If you’re considering getting a prescription for Mounjaro, Eli Lilly’s groundbreaking Type 2 Diabetes medication, you’re likely hoping that it will help you manage your blood sugar levels on an ongoing basis. In addition, you may also be looking forward to the possibility that it will promote healthy weight loss. Many patients are combining Mounjaro treatment with lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, to reap the benefits of lowering blood glucose levels while shedding pounds. But there’s one small hurdle for some patients to overcome when starting on Mounjaro: Mounjaro is an injectable medication.

For many first-timers, the prospect of self-administering an injectable prescription drug can feel slightly daunting. If this is the case for you, don’t worry. Many patients feel the same way but soon adjust. Eli Lilly (Mounjaro’s manufacturer) has invested a great deal of time and energy in streamlining the injection process and making it straightforward, simple, and comfortable for patients. In fact, the pharmaceutical company reports that 99% of patients in a study said that the Mounjaro pen was easy to use after adequate training.

There’s a wealth of information available about how to properly inject Mounjaro, including the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use and “How To Take Mounjaro” video. In addition, your doctor and/or pharmacist should clearly go over the drug administration process with you before you inject it for the first time.

Below, we’ve provided our own easy-to-understand overview of where and how to inject Mounjaro. If you still have questions after reading the information, it’s important to reach out directly to your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider for further guidance.

Key Takeaways

  • Mounjaro is a Type 2 Diabetes medication that comes in six different-colored, single-use pens, each one corresponding to a specific dose of the drug.
  • Mounjaro is injected subcutaneously, into the fatty layer below the skin. Common injection sites include the abdomen, thighs, hips, and upper arms.
  • Mounjaro is injected once weekly and should ideally be taken on the same day at the same time each week.
  • Safe Mounjaro injection practices include proper storage of the drug, appropriate injection site preparation, checking the pen’s liquid, and proper pen usage and disposal.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about Mounjaro injections, contact your doctor or pharmacist or reach out to the drug manufacturer.

Getting To Know Your Mounjaro Prescription, Pen, and Dosage

Mounjaro pens are designed to be safe and easy to use, but if you’ve never seen or handled one before, you’ll still need a bit of an orientation to their anatomy. Essentially, Mounjaro pens are composed of the following parts from top to bottom:

  • At the top end of the pen, you’ll see a purple injection button. This is the button you’ll press when you’re ready to administer an injection.
  • Below that, you’ll see a lock ring with a green indicator line and “locked” and “unlocked” symbols. The indicator line should be lined up with the “locked” symbol until you turn it to the “unlocked” position just before injecting Mounjaro.
  • Underneath the lock ring, you’ll see the pen label, which includes information such as the medication’s expiration date and dose. Always consult this label before injecting Mounjaro to ensure you are taking the correct medication and dose and that it has not expired.
  • At the bottom of the pen, you’ll be able to see the medication through a clear base. This is where you’ll visually inspect your Mounjaro to ensure it is clear before injecting. It’s also where you should be able to see a gray plunger after the injection is complete.
  • The small injection needle is hidden under a gray base cap at the very bottom end of the Mounjaro pen. This cap should only be removed, exposing the needle, just before injecting Mounjaro.

Dosing Options Available

Mounjaro is available in six different doses. Patients taking the drug for the first time will begin with a starting dose of 2.5 mg. After four weeks, this dose will be increased to 5 mg for at least another four weeks. At this point, your doctor will evaluate your body’s response to the drug and decide whether or not further dose increases are indicated. Some patients remain on a 5 mg maintenance dose permanently, while others escalate up to 10 mg or even 15 mg doses over months, allowing the body to adjust for at least four weeks between 2.5 mg dose increases.

The maintenance dose that’s ultimately right for you will depend on your age, height, weight, lifestyle, and health goals. Always take Mounjaro exactly as prescribed by your doctor, and do not alter or increase doses except under medical supervision.

Each Mounjaro dose comes in a different colored pen to help patients easily distinguish between them. Standard Mounjaro doses (and pen colors) are as follows:

  • 2.5 mg (gray label)
  • 5 mg (purple label)
  • 7.5 mg (green label)
  • 10 mg (pink label)
  • 12.5 mg (blue label)
  • 15 mg (orange label)

Mounjaro pens are single-use, which means that after you inject medication you’ll need to properly dispose of the pen and use a new pen for the next dose. This means that if you are purchasing a one-month supply of Mounjaro, you’ll typically be purchasing four separate pens.

The Best Places To Inject Mounjaro

Mounjaro is administered via subcutaneous injection. In other words, the drug is injected into the fatty layer just below the skin—not into lean areas, muscles, or blood vessels.

The best places to inject Mounjaro are naturally fatty areas of the body, including the abdomen, thighs, upper arms, and hips. Rotating injection sites regularly is recommended to avoid the buildup of scar tissue. It is best not to inject Mounjaro into the same site two weeks in a row. If you notice any injection site reactions, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider.

How To Inject Mounjaro

The steps for injecting Mounjaro are quite straightforward. Carefully follow the same routine each week, and you’ll be comfortable with the process in no time.

Getting Ready

Before injecting Mounjaro, perform the following preparations:

  • Check the calendar. Ideally, Mounjaro should be injected on the same day each week around the same time of day to build a consistent routine.
  • Check the medication. Look at the label to ensure you’ve got the right dose and that it’s not expired. Visually inspect the medication to make certain it’s clear and free of particles.
  • Rub the injection site with alcohol and let it dry.

Injecting Mounjaro

  • Remove the gray cap to expose the needle and place the clear base against the injection site. Be careful not to touch or contaminate the needle at any point.
  • Turn the lock ring to the unlocked position.
  • Press the purple injection button to release the medication. You will hear one loud click as the injection begins and another when the dose has been completely administered.
  • Hold the pen in place for up to 10 seconds after hearing the second click.

After the Injection

  • Remove the pen and clean the injection site again with a clean alcohol swab.
  • Properly dispose of the Mounjaro pen in an FDA-approved sharps disposal container.

See also: Where to Inject Ozempic

How To Know if You Injected Mounjaro Correctly

There are two primary ways to confirm that you have administered a successful Mounjaro injection:

  • You heard two clear clicks—one indicating the start of the injection and the second indicating its completion.
  • You can see the gray plunger visible in the clear base where the medication used to be.

If one or both of these indicators does not seem to have occurred, it is recommended to contact Eli Lilly directly for further advice.

The Best Time of Day To Inject Mounjaro

The best time of day to inject Mounjaro is simply when you believe you’ll be most likely to remember to take it. Mounjaro can technically be injected at any time of day, but most patients find that connecting to a particular routine (e.g., eating breakfast or taking a shower) helps establish a consistent injection schedule.

If you miss a dose of Mounjaro, inject the missed dose as soon as you remember. If more than four days have passed (your next scheduled injection is less than 72 hours away), you should skip the dose and resume taking your next dose as planned. You should never inject an extra dose of Mounjaro to make up for a missed dose. Contact your doctor with any specific questions or if you’ve missed more than one weekly dose of the drug.

How To Store Mounjaro

Mounjaro should be stored as follows:

  • Keep Mounjaro in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit or at room temperature (not in excess of 86 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to 21 days.
  • Mounjaro should never be frozen. To avoid freezing, keep it away from the fridge cooling element.
  • Keep Mounjaro away from direct light. Storing it in its original carton is recommended.
  • Mounjaro pens contain glass parts and a needle, which must be handled with care. Always keep Mounjaro out of reach of children and pets.

Ordering Mounjaro From Canada

Ready to get your health and weight loss goals on track at an affordable price? Order high-quality Canadian Mounjaro from Bisonpharmacy.com at a price lower than you’d pay at your local pharmacy.

Ready to get started? Contact our qualified and experienced team directly today!

About the Author

Ida Edlweiss Gumpal is a licensed Pharmacist and medical writer. She took her internships at Mercury Drug Corporation, Inc., a Hospital internship at De Vera Medical Center, Inc., and a Manufacturing internship at Philmed Laboratories, Inc. She has plans on attending medical school with the goal of specializing in Neurosurgery or Cardiothoracic surgery.