March is National Nutrition Month
Today about half of all American adults have one or more chronic diseases, often related to poor diet.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a medication approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. At Atlanta Endocrine Associates, Dr. Scott Isaacs offers accurate diagnosis and state-of-the-art weight management. To learn more, contact the office in Atlanta, Georgia or request an appointment online.
Even though the approved indication is only for diabetes, newly released research has shown that tirzepatide is the most effective weight loss medication that has ever been available. Weight loss numbers are double or triple that of other weight loss medications and approach the results seen with bariatric surgery. Mounjaro is a dual incretin agonist or a “twincreatin” working on two hunger hormone receptors: GIP and GLP-1. The average weight loss with tirzepatide is an astonishing 22.5%.
GIP = glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide
GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide-1
The weight loss with tirzepatide is greater than any other medication, including semaglutide, which is sold under the names Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. These medications long-acting versions of other GLP-1 medications that have been on the market for over a decade such as liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda), dulaglutide (Trulicity) or exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon). Until now, semaglutide has been considered the newest and the most powerful weight loss medication, but now tirzepatide appears to produce even greater weight loss by stimulating two satiety hormone receptors instead of just one.
The side effects of tirzepatide are like GLP-1 medications, mainly nausea and gastrointestinal disturbance. Most side effects are brief when the medication is started at the lowest dose and slowly boosted over time. There are 6 doses available.
Other weight loss medications include:
The best weight loss results are seen when weight loss medications are combined with intensive lifestyle modification and calorie restriction. The major benefit of weight loss is improvement comorbidities of obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids and heart disease which can be seen with as little as 5% weight loss.
Remember, tirzepatide or any other weight loss medication is not a magic bullet but simply a tool to lower appetite for sustained calorie reduction. There is no perfect medication for obesity. A medication that may work for a family member or a friend may not be the ideal medication for you. Treating obesity can be complicated so it is best to work with a knowledgeable health care professional who is dedicated to working with you over the long term.
Information about the Mounjaro Savings Card:
For patients with commercial drug insurance coverage for Mounjaro: The original offer was good until 12/31/2023 for up to 24 fills or whichever comes first but many people have had difficulty with this savings card and it may not work in all areas. Patients must have coverage for Mounjaro through their commercial drug insurance coverage and a prescription consistent with FDA-approved product labeling (type 2 diabetes) but the card may no longer allow you to pay as little as $25 for up to 12 pens of Mounjaro. The offer was subject to a monthly cap of $250 and a separate annual cap of $3,000.
For patients with commercial drug insurance who do not have coverage for Mounjaro through their commercial drug insurance: The original offer was good until 06/30/2023 for up to 12 fills or whichever comes first but many pharmacies refuse to honor the savings card without a documentation of diabetes. Patients must have commercial drug insurance without Mounjaro coverage and a prescription consistent with FDA-approved product labeling (type 2 diabetes) to received the discount but may have to pay more than $25 for 4 pens of Mounjaro. Offer subject to a monthly and annual cap of wholesale acquisition cost plus usual and customary pharmacy charges.
People with prediabetes, obesity, PCOS, or other conditions related to insulin resistance can be treated with Mounjaro if a physican decides it is medically appropriate but are not elgible for the $25 Mounjaro Savings Card.
If you’d like to learn more about tirzepatide (Mounjaro) or other ways to achieve permanent weight loss, please feel free to call us or schedule an appointment with Dr. Isaacs using the online booking tool on this website.
