Overview
- O'Donnell told Amy Poehler on her podcast that Mounjaro has helped her feel healthier and that she spoke publicly about the drug on Tuesday, August 11.
- She said a doctor prescribed Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes three years ago and that she lost about 12 pounds in two weeks, which made her fear she had cancer, and has since lost roughly 60 pounds.
- Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, works by activating GLP-1 and GIP receptors to cut appetite and lower blood sugar and can cause nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal side effects.
- O'Donnell called for lower prices and broader access, saying it is wrong that people who could benefit cannot afford the medication and offering to promote it if prices dropped.
- The comments come after FDA approvals of tirzepatide for diabetes in 2022 and for weight management under the Zepbound brand in 2023, and they add to wider public debate driven by other celebrity disclosures about demand, cost, and equity of access.