Many overweight and obese Canadians cannot lose weight on their own and seek prescription medications that can help. There are presently several medications to choose from and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has become one of the most talked about options.
However, although doctors sometimes prescribe it for weight loss, Mounjaro is not intended to be used in this way. It's a weekly injection for treating the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Regardless of the original intent, Mounjaro has proven to be very useful for suppressing appetite and supporting weight loss. The participants of one clinical trial reduced their body weights by 20% or more during a 72-week treatment. Some of them received the medication in doses of 5 mg per week, while others got double or three times this amount. The highest dose was the most effective.
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The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues, most of which were mild to moderate in severity with the two highest doses proving to be the most problematic. [1]
Research suggests Mounjaro may also have the potential to cause pancreatitis and certain types of cancer. Because of this, Health Canada insists the manufacturer includes suitable warnings on the medication information sheet.
Not surprisingly, many potential users decide to avoid Mounjaro and use safer but just as effective natural alternatives instead . There is a big demand for this type of supplement and the fact that Moujaro is so expensive to use only goes to make the demand even greater.
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Cheaper and Safer Alternatives to Mounjaro
Here are the recommended alternatives to injectable medications like Tirzepatide.
Neither option has any known side effects and both of them have money-back guarantees that are good for 60 days. They are also much cheaper to use.
#1 - PhenQ - Best Mounjaro Alternative Overall
PhenQ is a high-quality diet pill that provides a combination of natural ingredients that have proven to be effective in supporting weight loss. The supplement was originally formulated for people seeking safer options than Phentermine. With many users losing 11 pounds or more each month it quickly became a hit with consumers and has since become one of the top alternatives to many other prescription weight-loss drugs, including Mounjaro.
PhenQ beats Mounjaro on several different fronts.
For one thing, it's easier to obtain. There is no need for a prescription, anyone can lose weight with PhenQ.
PhenQ also offers a greater level of support. Mounjaro's main value is as a hunger suppressant. Although PhenQ reduces hunger too, it provides several additional benefits as well including a faster metabolism, mood support, and protection from fatigue.
The price of PhenQ also works in its favor. Using it costs less than $100 per month. Furthermore, the manufacturer offers free shipping to Canada so there is no need to worry about any additional or hidden fees.
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By comparison, using Mounjaro could cost you more than $1000 per month.
When it comes to ease of use, you could see Moujaro as a better option because you only need to take it once every seven days. However, you have to take it via injection. Sticking needles into your flesh is never a pleasant experience. To get the full benefits of PhenQ, all you need to do is swallow two tablets a day.
How PhenQ Works
Weight loss happens when the body starts reducing its stores of body fat. It only does this when it experiences an energy shortage that forces it to begin breaking down body fat and using it as fuel.
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PhenQ helps you to create the energy shortage that is necessary for fat burning by making it easier to reduce the number of calories entering your body while also increasing the amount of calories you are expending.
The supplement primarily achieves this by controlling your hunger and boosting your metabolism. However, it also provides ingredients that protect you from some of the other negative aspects of dieting including low mood and diet-related fatigue.
PhenQ helps you to eat less by providing several natural appetite suppressants. The most important one is nopal (Caralluma fimbriata). It's a cactus extract.
Research shows that, in addition to taking away your hunger, nopal further supports weight loss by encouraging favorable changes in gut microbiota and functioning as a fat blocker. [2, 3, 4]
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Another important inclusion, Capsimax also serves multiple roles in the PhenQ diet pill formulation. It's a proprietary ingredient that is predominantly capsicum extract but also provides a few additional natural compounds including a black pepper extract that enhances ingredient absorption.
Research shows the capsaicin in capsicum peppers helps you to decrease your body weight by suppressing appetite, increasing calorie expenditure via thermogenesis, and inhibiting adipogenesis (fat storage). [5]
Why Use PhenQ Instead of Mounjaro
PhenQ is a diet pill you take two times each day. It smooths your weight loss journey by suppressing hunger, boosting metabolism, fighting fatigue, and delivering other useful benefits. It's safe and effective and can produce weight losses of 11 pounds or more in a month.
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Additionally, PhenQ is much cheaper than Mounjaro and has the backing of a 60-day money-back guarantee.
#2 - Capsiplex
Due to the kind of results it provides, PhenQ has become a very popular option among people who want to get slimmer and fitter. Because of this, stocks can occasionally run low. When this happens, the manufacturer limits the number of bottles customers can order to help make sure there is enough to go around. However, although it rarely happens, stocks occasionally run out.
If this happens, Capsiplex is the next best option. It's more geared towards fat burning than hunger control but is still more versatile than Mounjaro.
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Capsiplex is available in two forms: Burn and Trim. Capsiplex Burn is a fat burner for men. Its sister product is a fat burner for women. Both options are priced similarly to PhenQ, making them infinitely cheaper to use than Mounjaro. As with PhenQ, when you buy Capsiplex pills, you have the reassurance of a 60-day money-back guarantee.
How Capsiplex Works
First and foremost, Capsiplex is a thermogenic fat burner. It increases metabolism and calorie expenditures by causing your body to expend extra energy as heat.
This ability is mainly due to Capsimax. PhenQ provides this too but Capsiplex provides a higher dose. The presence of Capsimax in the formulation furnishes Capsiplex with value in other areas such as hunger suppression and reductions in adipogenesis. [5]
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The formulation also provides InnoSlim. It's a proprietary ingredient that combines Panax ginseng with Astragalus membranaceus. Both these herbs are known for their medicinal and life-enhancing value. When they are combined, they regulate blood sugar, accelerate fat loss, and improve overall metabolic health. [6]
Why Use Capsiplex for Losing Weight
Capsiplex is a powerful fat-burning supplement that's cheaper than Mounjaro and has a long money-back guarantee.
Although PhenQ offers a greater overall level of weight loss support, Capsiplex is a good alternative if PhenQ becomes temporarily out of stock.
Related content: How to get Ozempic in Canada - pharmacies that sell
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What Is Mounjaro and How Does It Work?
Also known by its generic name tirzepatide, Mounjaro is a medication primarily used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It works by mimicking the effects of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
When Mounjaro is administered as a weekly injection, it helps regulate blood sugar levels by increasing insulin production and reducing the amount of glucose released by the liver. Additionally, it slows down the rate at which food empties from the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and less hunger.
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Although not originally developed for weight loss, Mounjaro has gained attention for its potential to support weight reduction. Some clinical trials have shown promising results, with participants experiencing significant weight loss during their treatments.
Who Can Use Mounjaro for Weight Loss?
Although Health Canada has not approved Mounjaro as an anti-obesity treatment, doctors may prescribe it to adult patients who are overweight or obese. Body mass index (BMI) is the determining factor.
To be classified as obese, patients need to have a BMI of 30 or higher. If your BMI is 27 to 29, your doctors will classify you as overweight, not obese.
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Canadians who are overweight, but not obese, can only obtain a Mounjaro prescription if they have weight-related chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure).
However, despite their high BMI, many overweight and obese Canadians are unable to obtain Mounjaro. For reasons that will become clear in the next section, the medication is unsuitable for people who have medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or thyroid cancer.
Certain other conditions may also make Mounjaro a poor choice. As can the use of some prescription medications or over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.
Latest news: Getting Wegovy in Canada - what you need to know
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A Look at the Mounjaro Risks and Side Effects
Mounjaro has many side effects. Study results suggest gastrointestinal issues are likely to be the most common. However, as with similar medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, there can also be issues with pain around the injection site.
These are the side effects most commonly reported by people using Mounjaro:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Stomach Pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
Rarer but more serious side effects include:
- Hypoglycemia
- Serious allergic reactions
- Kidney failure
- Severe stomach problems
- Changes in vision
- Gallbladder problems
- Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)
Results from early animal-based studies suggest GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Mounjaro, may also increase susceptibility to thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer.
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The risk is often disputed, with some experts pointing out the studies were carried out on rats, not humans. However, ongoing research continues to raise fresh fears.
In November 2022, Diabetes Care published research that not only suggests the risk is real but also states the dangers increase after 1-3 years of treatment. [6]
Is Mounjaro Approved in Canada for Weight Loss
How to Get Mounjaro in Canada
Here is a general overview of the typical process to obtain a Mounjaro prescription legally in Canada:
Make an Appointment with a Doctor
Schedule an appointment with a licensed Canadian physician, like a family doctor or endocrinologist. A valid doctor-patient relationship is required.
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Initial Consultation
The doctor will review your health history, risk factors, and body measurements like weight and BMI. They will assess if you are an appropriate candidate for Mounjaro.
Diagnostic Tests
The doctor may order tests like A1C to check blood sugar control. This helps determine if you have a condition that Mounjaro could treat.
Prescribing Decision
If you are diagnosed with obesity, diabetes, or another indication Mounjaro is approved for, the doctor may decide to prescribe it as a treatment option for you.
Prescription Issued
The doctor will write you a prescription for Mounjaro that includes your dose, duration and refill details that you can fill at a Canadian pharmacy.
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Fill Mounjaro Prescription at Canadian Pharmacy
Take your prescription to a licensed Canadian pharmacy where the pharmacist will fill and dispense your Mounjaro with proper counseling.
Ongoing Monitoring
You'll require follow-up appointments with your doctor to assess your response to Mounjaro and monitor for any side effects. Dose adjustments may be made.
In summary, obtaining a legal Mounjaro prescription in Canada requires an in-person doctor's assessment, diagnosis, prescription, and monitoring just as with any other prescription medication. Following this legitimate process ensures safe and appropriate use.
Similar content: Saxenda Canada - what Canadian pharmacies can you get it from
Where to Buy Mounjaro in Canada
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Here is some general information about pharmacy availability of medications in Canada:
Prescription medications like Mounjaro can only be dispensed by licensed pharmacies when presented with a valid prescription issued by a healthcare practitioner.
Canada has strong regulations regarding the sale of prescription drugs to protect public health. Medications cannot be obtained with a foreign or invalid prescription.
Major pharmacy chains with locations across Canada include Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, London Drugs, Pharmasave, and Costco Pharmacy. They all require a valid Canadian prescription.
Independent and compounding pharmacies also exist in many communities and provinces, but also adhere to dispensing regulations.
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Pharmacies are regulated provincially, so pharmacy availability varies between regions and provinces. Larger urban centers have more options.
Remote and rural areas may only have one pharmacy available in a community or require mail delivery of medications. Accessibility varies.
Consulting with a licensed Canadian healthcare provider is always the proper first step to obtain appropriate medications legally and safely in Canada based on your specific health needs.
Mounjaro in Canada FAQs
Does Moujaro work for weight loss?
Although the medication is not intended for treating obesity, its ability to suppress hunger can make it easier to burn fat for energy leading to reductions in body weight.
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Who makes Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company.
How do you use Mounjaro?
You inject this drug once a week, under the skin, never into a muscle or vein. Common injection areas include the stomach, upper arms, and thighs.
As with any other medicines prescribed for weight loss purposes, you need to use Mounjaro with appropriate lifestyle changes including a healthy diet and increased physical activity.
How soon do you see results with Mounjaro?
It may take several weeks for Mounjaro to start working. However, most users are likely to experience results within 12 weeks of starting treatment.
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Final Thoughts on Getting Mounjaro in Canada
Mounjaro is an expensive medication that may be available via prescription to Canadians who are overweight or obese. Although it's designed for controlling blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics, not weight loss, its ability to reduce hunger gives it potential value as a weight management treatment.
However, with a cost of over $1000 per month, even those who can afford the treatment may find it hard to justify the extra expenditure.
OTC diet pills like PhenQ and Capsiplex are not only cheaper but, due to their greater versatility, have the potential to deliver better results and do not present any known side effects.
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In addition to being cheaper and safer options, both products also have money-back guarantees.
In short, Mounjaro is a powerful medication that could help some dieters achieve their weight management goals. But for most Canadians, non-prescription fat burners are likely to offer better value for money.
Mounjaro Canada Reference Sources
- Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658024/
- Effect of Caralluma Fimbriata Extract on Appetite, Food Intake and Anthropometry in Adult Indian Men and Women: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17097761/
- Physical and Dietary Intervention with Opuntia ficus-indica (Nopal) in Women with Obesity Improves Health Condition through Gut Microbiota Adjustment: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8912383/
- Effects of Cactus Fiber on the Excretion of Dietary Fat in Healthy Subjects: A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Clinical Investigation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4109417/
- Dietary Capsaicin and Its Anti-obesity Potency: From Mechanism to Clinical Implications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5426284/
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article-abstract/46/2/384/147888/GLP-1-Receptor-Agonists-and-the-Risk-of-Thyroid?redirectedFrom=fulltext
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Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.