Who this is for
- Diets and exercise plans that never last
- No realistic time to exercise
- Weight that keeps coming back
- An appetite that will not settle
- Having gone as far as self-directed dieting can take you
FEATURES
About the treatment
What this treatment is
The medicines we use are principally GLP-1 receptor agonists, which reproduce the action of GLP-1 — a hormone the body already produces.
They blunt appetite and hold the feeling of fullness for longer, so weight can be managed without a punishing diet. They also support insulin release and moderate the rise in blood sugar.
They were developed as treatments for type 2 diabetes. Weight loss emerged as a consistent effect, and they are now widely used in the treatment of obesity and in weight management.
What GLP-1 actually is
GLP-1 is a hormone released by the small intestine when you eat.
It signals fullness to the brain and blunts appetite, and it helps keep blood sugar under control.
A GLP-1 receptor agonist borrows that mechanism. Developed originally for type 2 diabetes, it is now widely used for obesity and for medical weight management.
How it works
- Appetite settles
- You feel full sooner, which makes it harder to overeat.
- Fullness lasts longer
- The stomach empties more slowly, so hunger returns later and portions come down on their own.
- Blood sugar rises more gently
- When blood sugar climbs after a meal, insulin release is supported and the spike is softened.
On safety
GLP-1 receptor agonists have been in use in diabetes care for many years.
Used properly and under a doctor’s supervision, treatment can be managed with safety in view throughout.
Tell us beforehand if any of these apply
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You are trying to conceive
- You have had pancreatitis
- You have a serious gastrointestinal condition
- You are being treated for diabetes
- You are taking other medication
At your consultation we go through your current health and anything you are already taking, so that treatment can be started safely.
The medicine we use
- Product
- Mounjaro Subcutaneous Injection 2.5 mg Ateos (Eli Lilly Japan)
- How it is taken
- Self-injected once a week; timing around meals does not matter
- Side effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, indigestion, redness, swelling, pain, dizziness. Serious reactions include hypoglycemia, acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis
- Package insert
- Mounjaro Subcutaneous Injection Ateos — package insert (PDF, external site, in Japanese)
What a course looks like
Mounjaro, a GLP-1 / GIP receptor agonist, is injected under the skin once a week. It blunts appetite and supports insulin release, keeping blood sugar in check, with weight reduction as the goal.
* Depending on your doctor’s assessment, you may be giving the injection yourself.
- Length of course
- 3 to 6 months, though this varies
- Frequency
- Once a week — 12 to 24 injections over a typical course
- Stepping up the dose
- You start at 2.5 mg. Every four weeks we review how it is working and how you are tolerating it, and step up to 5 mg, 7.5 mg and beyond only if it makes sense.
Side effects
In the first weeks, and again after a dose increase, the following can occur.
- Nausea
- An unsettled stomach
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Reduced appetite
Most of these ease as your body adjusts, but tell us if they are severe or do not pass.
Serious reactions such as acute pancreatitis have been reported, rarely. If you develop severe abdominal pain, pain that radiates to the back, or repeated vomiting, stop the medicine and seek medical attention promptly.
About unapproved use of this medicine
- This is an unapproved use
- The medicine is approved in Japan as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Prescribing it for the treatment of obesity is not an approved use in Japan.
- Where it comes from
- Purchased through a domestic pharmaceutical distributor in Japan.
- Approved alternatives in Japan
- Zepbound, which contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro (tirzepatide), is approved in Japan for the treatment of obesity. Wegovy (semaglutide) and Sanorex (mazindol), among others, are also approved in Japan for the treatment of obesity.
- Safety information from abroad
- Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists are approved as obesity treatments by the FDA in the United States, and in Japan.
- The national relief system for adverse drug reactions
- Should a serious adverse reaction occur, it would fall outside Japan’s national relief system for adverse drug reactions.
