> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hi-doctor.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to use a Mounjaro pen

> Using a Mounjaro pen week by week: preparation, injection sites, holding for five seconds, the published dose steps, storage and missed doses.

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and is given as one injection under the skin, once
a week, on the same day each week. This page covers handling the pen. The dose
and the schedule belong to the doctor who reviewed your consultation.

<Warning>
  The patient information leaflet packed with **your own pen**, and the
  instructions your doctor gave you, override everything on this page. Pen
  designs, needle types and dose steps differ between products and between
  presentations of the same product. If the two disagree, follow the leaflet and
  your doctor, and message the medical team.
</Warning>

## What Mounjaro is

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection for weight management. It copies two gut
hormones — GIP and GLP-1 — which together reduce appetite, slow how quickly your
stomach empties, and help steady your blood sugar. The EMA marketing
authorisation has been valid across the EU since 15 September 2022 under
EMEA/H/C/005620, and one central authorisation covers all 27 member states.

Alongside the single-dose pre-filled pen, the Spanish register also lists
multi-dose KwikPen and vial presentations at every strength — so check which one
you actually hold before following any instruction.

## Injecting

The injection itself is a fixed sequence. Work through it in this order every
week, and check each step against your own leaflet the first few times.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Wash your hands and check the pen">
    Check the label, the expiry date and the liquid. If it does not look the way
    your leaflet describes, do not use that pen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach a new needle">
    A fresh needle every time, if your presentation uses separate needles.
    Needles are single-use.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose and rotate the injection site">
    Rotate between **abdomen, thigh or upper arm** each week. Clean the area
    with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Inject just under the skin">
    Mounjaro is injected subcutaneously. Do not inject into a vein or muscle.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Hold it in place for 5 seconds after the click">
    The injection pen delivers the full dose — keep it still against the skin
    for 5 seconds after the click.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Remove the needle and dispose of it safely">
    Put it straight into a sharps container and never reuse it. See
    [injection sites and sharps disposal](/library/guides/injection-sites).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Pick a day and keep it

Inject on the same day each week. Pick a day that works for you.

If you forget a dose, take it **within 4 days** of the missed dose. If more than
4 days have passed, skip that dose and take your next one on the regular
scheduled day. More in [missed or late doses](/library/guides/missed-dose).

## The published dose schedule

Tirzepatide is dosed at 2.5 – 15 mg per week. The published escalation is:

| Period      | Dose, once weekly | Note                                                   |
| ----------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Weeks 1–4   | 2.5 mg            | Starting dose, to help the body adjust. Not increased. |
| Weeks 5–8   | 5 mg              | First step-up, continued for 4 weeks.                  |
| Weeks 9–12  | 7.5 mg            | Second step-up; the doctor may adjust the schedule.    |
| Weeks 13–16 | 10 mg             | Continues to build towards the maintenance dose.       |
| Weeks 17–20 | 12.5 mg           | Penultimate step; the doctor assesses progress.        |
| Week 21+    | 15 mg             | Maximum dose; reassessed every 3 months.               |

<Note>
  This is the published ladder, not an instruction. It is a chronic treatment for
  as long as it is beneficial and safe: the doctor reviews your response every
  3 months and decides with you whether to continue, adjust or stop.
</Note>

## Storage

Store unused pens in the refrigerator (2–8°C). Once opened, keep at room
temperature below 30°C for up to 30 days. Do not freeze. Keep away from direct
heat and light.

## Contact your doctor if

* severe or persistent nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea prevents you from eating or
  drinking
* you have severe abdominal pain that does not go away
* you notice signs of an allergic reaction — rash, itching, swelling of the face
  or throat
* any symptom worries you or feels unusual

For severe, sudden or unexpected symptoms, call your local emergency number
first — see [Safety](/essentials/safety).

Related: [Mounjaro](/library/medicines/mounjaro) ·
[tirzepatide](/library/medicines/tirzepatide) ·
[what to expect in the first month](/library/guides/what-to-expect-first-month) ·
[how a consultation works](/essentials/how-it-works) ·
[safety and eligibility](/essentials/safety)

## Start a consultation

<Card title="Weight-loss consultation" icon="stethoscope" href="https://hi-doctor.ai/consultation/weight-loss/1">
  Answer the weight-loss questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it.
  They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose —
  and declining is a normal outcome. See [what it costs](/essentials/pricing)
  and [how the review works](/essentials/how-it-works).
</Card>

<Warning>
  This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription.
  Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor
  after reviewing your consultation.
</Warning>