A medical expert has warned users of Mounjaro that an increasingly popular way to use the jab could pose a serious risk to health despite it making their medication go further
The manufacturer of Mounjaro has announced it is to hike the price of the drug by as much as 170 per cent for some doses.
The move has sparked panic among some patients who are worried they may not be able to afford to continue treatment or may have to swap to a cheaper alternative, such as Wegovy. Others have been stockpiling the drug before the price rise.
In an attempt to get around the problem and make their money go further, some users have taken to using the so-called ‘golden dose’ from their pens which contain a fixed amount of the medication.
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The Kwickpen contains four doses of Mounjaro, with one being administered by the patient each week. There is a small amount leftover in the pen after the last injection which is intended for priming before each use.
It is this leftover liquid that some users are dubbing the ‘golden dose’ or fifth dose and drawing out of the pen, sometimes with a syringe and needle.
Fans of the practice are sharing methods, tips and advice on social media. Special ‘golden dose plungers’ to extract the leftover liquid are even available to buy on eBay.
Despite the cost cutting benefit as prices rise, medical experts have warned against the hack because it could have serious side effects, including injury or infection.
Thorrun Govind, TV pharmacist and ex-leader of the Royal Society of Pharmacists, told the Mirror: “Chasing the so-called ‘golden dose’ of Mounjaro is risky and could put your health at risk. It’s important that medication is only used as prescribed.”
Manufacturers Eli Lilly recommends asking a healthcare provider exactly how to use the Kwikpen correctly but the information leaflet that comes with it clearly states the leftover drug must not be used and the pen should be discarded.
“After you have taken the 4th dose (a month’s treatment), you will see leftover medicine in the KwikPen. This is normal,” it reads.
“The leftover medicine ensures that the KwikPen works correctly. Even though the KwikPen still has medicine in it, do not use it. Throw it away in a sharps disposal container.
“The KwikPen will prevent you from dialing a full dose after you have given yourself the 4th dose. You will not be able to turn the knob after you have given yourself the 4th dose. Do not transfer the medicine from your KwikPen into a syringe. Do not inject the leftover medication.”
Lilly recently announced that wholesale prices of Mounjaro would more than double from September 1 with the highest dose rising from £122 to £330 a month, an increase of 170 per cent.
Before the rise, almost half (45%) of patients were paying between £150 and £199 per month for the Mounjaro prescriptions, with a further two in five (39%) paying between £200 and £249. The increase has left many patients worried about the long-term affordability of Mounjaro.
Lilly is planning to modify the Kwikpen and reduce the amount of leftover drug in the device after the fourth dose has been administered. The new version will still have enough of the medication to prime before each use but there will not be enough for a fifth dose.
Govin thinks the move to remove the surplus medicine was inevitable: “It is unsurprising that Eli Lilly have made this decision to reduce the amount of leftover medicine that remains in the KwikPen after four doses have been administered,” she said.
Angry patients took to Reddit to air their frustration over the move, which could see them out of pocket. “Maybe we should all have just kept quiet so we could continue to enjoy the 5th dose, but I guess it was nice whilst it lasted,” wrote one. Another commented: “Stuff like this makes me consider switching to Wegovy just out of spite.”