Jump to: How do Mounjaro and metformin work? | Why take Mounjaro and metformin together? | Take home message
You can take Mounjaro with metformin. Randomised controlled trials have suggested that the combination of the drugs has a complementary effect on improving blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes.
The trial also showed no additional side effects beyond those expected on GLP-1 medications, such as diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, no episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) were reported.
This research suggests that taking Mounjaro with metformin is a safe and effective strategy for people living with type 2 diabetes who need to get their blood sugar levels down and lose weight.
How do Mounjaro and metformin work?
Mounjaro is a dual-action weight-loss injection that mimics two hormones in the body, GLP-1 and GIP, that interact with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to lower food-seeking behaviour and hunger.
Mounjaro also helps the pancreas release more insulin, helping to lower blood sugar levels.
Mounjaro is famously known as a ‘weight-loss drug’, but it’s also approved for type 2 diabetes in the U.S. and UK.
Metformin works by reducing glucose (sugar) production in the liver and improves insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues. These actions help to lower blood sugar levels over time.
However, metformin hasn’t been shown to significantly impact weight and is generally considered weight-neutral.
Why take Mounjaro and metformin together?
Taking Mounjaro and metformin together may be considered by clinicians for individuals with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, where other medication combinations haven’t helped to lower blood sugar levels.
When used together, Mounjaro and metformin’s complementary effects enhance overall efficacy.
Metformin’s ability to improve insulin sensitivity complements Mounjaro’s appetite-suppressing effects, making it a beneficial combination for people living with type 2 diabetes.
Research combining the two drugs has shown it can lead to significant weight loss and blood sugar control.
Over 75% of participants prescribed Mounjaro 5 mg achieved HbA1c (blood sugar) normal blood sugar levels after 40 weeks of the intervention.
When metformin was combined with Mounjaro’s highest dose of 15 mg, this level increased to 84%.
Combining Mounjaro with metformin also led to a significant weight loss of nearly 10%. The weight loss seen in this trial is around 15% lower than in trials of people living with obesity without type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, these results suggest that weight loss beyond 10% isn’t necessary for people living with type 2 diabetes to achieve significant improvements in their blood sugar control.
Indeed, many people living with type 2 diabetes don’t necessarily have a lot of weight to lose, and their condition may be unrelated to their current BMI and, more so, to their lifestyle, visceral fat levels, and genetic predispositions.
Take home message
Weight-loss injections are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.
Mounjaro and other weight-loss injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.
These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.
They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.
The core focus of our medication programmes is to calm down the feeling of food noise, lower your cravings, and allow you to build healthier habits, lower your blood sugar levels, and maintain a healthy weight in the long term.
The ultimate goal is to make healthy living second nature.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
