Affordable Alternatives to Breaking Mounjaro Pens

As the popularity of GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro continues to grow, some patients have resorted to breaking open their injection pens to save money or adjust doses. While the motivations are understandable given the high costs, this dangerous practice puts patients at risk. Fortunately, there are alternatives to make these medications more affordable.

In the US, Mounjaro is sold as a nonadjustable single-dose pen with retail prices often exceeding $1,000 per month that cost the same independent of dose strength. Furthermore, many insurance plans provide limited or no coverage. As a cost-saving measure, or to manage side effects, recent reports indicate a concerning increase in patients tampering with their Mounjaro pens. This typically involves:

• Using tools like pliers to break open the sealed pen
• Extracting medication into separate containers
• Self-administering smaller doses
• Attempting to stretch one pen into multiple doses

SAFETY ALERT: Breaking open injection pens can lead to serious complications including infection, incorrect dosing, and loss of medication effectiveness.

One of the main risks of breaking Mounjaro pens concerns the potential for contamination. Mounjaro pens are sealed, sterile devices designed to ensure safe and uncontaminated medication delivery. By dismantling the pen, users risk introducing bacteria or other microbes into the medication. Injecting contaminated medicines can lead to serious infections, some of which may require medical intervention.

Furthermore, adjusting the dose by breaking open a pen bypasses the oversight of a healthcare provider. Tirzepatide dosing requires professional guidance to balance effectiveness with the management of side effects. In order to minimize side effects, the dose is ramped up from a low initial dose until a maintenance dose is reached. Self-adjusting doses can lead to underdosing, overdosing, or other complications.

While not recommended, using ”click-counting” can be used to adjust the dosage for Ozempic in a much easier manner. With Mounjaro, tampering with the pen or storing the extracted medication improperly can also degrade its quality and result in less effective treatment.

If cost is a barrier, or you are trying to find the ideal individualized dose, there are safer and more reliable options to make Mounjaro or similar medications more affordable compared to breaking pens:

1. Manufacturer Savings Programs Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, often offers savings cards and patient assistance programs for eligible individuals. These programs can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for those who qualify.

2. Explore Compounded Medications While compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved, some compounding pharmacies offer this option at a lower cost. If considering this route, ensure the pharmacy is reputable and meets high safety and quality standards.

3. Discuss Alternatives with Your Healthcare Provider Your doctor may recommend starting at a lower dose or exploring alternative medications that provide similar benefits at a lower cost. Some GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Ozempic or Wegovy, may have savings programs or be covered by your insurance.

4. Consider the Mounjaro Kwikpen Variant A Cash-Pay Health Network like CanAmerica Plus connects patients with licensed pharmacies that offer brand-name weight management treatments for less. One available packaging of Mounjaro is the Mounjaro Kwikpen which saves patients over $500 per month on average.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for medical diagnosis and treatment. The information provided is current as of January 2025 but medical knowledge evolves rapidly. Readers should verify any critical information.