Self-administering your weight loss medication might seem daunting, but it’s simpler than you think. These top tips will help you understand how to manage, store and dispose of your medication correctly. From learning how long Mounjaro lasts out of the fridge to what happens after you’ve used the last dose in your pen, here’s everything you need to know about using the Mounjaro KwikPen.
1. How long can Mounjaro be out of the fridge when a new order arrives?
When your new Mounjaro Kwikpen arrives, you must store it in the fridge. If it’s left out for too long, it may affect the quality of the medication. We make sure it arrives with you at the correct temperature by packaging the pen in a special (100% natural) material called Woolcool with gel ice packs. When your order’s delivered, check everything’s correct and put the KwikPen in the fridge as quickly as possible. It must be stored in the fridge before first use, between 2°C to 8°C.
If your KwikPen’s s delivered with melted ice packs, or you’re unable to store it in the fridge straight away, don’t worry. It can temporarily stay outside of refrigerated conditions for a maximum of 24 hours without impacting the medication’s effectiveness. However, we always recommend getting in the fridge as soon as possible. You can only store your new KwikPen at room temperature after you’ve administered the first injection.
2. What if the first Mounjaro injection is cold and uncomfortable?
The first injection with any new KwikPen might be slightly more uncomfortable. That’s because it’s been refrigerated and cold injections can generally feel more uncomfortable than medication stored at room temperature. It might be tempting to take it out of the fridge before use, but doing this will spoil the medication. You can only store it at room temperature after you’ve administered the first injection from any new Kwikpen.
3. Does it matter that I didn’t wash my hands?
Practicing good hand hygiene is essential when injecting Mounjaro. Wash your hands thoroughly, prepare a clean, sanitary surface to work from and use the swabs provided to wipe down your KwikPen. If someone’s injecting for you, then they’ll also need clean hands. Using the pen with unwashed hands means increased risk of infection at the inject site, or surface bacteria forming on your KwikPen. You’ll use one single KwikPen to administer four doses, so hygienic handling and storage is essential.
4. Should I always inject in the same place?
You can inject in the same area of your body (stomach, thigh or the back of your upper arm) but you need to rotate the injection site with every injection. Never inject in the exact same location, as this can increase the risk of infection or hard lumps forming under the skin. And if you prefer to inject in your stomach, remember to always inject at least 2 inches away from your belly button.
5. Should I change the needle after each injection?
Your Mounjaro KwikPen needles are single-use and need to be replaced after each injection. Using the same needle more than once can lead to a range of problems like ‘blunting’ (meaning you might not get a full dose), an increased risk of infection and injection site reactions (hard lumps forming under the skin). We’ll send a supply of 100 needles with your first order, so you have enough for up to two years’ worth of weekly injections.
6. What if I can’t see the needle head after I’ve attached it?
New needles come with an outer and inner needle shield. Both shields need to be removed before injecting your dose. Closely follow the step-by-step guide to prepare your KwikPen.
7. What if I can’t see the right icons in the pen dose window?
The step-by-step guide shows you which icons you should see in the dose window at two different key stages – when priming your KwikPen and when injecting your dose. Closely follow the steps and troubleshooting tips for these key stages. Often the issue’s easily resolved by changing the needle, performing the priming steps accurately or adjusting your finger pressure on the dose knob.
8. I’ve taken my fourth dose but there’s still some Mounjaro left in the pen. Can I use this?
This is perfectly normal. The KwikPen has a ‘contingency’ amount of Mounjaro, designed to allow for four full doses plus some extra for the priming steps. This extra amount is not enough for a fifth dose and the KwikPen itself will not allow for a another dose to be injected into your body. The last bit of Mounjaro in the pen must be discarded.
9. What happens if I forget to take a dose at the right time?
We always recommend setting an alarm or reminder on your phone to get into the habit of injecting at the right time. But life can get in the way sometimes! These things happen, but it’s important to understand what to do next. It also depends which medication you’re taking. Never double dose to make up for a forgotten one.
Always check the Patient Information Leaflet or speak to one of our expert clinical team if you’re unsure.
Mounjaro
If it’s been four days or less since you should have injected, administer the next dose as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.
If it’s been more than four days since you should’ve injected, skip the missed dose and inject your next dose on the usual scheduled day.
Wegovy
If it’s been five days or less since you should have injected, use it as soon as you remember and then take your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.
If it’s been more than five days since you should have injected, skip the missed dose and then inject your next dose on your usual scheduled day.
10. What if I’m travelling and need to inject while away from home?
You can easily travel with your KwikPen but make sure you carefully plan how to transport and store it. The key consideration is temperature – the pen can’t get too hot or too cold. To prevent it getting too hot (especially in a warmer climate), consider a good quality portable cool bag. To prevent it getting too cold, if you’re flying, pack it in your hand luggage to avoid it freezing in the luggage hold. However, we do recommend packing needles in your hold luggage to avoid any issues at airport security.
If you’re unsure about anything, our expert clinical team’s on hand to support you in managing your injections and treatment safely.
