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Topics: Mounjaro, Health, TikTok, Social Media
Joshua Nair
A worrying trend seems to have began among users of GLP-1 drugs that aid weight loss, such as Mounjaro.
This particular trend has picked up in popularity on social media in recent weeks, though experts have warned against the method for a number of reasons.
Mounjaro users have been raving about the so-called 'golden dose', which is meant to get every last drop out of their injector pens.
While it helps to cut costs - essentially giving users an extra dose - it could come at the price of long-term health and wellbeing, according to doctors.
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Doses of Mounjaro are administered via these injector pens, which are designed to deliver a fixed amount of the drug once a week, typically over the course of four weeks.
However, the 'golden dose' method could prove to be fatal if people begin to join the trend, which focuses on getting every last drop from the pen.
TikTok users that use Mounjaro have explained how to extract the last bit of medication from their pens, which can be used, apparently.
The golden dose involves drawing out the slight leftover tirzepatide liquid that's left after the pen's final injection by using a syringe and needle.
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It's said that you can get an additional jab out of what's left over, while UK users could save around £615 per year.
American users on the other hand, could be looking at savings of around $3,210 (£2,500) over the course of a year.
The money-saving benefits are massive, but medical experts think otherwise.
Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King's College London, explained to the MailOnline: "People are reading these tips on online forums and being tempted to use them to save money.
"But they're risking serious side effects from overdosing by doing this — as well as the potential to develop a life-threatening infection. It's not a good idea at all."
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While the method has done the rounds on TikTok, it first gained traction on Reddit weight-loss pages, with users claiming 'there is enough for a fifth' dose after the pen's intended fourth and final dose.
It's explained that you extract the remaining liquid with the help of a needle, shaking to get air bubbles out, before injecting the 'golden dose'.
Many have spoken about the ease of it all, but Professor Ward added: "These injections contain a slight overfill to ensure the full recommended dose is delivered each time,
"But by drawing this out with a separate syringe and using it as a so-called fifth dose, you're exposing yourself to serious risk of infection," she said, insisting that there are multiple reasons to avoid the 'golden dose'.
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She added that while pens are sterile when dispensed, they are not once they're used, meaning that harmful bacteria could enter the bloodstream.
"This can lead to an abscess — a painful build-up of pus — and if left untreated, potentially progress to sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body's organs begin to shut down," she warned.
As well as this, Professor Ward added that overdosing is a possibility through this method, pointing out that 'it's difficult to measure the correct amount' when carrying it out yourself.
This can result in side-effects like diarrhoea, vomiting, or even pancreatitis.
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The likelihood of the latter increases with the size of the dose, according to the professor.
While she noted that it was 'terribly tempting', she highlighted that it's simply not worth the risks.
At the same time, Professor Ward suggested that people with considerable amounts left in their pens might mean they may not be administering it properly, suggesting they see a pharmacist.
GP Dr Alexis Missick also said that under-dosing is also dangerous, explaining: "An underdose may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment, while an overdose increases the likelihood of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation."
He added that this is why Mounjaro's dosing schedule gradually increases, to allow your body to get used to it.