If you are exploring the possibilities of obtaining Mounjaro in Canada for weight loss – we have the latest information for 2023.
Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes but not weight loss – yet. This situation is likely to change sometime in 2023. Canadian doctors do prescribe the drug tirzepatide off-label to patients that are obese and have at least one weight-related health condition.
Although the prescription drug is effective there are few negatives associated with it. It is expensive, costing around CAD$1000 for a month’s supply, it can also cause side effects and health issues. For these reasons there is a market for cheaper and safer Mounjaro alternatives available over the counter and online.
Cheaper and Safer Alternatives to Mounjaro
While many focus on new prescription injectable drugs for weight loss making headlines in 2023, natural weight loss pills remain a compelling alternative that is safer and more affordable for many.
Among the dozens of over-the-counter weight loss supplements, two of the standouts are PhenQ and Zotrim. Instead of expensive injections, PhenQ and Zotrim offer formulations of plant-based ingredients and have seen a high degree of success helping users reach their target weight.
For obese Canadians seeking safe, natural, and affordable weight loss aids, natural diet pills could be just the solution they’re looking for without having to get a prescription.
#1 – PhenQ – Natural Fat Burner and Appetite Suppressant
CLICK to view PhenQ price and availability
PhenQ is an over-the-counter weight loss pill that blends natural ingredients to aid weight loss and fat burning. Its active formula includes capsinoids, caffeine, piperine, and calcium carbonate—all compounds with some evidence from scientific studies pointing to effects like fat burning, calorie burning, and appetite suppression.
Most users report significant and sustainable weight loss, especially when combining the pills with diet and exercise. The average weight loss seems to be 3-5% of total body weight over a 12-week period.
Results will vary from person to person based on individual factors. But with its clinically-researched and all-natural formula, the risk and likelihood of severe side effects appears much lower than some prescription drugs.
PhenQ offers free worldwide shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee. Those who switch from less natural remedies report PhenQ delivering superior and safer weight loss results. At CAD$89 per bottle, it’s also more affordable than many other supplements.
For individuals motivated to drop weight naturally without prescription drugs, PhenQ is available to buy in Canada. Backed by its guarantee, consumers have little to lose and potentially much to gain by adding PhenQ to their weight loss regimen.
#2 – Zotrim – Herbal Hunger Reducer
Click to view Zotrim price and availability
Zotrim works in three ways: It suppresses appetite, boosts energy, and helps you burn more calories. The plant extracts provide compounds like caffeine that can make you feel more energized and alert. This helps you avoid cravings and stick to your diet and exercise goals.
Several clinical studies of Zotrim show people taking the supplements lose an average of 3 times more weight than with diet and exercise alone. Most Zotrim users report losing between 3 to 5 pounds per week, especially in the first month. Results will differ for each person based on personal factors like diet, activity level, and initial body weight.
A bottle of Zotrim containing 180 capsules, about a month’s supply, costs around $50. The company offers a 100-day money back guarantee. Zotrim’s weight loss results backed by clinical evidence, natural formula, and reasonable price make it worth considering for people serious about losing weight. By suppressing your appetite and giving you an energy boost, Zotrim could help you better achieve your weight loss goals.
CLICK to view Zotrim price and availability
Mounjaro in Canada – Is it Approved for Weight Loss?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newly approved prescription medication for type 2 diabetes in the United States but it is not yet approved in Canada, either for diabetes or weight loss.
However, some Canadians are eager to access this promising drug for its weight loss benefits. Mounjaro works by activating receptors for GLP-1 and GIP, two hormones involved in blood glucose regulation and appetite control.
In clinical trials, patients with diabetes who took Mounjaro lost a significant amount of weight, especially when combined with diet and exercise.
For Canadians interested in the weight loss effects and other benefits of Mounjaro, here are some options to access the drug before it is formally approved for the Canadian market and how to potentially lower the out-of-pocket cost.
Mounjaro appears to be better than Wegovy – another diabetes medication used to help people lose weight,
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for type 2 diabetes in adults. However, it also commonly causes weight loss as a side effect. Mounjaro works by activating receptors for incretin hormones involved in blood sugar regulation and appetite.
In clinical trials, patients lost up to 12% of body weight over 6-12 months. The higher the dose, the greater the weight loss. Unlike some weight loss drugs, it does not stimulate metabolism.It is thought that Mounjaro could be the best diabetes drug for weight loss currently available.
How Does Mounjaro Work?
Mounjaro activates gut hormone receptors that regulate appetite and blood glucose. It mimics incretin hormones called GIP and GLP-1. This slows stomach emptying, suppresses appetite centers in the brain, and reduces calorie intake, leading to weight loss. Mounjaro may also decrease fat storage, increase insulin sensitivity and fat burning.
By calming hunger signals and improving metabolic regulation, Mounjaro helps patients lose excess fat weight. Through these mechanisms, Mounjaro can help overweight patients overcome biological obstacles to long-term weight control and maintenance.
When Will Mounjaro Be Available in Canada?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was only recently approved in the U.S., so it is still awaiting approval in Canada and other countries.
Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, will likely apply for approval in major world markets now that it has been approved by the FDA. However, the review process by Health Canada and regulatory agencies in other countries can take 6-18 months or longer after initial application before approval is granted.
What Canadian Pharmacy or Drug Stores Sell Mounjaro?
Since Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is not yet approved for sale in Canada, it is not available at any Canadian pharmacies or drug stores currently. Once Health Canada approves Mounjaro, it should become available for purchase at most major pharmacy chains and some independent pharmacies across Canadian cities and provinces, as well as possibly some mail-order and online pharmacies.
The major pharmacy retailers where Mounjaro will likely be sold once approved include:
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Rexall
- London Drugs
- Costco Pharmacy
Mounjaro Canada Price
Mounjaro is not yet approved for sale in Canada, so the exact pricing in Canada is still unknown.
While the U.S. wholesale pricing provides some indication, the eventual cost of Mounjaro in Canada is hard to predict and still an open question, but could cost between CAD$500 to CAD$1500 per 4-week supply when first approved in Canada.
Side Effects and Dangers of Mounjaro
Like any medication, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can cause potential side effects and risks. The most common side effects reported in clinical trials include:
•Nausea and vomiting – Mounjaro can slow stomach emptying and affect gut hormones, leading to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, especially when starting treatment or increasing dosage. These side effects are usually mild to moderate and subside over time, but can also be managed by slowly escalating dosage.
•Low blood sugar – Mounjaro works by increasing insulin levels when blood sugar rises, so it can cause hypoglycemia, especially in patients also taking insulin.
•Gastrointestinal issues – In addition to nausea and diarrhea, Mounjaro may cause gas, bloating, stomach pain, decreased appetite, and constipation.
•Fatigue and dizziness – Some patients experience tiredness, dizziness or lightheadedness when taking Mounjaro, especially at higher doses.
•Pancreatitis – While rare, Mounjaro could lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) due to its effects on gut and pancreatic hormones.
Do not take Mounjaro if you have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or thyroid cancer. In rare cases, chronically elevated calcitonin levels may be associated with the development of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a slow-growing cancer of the C cells.
While the data does not conclusively prove that Mounjaro alone causes MTC, thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer according to most experts, prolonged activation of incretin hormone receptors could potentially have effects beyond blood glucose control that are not fully understood.
Other Similar Diabetes Drugs Used for Weight Loss
Other diabetes medications that can also be used for treating obesity include:
•Ozempic (semaglutide) – Like Mounjaro, Ozempic is an injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist that lowers blood glucose and reduces appetite, leading to weight loss. In trials, people lost up to 8% of their body weight over 6-12 months. Ozempic needs to be injected once weekly.
•Rybelsus (semaglutide) – Rybelsus is the first oral GLP-1 dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for diabetes. It comes as a pill but works similarly to Ozempic, stimulating GLP-1 receptors to lower blood sugar and control hunger. In studies, Rybelsus caused around 4-6% weight loss.
•Trulicity (dulaglutide) – Trulicity is another once-weekly injectable GLP-1 agonist for managing diabetes that can induce around 3-5% weight loss as a side effect. It works by releasing GLP-1 to boost insulin, suppress glucagon, and slow digestion.
•Adlyxin (lixisenatide) – Adlyxin is also an injectable GLP-1 agonist, but dosed once daily. It triggers the GLP-1 receptor to increase insulin secretion, reduce glucagon, and delay gastric emptying which lowers blood sugar and contributes to around 2-4% total weight loss.
•Jardiance (empagliflozin) – Unlike the others, Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor diabetes pill, not a GLP-1 agonist. It works by blocking reabsorption of sugar in the kidneys, which reduces glucose and calories resulting in around 2-4% weight loss for most patients.
•Xultophy (insulin dulaglutide and liraglutide) – For patients needing insulin, Xultophy offers a combination of long-acting insulin dulaglutide and liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist. Together they can improve blood sugar control while also suppressing appetite and allowing for around 1-3% weight loss.
Mounjaro Canada Summary and Conclusion
Mounjaro offers hope as another tool for Canadians battling diabetes and excess weight, two chronic conditions of obesity that are reaching epidemic levels.
For some patients, Mounjaro could be an option to target both blood sugar control and weight loss concurrently under guidance from their doctor. But there are still many steps required before Mounjaro ultimately makes its way onto pharmacy shelves across Canada.
For now, the final verdict on Mounjaro’s role in Canadian healthcare is pending its approval and release into the actual marketplace.
Only then will its real-world clinical effectiveness, safety, pricing, and availability become clear to inform discussions around access between patients, doctors, manufacturers, private payers and government agencies.
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