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Topics: Food and Drink, Health, News, Mounjaro
Lucy Devine
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, News, Mounjaro
A Mounjaro user has revealed what happened when they accidentally overdosed using the controversial 'golden dose'.
ICYMI, Mounjaro - the brand name for tirzepatide - is a drug that lowers blood sugar levels to treat diabetic people, but has also been approved to treat obesity.
Over the last few years, the number of people using weight loss injections has rapidly increased. According to a recent medical survey, around 12 percent of adults in the US use glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs.
The 'golden dose' - also known as the 'fifth dose' - is essentially extra fluid in the bottom of each pen, which comes with four doses of the drug as standard.
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In a bid to squeeze as much out of the pen as possible, people are using the extra fluid as a fifth dose.
Dozens on social media have suggested that using a syringe and needle can draw out the dregs, as per The Daily Mail, something health care providers have warned could come with serious consequences.
Over on the likes of Reddit and UK forum Mumsnet, one panicked Mounjaro user has posted asking for advice after accidentally taking too much of the 'fifth dose'.
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Although many people have reported being able to extract the liquid without much difficulty, many users of the drug have reported miscalculating how much of the liquid is equivalent to their usual dose.
One person explained what happened: "I'm normally so anal about following instructions, I can't believe I just did this... I'm on month 2 of 15mg with steady progress and minimal side effects so far.
"Money is a bit tight this time of year so I wanted to use that magical fifth dose for the first time. I've never been able to force turn the pen so I got 1ml insulin syringes.
"Today when I went to take the magic dose, I completely misread what to do and ended up injecting with 1ml. A while later I realised 1 dose is actually 0.6ml. Now I'm freaking out - what should I do here?"
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Another similar post read: "I’ve just drawn up 1ml out of my 5th dose on a 10mg and taken it - so stupid, I’ve taken a 5th dose loads and never made that mistake. Anything I can do? Too late now I guess!"
Meanwhile, one Mumsnet user said: "I bought insulin syringes to extract the last dose. I googled and it said 1ml was 1mg. I drew out what I could from the last of the pen and it was 1ml so I just thought I'd have less this week and see how I get on. I think now I should have only taken 0.3ml!"
Other users urged the posters to seek medical advice due to the side effects that can be experienced.
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Simple Online Pharmacy explain: "Weight loss injections have been carefully measured to ensure the correct amount of medication within each dose. However, in the extra buffer liquid, this might not be the case – due to the volume not being as measured, the concentration of Mounjaro that is contained within the buffer might be higher or lower than the required amount.
"This can lead to under or over-dosage, each of which carry their own risks."
The outlet explain that side effects of taking too much Mounjaro include:
Speaking to the news outlet, Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King's College London, has issued a stern warning regarding the 'golden dose'.
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"People are reading these tips on online forums and being tempted to use them to save money," she said. "But they're risking serious side effects from overdosing by doing this — as well as the potential to develop a life-threatening infection. It's not a good idea at all."
The health expert revealed the practice can be life-threatening 'for several reasons,' from infections to abscesses and overdosing.
She added: "These injections contain a slight overfill to ensure the full recommended dose is delivered each time. But by drawing this out with a separate syringe and using it as a so-called fifth dose, you're exposing yourself to serious risk of infection."
A UK Meds article reviewed by GP Dr Alexis Missick also stressed trying to measure out the dregs could lead to either an overdose or an underdose.
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It reads: "Attempting to use the leftover liquid as a 'fifth dose' can lead to inaccurate dosing, resulting in underdosing (which may reduce effectiveness) or overdosing (which increases the risk of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea)."
Mounjaro manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, told UNILAD: "The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) KwikPen is designed to deliver a fixed volume of Mounjaro solution at each dose.
"The KwikPen contains sufficient solution to allow for the necessary priming before each injection and the delivery of a total of 4 doses (one dose given weekly for a 28-day supply of medicine). Medication will remain in the KwikPen cartridge following the delivery of the 4 fixed doses, however, an additional complete dose cannot be dialled. The KwikPen must be discarded after 4 doses or 30 days after first use."