Continuing Mounjaro...part 4

[ObsidianTree]

Welcome to thread 4!

Pointers for newbies:
1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1!

2 - Your first dose may not have an immediate effect. For some people the effects build slowly. It could take 3 or 4 days to notice anything, it could take a few weeks. Some people don't feel the meds working until they get to 5mg. See titration chart which shows how the medication builds up in your system.

3 - 2.5mg isn't a therapeutic dose, meaning you aren’t meant to lose on 2.5mg. You need to start on 2.5mg to get your body used to the drug and gradually introduce it into your system and get used to any side effects.

4 - Not everyone loses a lot in the first few weeks. Don't feel discouraged if you don't lose a lot initially. Again, you might need a higher dose to start losing. Also, inches can be lost without anything showing on the scales. Start your journey by taking measurements and check them as you go along.

5 - If you do lose a lot in the first few weeks, please don't assume you will continue losing at this rate. The first few weeks it is usually water weight that is lost, after than a good weight loss is about 2lbs a week. Some weeks you might not lose anything, but this is ok too…again, taking measurements might show inches lost instead.

6 - Constipation, coldness, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may be be other side effects also. Read info here :
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.14201.pdf

7 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

8 - Don't reuse any needles as this could risk infection. If you damage a needle or one isn't working, you can buy a pack of about 100 spares. Ask for suggestions of sites /types to buy.

9 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss. Try to have at least 100g a day. There are protein supplements you can take. Myprotein have a good range. Ask for a referral code if you want to buy some.

10 - Some natural sources of protein:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

11 - You can use supplements, some that people use are magnesium(for sleep and constipation), protein(to reduce muscle wastage), collagen (skin elasticity), aloe vera(for constipation), electrolytes.

12 - Drink lota of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

13 - Don't be afraid to feel hungry. It is entirely normal and healthy to feel hungry. Just eat something. Treat it as an opportunity to start good habits around hunger. Eat a nice balanced snack or a meal if it's a meal time. It's ok.

14 - Some of the places you can order from are:
MedExpress £149.99 - Sometimes there are codes that can be used for a discount. Ask for a code on here or do a Google search to try and find one.
Voy - £114.99 for first month then £229 after. Need a referral code (ask on here for one if needed)
The Family Chemist -£149
Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 for 5mg
Asda £184
Boots £219

15 - Does it makes any difference where you inject? yes it does! Drugs get absorbed at different rates depending on injection site

In order of fastest absorption, it goes:
• Tummy
• Arms
• Thighs
further reading about injection sites and the effects: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

16 - You can track your calories / protein on apps such as My fitnessPal, Carb Manager or Nutracheck. Nutracheck is quite useful and easy to find foods /build recipes.

17 - If you want to switch suppliers, make sure you have pics of your Mounjaro box with your name and dose. This will come in useful when other suppliers ask for evidence.

1st thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjarop
art-3?page=1

Good luck all :)

@Feelingslightlyuneasy do you have any other underlying health conditions which could be making the side effects worse ?

No only high blood pressure, I consulted the GP before starting this treatment, and it was recommended due to a family history of heart failure.
I’ve really struggled to shift this extra weight (years of shift work/night shift seem to have slowed my metabolism)
I’ll give it another couple of weeks and if it hasn’t improved I’ll have to say it just doesn’t agree with me and go to boot camp or something 😂

@Feelingslightlyuneasy are you drinking lots of water and eating healthy when you can face food? Hope you feel better soon.

@NigellaAwesome
if you speak to Bolt pharmacy they state on their website that although there is usually a month required between switching drugs, speak to them as depending what you were on, what dose and for how long they may be able to do it differently.

Thanks lovely, I’ve really tried my best to eat protein with vegetables, plenty of fibre and stay hydrated.
I wouldn’t say I’m hungry, just an unwell feeling but I’m getting at least 1500 calories a day. I haven’t felt like eating anything sweet or snacky like crisps so that’s a bonus I guess!

I do think there was some evidence of more side effects at the lower BMIs and is perhaps why it is not recommended unless you have a co-morbidity

@Feelingslightlyuneasy sounds tough! Agree maybe try to focus on drinking more water / eating more protein and see if helps.

Whilst I'm still waiting for mine to be delivered (actually, I don't think I've even been approved yet but I am guessing that that is a formality) I am planning when to start.
Are any of you blood donors? I am due to donate in a fortnight and might wait for that before starting MJ

Just listened to Rosie O’Donnell (US comedian/actress) on the Plus Side Z podcast about her Mounjaro journey, which I found interesting and enjoyed (via Spotify). Recommend it.

I was thinking earlier about how it’s hard to believe that this is Mumsnet. It’s universally known as the vipers nest but this is like it’s somewhere else entirely

Oh I’ll listen tonight - thank you.

I'm 4 weeks in and 5kg down. I cannot believe it. My weight is now 84.8kg - the lowest in a long time. I have 24kg to go until I am a healthy BMI. It feels a lot but I actually think I’m going to make it down to the 70’s weight wise. And I think I can do it this year. The 60’s will take longer.

My main issue is headaches but I think (genuinely) I haven’t been drinking enough. I need to sort that out.

anyway, this thread is really motivational for me, so thank you all x

Thank you @guestusername @JanetSnakeholeMacklin I usually do first thing on a Saturday morning and feel weird over the weekend but fine by Monday. I didn't expect it today. It could be that the 5 dosage has different effects to 2.5 on my body. I suspect we could all be quite different so it's going to be hard to spot commonalities...

Since starting with the injections I've usually struggled with constipation so it's quite a different experience to be visiting the bathroom so frequently!

My day 1 was today. Been fine but freezing cold (but maybe it is freezing. I am not sure!).

Food today:
Low carb toast and marmite (200 cal) , 3 strawberries
Tea x2, coffee with cream,
handful grapes
Bean burrito (no tortilla, 250 cal) with salad
Half a high protein flapjack (150 ish cal)
A cheese string (60 cal)
Stew (220 cal) with broccoli spears
1 litre water
.5 litre diet coke
.3 litre slimline tonic
May have a little bit of Easter egg later, to make about 1000 odd cal

Welcome to all the new starters!

I think I'm going to order another 5mg pen as I don't want to risk being without anything whilst waiting for the 7.5mg. I'm still finding that this is giving me some willpower as opposed to making feel full/not hungry. I've also really concentrated on being as high protein as possible.

I was 200.2lbs this morning so I'm really hoping to break that 200lb barrier soon. I'm also not far from heading into the 13 stone number so that's another bonus.

@Letsgoogogo Exactly. I'm wondering if we are a small sample size! It will be interesting to see as others progress to 5 and 7.5.

Sending good vibes towards to us all for minimal side effects and regular, reasonable trips to the bathroom!

@Femeia Well done on your losses!

How have you found 5 as a dosage?

I've just done my 4th injection of 2.5 and I'm down 12lb. It's falling off me.
Up to 5 for next batch. At this rate, I'll need to stop after this as I don't think I'll get prescribed because I'll be under the BMI cut off. Does anyone know how it works?

Thanks!
I'm clearly not particularly sensitive to MJ as I've not felt at all unwell/cold etc and also had fairly little fullness. However I do feel that whether it is my head thinking that I'm paying so much for this that I can't waste it or that it is working and I don't realise, I'm generally being disciplined and eating far better than I usually am on a diet.
So the 5mg is no different for me than 2.5mg except that I seem to be losing more at last which is great.

Loss after 4 weeks on 2.5mg was 6lbs
Loss after 2 weeks 2 days on 5mg is 6lbs so hoping for decent figures after 4 weeks

Yes, they're so obviously fake. Really puts me off ever using Voy, frankly!

I was thinking this too. Mounjaro is widely accepted to be milder in terms of side effects, and also more effective in terms of results. Still looking for the catch! Perhaps it’s more expensive?

Mounjaro has less side effects and in studies results in better weight loss than Wegovy.

I think mounjaro is now more popular than Wegovy. Wegovy came out first so people went with it, but now that MJ is an option it seems like a lot of people are choosing MJ over Wegovy and some are switching from wegovy to MJ.

From this thread it seems that its a small amount of people that get bad side effects. Most have some mild symptoms, but nothing bad enough to make you decide to stop. Not seen that on here anyway.

My symptoms are pretty minimal like feeling cold. But maybe higher doses will be worse.

Also, I think with wegovy as the people on it can go up to the highest dose available, they seem to get more symptoms the higher up they go. Maybe we will all feel worse as our doses gets higher

Lots of water, 2.5 - 3 litres a day, and an electrolyte supplement should deal with the headaches.

Best of luck!

I know, it's lovely isn't it?! 😁

Congrats @Femeia i’d been hovering at a similar weight and getting under 200 pounds and then into 13 stone again is a massive boost.

I’ve been on the mj threads on here since start and very little actual vomiting reported, just a few mostly when people have pushed it and eaten something too greasy or spicy etc.
Again a few reported upset 💩 but constipation is far more common.
I’ve not seen anyone on here say symptoms so bad they aren’t carrying on.