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 :)

Please can I join you?
My weight has yo-yoed over the years and I'm now heavier than ever (I daren't even weigh myself but think I must be around 17 stone). Just been on a weekend away with family and I was horrified at how I look in the photos and it has really got me down. I've been lurking a bit on this thread and have been pondering the idea of Mounjaro but this has given me the kick I needed to just try it.
I've just signed up for my first dose of Mounjaro and from MedExpress (using the BIRTHDAY-BUNNY code mentioned earlier in the thread - thank you for this).
I'm terrified and nervous. Scared that it won't work for me, of the side effects.. and of the cost.
Any words of reassurance or advice would be greatly received!

I've just switched from Voy to Medexpress. They're saying it will take 2-3 days to get the order reviewed due to demand. I've ordered the 5mg dose and sent an extra form with photos of previous prescription label and order details, starting weight and dates etc. to speed it along as they had said they'd require those.

Just as a matter of interest, for future possible use. Some of the pharmacies say they won't continue to prescribe once you have a healthy BMI. I'm not sure if they mean somewhere in that bracket or if they mean the minute you hit BMI 25 which seems a bit silly as, if you're right on the border one large meal would mean you were overweight again!

I know for me I'd ideally like to get down to BMI 23 as that's around where I used to be for most of my life or even 22 to allow leeway for some rebound weight gain!

A lot of the suppliers of Mounjaro don't accept outside prescriptions, only prescriptions from their prescribers so you're stuck with what they decide.

However I noticed that Pharmacy2u accept NHS and also private GP prescriptions so one could see a private GP, have them review the situation and if they're happy to prescribe it for a little longer than bang on BMI 25 (which is not against the guidelines which are that you can be prescribed it for up to 2 years), they can send the prescription digitally to Pharmacy2u and they will supply it.

The wool is really good for insulating frozen food. Or meals whilst travelling.
I also use it as very effective padding/ packaging for my perfumes I sell on ebay.

@ObsidianTree I gave it to my dog thinking he'd like to lie on it when he's on the cold floor next to me when I wfh (he does have a sofa too!). He ripped it apart then got some snagged on his tooth. He came and found me to get rid of it for him but also got silly and snarled at me as he also thought of it as his new treat. Stupid boy. He's not having the next one.

@VoyOySaveloy how are you feeling as we approach midday?

welcome @RipePeach and others.

We are flying through these threads now. In the first thread when it was so new there was a handful of us and it took a while. Now I check the threads I’m on and have 35 unread posts.

Finally gone to the lav. Now gone in the other direction to water. I was in. I way as blocked as I thought. Guess not eating lots made that happen. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I am so, so tired today. Period and MJ is a hard combo. Luckily I work from home so I’m going to curl up in bed until the west coast gets online.

Re the packaging, I keep putting the ice packs in my freezer! Thinking I'll use them in summer if I go for a picnic or something 🤣 but probably will stay in my freezer! I don't like throwing things away 🤣 maybe I'll start putting in car in an ice box to keeps drinks cool in the summer! Need to buy an ice box tho 🤣

Welcome @RipePeach :) good luck :)

@FlappyFish I know! We are getting through these threads fast! We are nearly half way through this thread already!
Glad you managed to go! Hope you feel better soon

I've emailed Asda asking about how long they will prescribe. I'm with medexpess now, but could go back to asda if they are willing to go with case by case basis. I think they are being a bit vague at the moment as they don't know what BMI they will prescribe to.

Hi all, I'm headed towards BMI 30 (I'm 32 atm) and want to make sure I can get in with MedExpress before I no longer fit the criteria.

The sticking point is I still have the bonus dose of 2.5 to do next week and then a full unopened pen of 5mg.

Would they let me order it now?

If it helps I swapped to medexpress at a weight which gave me a BMI of 29 (it was over 30 when I started MJ) and they were fine.

Yes you can order it now I'm sure.

I know (from an interview with the owner) that Medexpress use AI quite a lot to cut down doctor time, screen out patients that don't qualify etc. before requests get to the doctor for approval and prescription, so that they can run on a "stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap" model. Nothing wrong with that, it's why their prices are the lowest and why I've switched to them. But it may mean that in the long term, they're a little less nuanced.

The one that stands out as being a bit more tailored is Bolt. The other pharmacies make anyone taking one GLP1 medication wait a month and then start them on the lowest dose of whichever one they want to switch to as a blanket policy, whereas Bolt say that although this is usual you should contact them as, depending on what medication you were on and how long they may be able to tailor this better.

Also a PP on here said that they were willing to give her a 3-month supply as she was going to be out of the country for 3 months, so they seem more willing to go on a case-by-case basis rather than a one size fits all policy, so they might be more willing to help on this in the future too.

Been lurking since the first thread. Love checking back in to see everyone's progress- well done everyone!
So pleased to see I'm not the only one who has been cold and thirsty!
I took my last shot of 2.5 on Sunday and have my 5 waiting. So far I've lost 1st and I am absolutely delighted. This thread gave me the push i needed to just say sod it and buy!
My friend at work took my first voy referral link so I got my 5mg at the discounted rate, which was nice! Posting my link below in case anyone else wants to join in the mounjaro magic at £114 😊

https://joinvoy.com/r/U-qf9W5yFEjo

@VoyOySaveloy and anyone else having bad side effects - there are things you can do to try and reduce the likelihood of bad effects. Eat a meal with lots of protein just before you inject. Inject in the evening. Choose your site carefully - stomach injections means the medicine is absorbed quicker and so you are more likely to get bad side effects, whereas if you inject in your thigh, it's released slower and side effects aren't as bad. Make sure you are well hydrated, and take electrolytes too. Don't go a long time without eating or your blood sugar will get very low and you'll feel ill.

For those who get palpitations, there's a way to stop them - Google vaso vagal manoeuvre. I've had palpitations for years and doing this stops them within seconds each time. I saw someone explaining why this happens - there are glp1 receptors in the area of the brain that regulates the vagus nerve - which regulates your heart beat - it's why lots of us have increased resting heart rate. It isn't dangerous, just an effect of the medication.

That's interesting. I am getting a bit panicked because I realise I am now BMI 32. So not long left to decide on my long term prescriber! So need to make the right decision! Will wait and see what Asda say and then maybe message around.

But also thinking, if Asda or medexpess are willing to prescribe to me until I get to say BMI 23, then that might take me a long while yet so don't have to worry just yet!

Just a little update. I took my first dose on Thursday. I haven't weighed myself because I don't want to. I've been away.

Thanks to those suggestions about what to get from McDonalds. I got a cheeseburger happy meal. Ate half the chips which is very unusual.

On holiday we had one dinner out. I didn't finish it. It seems really odd.

I injected Thursday evening in my thigh. I've had an occasional tummy ache but nothing severe. I injected in my thigh which I may continue to do.

Afternoon all... I know we were talking about price markups the other day - someone has done some robust analysis & according to the NYT article here the markup on Mounjaro is 80% - mind blowing. It has saved the Danish economy though. So there is that. Analysis expects prices to be gradually driven down.

If anyone wants to try a like-for-like code swap on Voy, i'm due to re-order in 4 weeks. I would be keen to see if it works & also save some £!

Day 12 for me, feeling better mood-wise now. I think I just had a couple of days where I missed dopamine hit of binging. Stupid, I know.

Still no significant side effects (have injected both doses in stomach). Sometimes I feel genuine hunger and other times I don’t. Some meals I can finish easily and some I struggle to start. No binging. Very few snacks. No calorie counting, reducing carbs or denying myself of anything really. Just moderation and better balance.

I’ve lost 10lb so far so it’s falling off me. I can tell that certain items of clothing feel looser. I said this before but in a way, I’m not surprised. My eating habits before this were absolutely dire (I was not in a good place) and my starting BMI is 40 so I have more to lose. I’m also only 34 so I think age is on my side a little.

I’m sure it’ll slow down soon, which is good, as nearly a pound a day isn’t the best way to do it.

However, I’m only two pounds away from the next stone bracket which I’m really looking forward to seeing.

@Baldatbirth glad it's going well so far :)

@Rainbowl great update. Glad it's working so well for you. I'm sure the weight losses will slow down to a reasonable pace soon

@AgathaMystery
If they have to use your code before the discount is available for you and you have to use their code before the discount is available for them I can't see how you would do that? As one of you would have to order first?

Hello, new to this thread.

Started yesterday. Any advice for the nausea? How do you cope at work with nausea and diarrhoea?

Next time I will inject into my thigh to see if that helps.

That's interesting. In the US they really are charged so much per month for it. So I'm happy with the prices we pay compared to the US anyway. I think I read somewhere that it costs them £5 to make for a months supply! So it is terrible really how much they charge!

I wonder if other pharmaceutical companies will start making their own versions with the same ingredients! Then that will really bring the price down! As long as Eli lilly can't patient it!

The Eli Lilly patent doesn't expire until 2039, but I'm sure someone will come up with something else similar (and cheaper) in the meantime.

I'm not sure either... there must be a hack to it. I will think on it!

Yes. The big phamas are going to want to get in on this big profit maker for sure. So hopefully weight loss drugs will be competitive in the future.

I think Wegovy won't be popular soon as people are doing better on MJ. So their prices might go down. Or they might improve the formula to include trezipide!

I feel like I should be buying shares in Eli lilly!