Mounjaro 10mg Shortage - Latest Updates and Access Tips

Mounjaro 10mg Availability and Access Amid Rising Demand

Mounjaro is a new type 2 diabetes medication that is garnering significant interest for its additional off-label use as a weight loss aid. The rush for Mounjaro has led to shortages of the 10mg dose specifically. Here's a look at why Mounjaro is in such high demand, the shortage situation, and how patients can get access to Mounjaro 10mg if their pharmacy has no stock available.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a medication recently approved by the FDA to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of diabetic medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Mounjaro helps regulate blood sugar in multiple ways:

Increases insulin production from pancreatic beta cells
Lowers glucagon secretion to reduce glucose release by the liver
Slows digestion to prevent blood sugar spikes after meals
Increases feelings of fullness and satiety

In studies, Mounjaro has shown impressive results in lowering A1c, a measure of average blood sugar over 3 months.

Mounjaro for Weight Loss

In addition to improving blood glucose, Mounjaro also promotes weight loss. In clinical trials, patients lost on average 15-25 pounds over 20-56 weeks on varying doses. This off-label benefit for obesity makes Mounjaro appealing for wider groups of patients.

Mounjaro enables weight loss through:

Delayed gastric emptying leading to earlier satiety
Altered gut hormones that suppress appetite
Potential ability to increase resting metabolism

With celebrity influencers and social media touting dramatic weight loss on Mounjaro, demand has skyrocketed beyond just diabetes patients. However, supplies have not kept pace.

Why is There a Shortage of Mounjaro?

Several key factors have led to the limited 10mg Mounjaro stock:

High volume of new prescriptions as diabetics switch medications
Increased off-label prescribing for weight loss
Pandemic-related manufacturing and supply chain issues
Stockpiling by suppliers and distributors
Lack of availability of sample packs for new patients

The rush for weight loss prescriptions has led to much higher demand than the manufacturer anticipated following FDA approval. Ramping up production takes time, resulting in scattered shortages until manufacturing stabilizes.

Why is the Mounjaro 10mg Dose Most Impacted?

The Mounjaro 10mg dose is the starting dose for weight loss. The 5mg dose is intended only for patients with diabetes and kidney impairment. As a result, the bulk of new prescriptions are for 10mg leading to rapid depletion of stock.

Higher doses like 15mg and 20mg are typically prescribed only after 4 weeks on the 10mg starter dose. So there has been less demand initially for the higher strengths.

Will Mounjaro 10mg Shortages Continue?

Short term sporadic shortages of Mounjaro 10mg may continue over the next several months. The manufacturer Eli Lilly has stated they are working to increase manufacturing capacity to meet the unexpectedly high demand.

It’s anticipated supply will catch up with demand by mid to late 2023. However, if off-label prescribing for weight loss continues to accelerate, shortfalls may persist until production scales up sufficiently.

How Can Patients Get Mounjaro 10mg?

Despite spot shortages, there are ways for patients to get the Mounjaro 10mg dose:

Check multiple pharmacies - Call around to find a pharmacy with stock.
Request to be waitlisted - Many pharmacies keep waitlists and will call when doses arrive.
Ask about rationing - Pharmacists may provide partial fills to ration limited doses.
Enroll in a coupon program - The manufacturer offers coupons bringing costs down to $25-99 per month for eligible patients.
Consider bridge medication - Ask your doctor if similar medications like Trulicity could be used short-term.

Stay in close contact with your pharmacy and provider to stay updated on 10mg availability. Be patient and keep checking back periodically if doses are initially out of stock.

Strategies for Providers to Access Mounjaro

Prescribers can help ensure patients get Mounjaro 10mg by:

Writing 90-day prescriptions when possible to lower frequency of refills
Explaining situation to patients to set expectations
Starting patients at lower end of dosing range
Using bridge therapy temporarily if shortages persist
Partnering with pharmacies to stay updated on incoming stock

Providers should alert patients that it may take extra time and effort to fill Mounjaro prescriptions until manufacturing and supply chain stability improves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Patients understandably have many questions about accessing Mounjaro amid shortages. Some common FAQs include:

Is Mounjaro discontinued?

No, Mounjaro is not being discontinued. The manufacturer is actively working to ramp up production to meet spiking consumer demand.

When will Mounjaro 10mg be back in stock?

Timeframes are uncertain, but intermittent shortages could continue over the coming 3-6 months before stabilizing. Check often for restocked inventory.

Can my doctor prescribe a higher strength if 10mg is unavailable?

No, the 10mg dose should be started first. Higher strengths are intended for dose escalation after 4 weeks or longer at lower doses.

Can my prescription be filled partially now and the rest later?

Yes, pharmacists may be able to provide partial fills spread over multiple pickups as supply allows.

Will I have to pay full price if insurance won't cover it?

The manufacturer offers coupons that can lower costs to as little as $25 per month for eligible patients.

Outlook for Improved Mounjaro Availability

While frustrating for providers and patients alike, the Mounjaro 10mg shortages should moderate as manufacturing capacity expands over the coming months. Open communication and creative solutions to access can help ease the supply challenges in the interim until inventory levels fully rebound.

Working Together to Ensure Mounjaro Access

Mounjaro offers great promise in advancing type 2 diabetes management and potentially providing weight loss benefits. Moving forward, it will take enhanced collaboration between drug makers, prescribers, pharmacists, and patients to ensure this important medication gets to all who can benefit from it. Continued patience, advocacy and policy changes will help prevent supply issues in the future as demand grows for novel multifaceted therapies like Mounjaro.

FAQs

Why is there a shortage of Mounjaro 10mg?

High demand for off-label weight loss prescriptions has exceeded manufacturing capacity. Supply chain issues have also impacted availability of the 10mg starter dose.

How long will the Mounjaro 10mg shortage last?

Sporadic shortages could persist for several more months until production meets demand. Check often as supply fluctuates.

Can my doctor prescribe a higher strength if 10mg is out of stock?

No, it’s recommended to start with the 10mg dose. Higher strengths are intended for dose escalation after 4+ weeks at lower doses.

What can I do if my pharmacy is out of Mounjaro 10mg?

Options include checking other pharmacies, waitlisting, requesting partial fills, using coupons, or temporarily using an alternative medication.

Will I have to pay full price if my insurance doesn't cover Mounjaro?

The manufacturer offers coupons to lower costs. Eligible patients can pay as little as $25 per month even if insurance denies coverage.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.