An NHS pharmacist has issued a warning that soaring summer temperatures could reduce the effectiveness of the popular weight-loss drug Mounjaro. The weekly injection must be stored below 30°C and away from direct sunlight once opened, as excessive heat can damage the medication.
Storage Advice for Hot Weather
Peter Thnoia, a weight-loss pharmacist at NHS pharmacy PillTime, advised users to take extra care with their Mounjaro pens during hot weather. He warned that prolonged exposure to high temperatures could cause the drug to lose its potency.
“My advice is simple: if you’re staying at home during the hot weather, keep your pens somewhere cool like the fridge,” Mr Thnoia told the Sun. He also recommended that users stick to their set injection day and avoid traveling with the pens if possible. “Whether that’s the morning or afternoon doesn’t matter – small changes to the time of day when they are taken won’t make a difference to the medication’s effectiveness,” he added.
Health Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs
Mounjaro belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), which also include Wegovy and Ozempic. These medications are used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, but recent research suggests they may offer broader health benefits.
A study published in the Annals of Oncology examined data from over 161,000 obese patients without diabetes. Half used weight-loss injections, while the other half received diet and exercise counseling. The average age of participants was 47, and they were followed for two years.
The analysis found that those taking GLP-1s were 41% less likely to be diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer during the follow-up period. However, this reduced risk was not observed among black participants.
“Our study found that over an average follow-up of two years, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significantly lower incidence of cancers directly fuelled by excess body weight,” said Dr Aparna Kamat, senior author of the study and director of the Division of Gynaecologic Oncology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas.
