What to do during the Mounjaro shortage

Here’s what you need to know about the Mounjaro shortage, including how to prepare if it happens again

By Leandra Beabout | Apr. 10, 2024 Medically reviewed by Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG

Key takeaways

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a diabetes medication with weight loss as a side effect.
Off-label prescriptions for Mounjaro as a weight loss drug have led to a Mounjaro shortage.
The Mounjaro shortage negatively impacts diabetics’ access to this critical blood sugar control drug.
People with Type 2 diabetes can prepare for a Mounjaro shortage by requesting a three-month prescription or discussing Mounjaro alternatives, such as Ozempic or Trulicity, with their healthcare providers.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide), an injectable drug prescribed for high blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, has recently been in short supply. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first reported the shortage in December 2022, but availability issues have continued long after that. In fact, as recently as April 2, 2024, the FDA announced that shortages of certain Mounjaro dosages were expected to continue at least through the end of April.

Like the Ozempic shortage, the reason for the Mounjaro shortage is an increase in demand for the drug. If you or someone you care for has been prescribed Mounjaro for blood sugar control, you may be wondering: Is Mounjaro still on backorder? And even if it isn’t, how can you best prepare for another Mounjaro shortage?

Introduction to Mounjaro

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a weekly injectable medication manufactured by Eli Lilly Inc. It is classified as a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP 1) receptor agonist. Mounjaro works by increasing insulin output, decreasing glucagon production, and reducing appetite in part by delaying stomach emptying.

“The main purpose of Mounjaro is to treat diabetes,” says Ishita Prakash Patel, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist at Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology in Austin, Texas. However, the combination of appetite suppression and delayed stomach emptying also causes weight loss with Mounjaro. Clinical trials and studies have shown a range of 19.5% to 24.3% body weight reduction, depending on Mounjaro dosage.

Reasons for a Mounjaro backorder

Drugs get backordered for many reasons, from labor shortages to heavily regulated supply chains. But in the case of Mounjaro, the backorders are simply a result of supply and demand.

Though Mounjaro is not FDA approved for use as a weight loss drug, information about its weight loss effects has ramped up requests for off-label prescriptions of Mounjaro for weight loss. High demand for the drug has led to a shortage of Mounjaro, according to Christina Bookwalter, Pharm.D., clinical pharmacist practitioner in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The good news is that drug shortages don’t last forever. “As more options in this class come on the market, there is less likelihood of shortages,” Dr. Patel says. “In addition, drug companies recognize increased demand and are ramping up production to keep up with the demand.”

Consequences of Mounjaro shortage

The immediate effect of a Mounjaro shortage is that patients who need the medication to control blood sugar levels cannot get their prescriptions refilled.

“This causes much disarray and disruption in care, as well as the potential for poorer outcomes,” Dr. Patel says. “On the provider end, constant shortages are taxing on our workflow as we have to come up with alternative plans between appointments to address the lack of a necessary drug from a patient’s regimen.”

Ultimately, a Mounjaro shortage stresses both patients and healthcare providers. Patients are impacted most in the short term, as they may miss doses while waiting for a prescription refill or experience new side effects from switching to an alternative medication. Long-term impacts on the healthcare sector may include more stress and demand on doctors and pharmacists.

Coping with Mounjaro shortages

Prescription drug shortages are cause for concern, but patients and healthcare providers still have options. If you are on an injectable medication for blood sugar control and are concerned that you may have trouble refilling your prescription during a Mounjaro shortage, there are a few short-term solutions to consider.

Ask your healthcare provider to write a three-month prescription. Mounjaro can be filled in one- to three-month supplies. Getting a three-month supply at the pharmacy will give you a reserve should the medication become difficult to obtain. However, if Mounjaro’s supply is low, a pharmacist may refuse to fill a three-month prescription until more of the drug becomes available.
Call several area pharmacies to ask about their Mounjaro supply. Supplies can vary regionally, so a pharmacy in a neighboring town might have Mounjaro in stock even if your local pharmacy does not.
Consult your healthcare provider about Mounjaro alternatives. Fortunately, there are multiple prescription medications for type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro alternatives

“There are many other medications that can be used to treat Type 2 diabetes,” says Bookwalter. “Unfortunately, Mounjaro is in a drug class of its own based on its unique mechanism of action in the body. The closest drug class would be GLP-1s, which include drugs like Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza.”

And then there are brand-name weight loss drugs with the same active ingredients as their diabetes drug counterparts: “Mounjaro is equivalent to Zepbound, which is marketed and labeled for weight loss,” Dr. Patel adds. Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in both drugs.

“Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are two additional similar medications that are marketed and labeled for weight loss.”

While there are several viable alternatives to Mounjaro for blood sugar control, there are a few things to keep in mind before making a change:

Switching medications takes time. It might take several weeks to figure out the best new medication and dosage for you.
Check your insurance coverage before switching. It’s always a good idea to check with your health insurance company before switching medications so you know whether you’ll be covered and be prepared for any out-of-pocket costs.
Consult your healthcare provider. Switching medications should always be done under the direct supervision of a healthcare provider to avoid interactions with other drugs or medical conditions.

Bottom line

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a diabetes medication, but it also causes weight loss. Mounjaro’s weight loss effects have led to an increased demand for off-label prescriptions of the drug. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you may be able to prepare for or cope with a Mounjaro shortage by asking your healthcare provider to write a three-month prescription, being willing to travel farther for prescription refills, or talking to your provider about switching to a Mounjaro alternative.