugar levels are high, semaglutide contains a
compound that mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and helps
the pancreas release the appropriate amount of insulin. It also makes you feel
full by slowing stomach emptying and suppressing your appetite.
The drug has assisted people in losing up to 15% of their body
weight. However, in clinical trials, participants reported constipation,
nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhoea.
According to Dr. Saif, the Mounjaro drug is only given to
patients in the UAE to treat diabetes.
Even the drug itself is determined by the patient’s
profile.” We do not give Mount Kilimanjaro to everyone. Mounjaro assists
diabetic patients who are obese. As a result, the weight loss factor is a side
effect of the drug. It does not imply that the drug could be used for weight
loss,” he told Al Arabiya English.
The patient taking the Mounjaro drug feels fuller for a
longer period of time and consumes less food. This is the factor that allows
the drug to assist in weight loss. However, as previously stated, it is not an
FDA-approved weight-loss medication.”
Because clinical trials are still ongoing, the doctor
cautioned against using the drug for weight loss.
The drug’s dangers or Side Effects of
According to Dr. Saif, some research suggests that the
Mounjaro drug can cause thyroid C-cell tumours or a condition known as Multiple
Endocrine Neoplasis (MEN) syndrome, which causes tumours in the endocrine
glands.
If any patients are taking Mounjaro drug for diabetes,
they should contact their doctor immediately if they experience swelling in the
neck, hoarseness, or shortness of breath,” he said. “Nausea,
diarrhoea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, and other side effects
of the drug have been identified.” It may cause hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar) in some patients. People may experience dizziness, lightheadedness, and
drowsiness in this case.
If patients experience any of the above symptoms, he advised
them to consult their doctors or “report to a hospital immediately.”
According to Dr. Idrees Mubarik, a consultant
endocrinologist at Saudi German Hospital Dubai, the drug’s common side effects
include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, bloating, and occasional
abdominal pain. It can occasionally cause pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis),
which manifests as severe abdominal pain.
According to the doctor, activating both receptors raises
the levels of incretin hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, which are secreted from the
intestine after eating
This mechanism of action has an addictive effect in
glucose-dependent insulin release, which is extremely effective in lowering
glucose levels and increasing insulin sensitivity.” It is also responsible
for slowing gastric emptying and increasing the feeling of satiety, both of
which lead to weight loss.
Mounjaro is available in the United Arab Emirates, but the
demand for this medication from obese patients causes a supply shortage.
Patients with type 2 diabetes are having difficulty obtaining medication and
adhering to treatment regimens. Tirzepatide for obesity is expected to be
approved this year, and its pharmaceutical company has announced efforts to
combat a supply shortage.”
Dr. Scott Isaacs, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine
specialist, told Insider this week, “We do expect it to be approved for
the treatment of obesity,” though it’s unclear when.
Patients can still get the drug in the meantime.
Because tirzepatide is already FDA-approved for diabetes
treatment, doctors can prescribe it to patients for other purposes as well.
Tirzapetide works by influencing a hormone called GLP-1,
which regulates appetite, making the patient feel fuller. Tirzapetide is unique
in that it also affects another hormone related to insulin.
According to some studies, tirzepatide is more effective for
weight loss than other medications, based on a clinical trial that showed more
pounds lost.
However, Isaacs believes the evidence is inconclusive
because the study was designed to focus on diabetes rather than weight loss.
Doctors have warned that the disadvantage of weight loss
medications such as tirzepatide and semaglutide is that studies have shown that
patients must continue taking the medication in order to maintain their weight
loss.
