Continuing Mounjaro...part 5

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro can only be taken if your BMI is above 30.

Pointers for newbies:

1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1! The instructions say prime each time you take a dose, but actually Eli Lilly have confirmed you only need to prime for the first ever use of a pen. (The video posted says every use, but this isn't true!)

2 - When injecting, hold down the button until the number goes back to 0. Once at 0, keep holding down the button and count to 5 with the needle still in so no medication is lost!

3 - 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.

4 - 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.

5 - 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.

6 - 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.

7 - 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

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

9 - 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.

10 - 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.

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

12 - 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.

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

14 - 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.

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 - Abdominal side-effects are much easier to control with smaller meals. For example, having 4 small meals in the day vs 2 big meals can have an improvement in nausea and burps.

17 - 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.

18 - 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
• Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. Or starter pack with 2.5mg and 5mg pen £319
• Asda £184
• Boots £219
• Chemist4U £179
• Pharmacy2u
• Superdrug

There other other sellers, we don't have them all listed

19 - 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-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continu
ing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

Good luck everyone!

@BlackFriYay
The 2nd picture has less in the syringe than the first one though?

Thank you for replying!

Do you think I should extract the rest from the pen afterwards and use that too?

You have just over 0.5ml in the syringe if extract the rest as that's less than one dose

@BlackFriYay
That's up to you! The second picture shows only 0.5ml in the syringe though, less than the first picture?

You can see a air bubble in her first picture I believe and the second she has pushed the air out

@lurkylurk

That first picture was before I moved the liquid to the top of the syringe.

@BlackFriYay
Ah! If you take out another 0.1ml it would be a full dose

@BlackFriYay that's approx 3.3mg in the needle if my maths proves correct.

I'm also doing the same in a week's time and will inject about that much to act as a sort of buffer between the 2.5 and 5 dose in the hopes that it will negate any horrid side effects from the jump between doses!

Completely up to you whether to extract the rest from the pen and inject again [edited here to say using a new needle!] - I've read some people have done that. Maybe draw out the remainder to see how much is left? It could possibly be nearly the 5mg combined!

@BlackFriYay I reckon you have about one dose in the syringe and potentially one more in the pen (which is exactly what happened to me) - so you have 3 options:

• inject what you have and do the same next week so stay on 2.5 for 6 weeks
• inject what you have and bin the rest
• double the dose today and use everything- if you do this, get all the liquid in the syringe in one go and inject all of it (remember to go at a 45 degree angle as this needle is longer than the one we normally use with the pen)

It's a bit baffling but I'm sure you'll be ok! Good luck

@BlackFriYay can the original pen be used if you have a new needle or does it stop twisting after 4 doses? Thanks

@Sunshineandrainbow you can but you have to give the pen a bit of tough love. It doesn't like being forever but it does eventually give in 😂

Being forever???
Ffs

Meant being forced!

@BlackFriYay - ignore my 3.3mg guess. That was based on 1st pic - didn't see 2nd pic! As others have said, 0.5ml is less than a full dose (0.6ml)

Second pic looks like just over 0.5ml which is about 2.08mg

This is roughly what's in various syringe volumes of a 2.5mg pen.
Note, the numbers will be different using a 5mg pen.

0.55ml is 2.29mg
0.6ml is 2.5mg
0.65ml is 2.7mg
0.7ml is 2.91mg
0.75ml is 3.12mg
0.8ml is 3.33mg
0.85ml is 3.54mg
0.9ml is 3.75mg

Thank you all for your help, I've done it.

I had to use a new needle for the second (smaller) amount as I bent the first one after I'd injected.

This is what I got out of it (the two syringes) and the last picture is what's left in the pen, only a tiny drop but I couldn't get it.

I went into my thigh at a 45 degree angle as advised.

I felt a bit uncomfortable doing it this way so I think next time I'll try the hard twist 😬

@BlackFriYay well done for doing it. I also prefer the hard twist - the only disadvantage for me was that I didn't really know how much I'd injected!

Thank you 😊

It's a shame you can't know for certain what you got out that way. I wonder if it continues to give the 'normal' dose or more until empty 🤔

When you do the hard twist are you doing it until something comes up in the window like normal?

I don't know whether it works, but just seen another Med Express code for £30 off, MED20P. Hope it helps someone, please let us know if successful!

My medexpess has now unlocked so I can now try codes. This one is for new users only.

Thanks @ObsidianTree

I'm still new in the MJ journey but I have heard that you need take a photo of your MJ box with your prescription label on it as they often want proof of what dose you have been on when you swap suppliers.

For clarity, if anyone else is reading previous posts and planning to extract the remaining medication at the end of the pen, by going in twice with a syringe… DO NOT use the same needle twice. You will risk infection / colitis and a hospital stay.

Use a new, separate needle for the second extraction (and use sterile needles made for human medical use)

I was going to stick with Voy but I also think I'll stick with 2.5mg for a second month as it seems to be working well, I only feel a bit hungry the day before my next injection. Due to this I think I'm going to stray from Voy as I don't want to pay £229 for a 2.5mg dose. I'll try the med express code and let you know how it goes. Thanks everyone