Continuing Mounjaro...part 7

[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. Also below you can plot the effect of your doses.
https://glp1plotter.com/

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/product/15481/pil#about-medicine

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. https://www.chemist-4-u.com/carepoint-pen-needles-31g-4mm-pack-of-100?gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH51rLZBVFQxuvS7mDJooegtK8BMiyT0PwREMRHhH_1atfQIo8TEbsmkaAkA0EALw_wcB

10 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss. Try to have at least 100g a day.

11 - Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
https://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: https://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 2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169. Use code STARTNOW. Ask for other codes if that doesn't work.
• The Family Chemist 2.5mg and 5mg -£149. 7.5mg £169.
• Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 5mg
• Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189
• Asda 2.5mg and 5mg £184. 7.5mg £189
• Boots £219 +
• Chemist4U £179 +
• Superdrugs

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-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

6th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5057916-continuing-mounjaropart-6?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/5057475-mounjaro-and-wegovy-newbies-april-2024

I’ve done my 4th 5mg dose, a day late. On Saturday I thought it was wearing off, but actually it seemed to click in again from Sunday afternoon. I think the side effects had just worn off so much that I mistook that for everything disappearing.

Really hoping this week goes better, otherwise I’m going to try lower doses from my next 5mg pen.

@Losingmymind85

I'm pretty much the same, was 10 1/2 stone (I'm 5'8" so this was about 22 BMI) give or take a few pounds my whole adult life and then menopause and lockdown hit at same time and I put on over 4 stone.

Am losing on Mounjaro but slowly, however I haven't been counting calories, just having smaller portions, often skipping breakfast if not hungry and prioritising protein and veg.

Due to non-MJ related illness and a bad period in the first few weeks I've ended up having the 4x2.5mg shots over the course of 6 weeks instead of 4 which hasn't helped! On the last one now and added about another third of the "bonus" dose to ease the transition to 5mg. I should have made it half the extra bit but am not feeling great as on period so didn't want to risk adding to that too much!

As of this morning had lost 6 pounds and seeing as it was pretty effortless I'm happy with that, but want to up my exercise to prevent muscle loss and just get more active generally (walking etc.) now the weathers a bit better and look at calories a bit especially as it seems silly not to take advantage of this expensive medication in every way I can, although don't want to lose too fast anyway. I've managed to lose half a stone several times over the last couple of years, then can't get any further and put it all back on, so it's nice knowing that that is not going to happen, right now anyway!

As for maintenance, will cross that bridge when get to it! There's a thread on here called Moving on from Wegovy which is people who were on Wegovy and now have stopped, there's a lady on there called Menora (she's on another Wegovy thread too) and she stopped quite some time ago due to side effects but has managed to continue losing weight slowly since but she did say that she had to change her whole lifestyle in order to do so and learn to manage hunger. She is, however, still losing weight rather than just maintaining.

Others on there only just stopped or about to, so it might be useful to keep an eye on that thread as the months go on and see what is helpful.

Hi everyone. I started mj nearly 4 weeks ago and have been lurking on here ever since. I’d been really happy on it, minimal side effects and good weight loss, around 9lb so far.
Took my last 2.5mg end of last week and have had terrible diarrhoea on and off ever since. Has anyone else had this? I’m a bit worried about moving up to 5mg now

Preach!

Years ago I lost 2 stone (which was what I needed to loose at the time) and one way I managed it was by only attending gatherings after the food was over. So I’d arrive for a meal out but I’d cry off the meal saying I had a late meeting.

Now this isn’t sustainable long term but it was what I needed to do to get me to my goal. I’m okay with it short term.

I know these drugs can in theory be taken forever, but I don’t have that financial freedom. I can probs afford a low low dose every now and then. That said, I think the drugs will move on and eventually a maintenance dose will be developed.

Anyway, as always I’m practising normalising a bit of hunger, only eating food, not junk fuel and, in a NSV (because god knows I am stalled) my friend noticed that we aren’t the same size ATM.

That's amazing @FlappyFish

Did you see a page or two back someone saw someone on Facebook get a pen order rejected because their BMI was 25. So if you want to continue maybe order your next pen before your BMI dips too low!

You must be thinking about what you will do when you get to the point they won't prescribe anymore. Scary thinking about it!

@ObsidianTree Yes, I’m concerned about that. I am not due to reorder for another week. I’ve got a half done 5 pen and another 5. But I’m absolutely going to keep going as long as I can. It’s not even been three months yet and that is not enough time to change habits. I have a feeling I would drive myself crazy with cravings if I just stopped.

What bmi are you aiming for @FlappyFish?
I find the health reasons the best for not eating things as it’s harder to say oh go on then.

@OneTipsyBlueBiscuit i have horrific stomachache and diarrhoea for a couple of days every week after injecting. Didn’t get it on the 2.5 but get it every week on the 5 and it’s awful, sorry not sure that’s much help :(

@GlueNoGlue Thank you, I’m sorry you are experiencing it too but it helps to know I’m not the only one

I've felt much better today. After feeling awful all day yesterday I had the start of a migraine last night drank a glass of electrolytes and sprayed some magnesium spray on my neck and temple and woke up without any headaches which is a revelation for me as normally when one starts it lasts 24hours.

I weighed this morning at 0.7lbs down from last week (weigh day is tomorrow so still some time for more) which is a tad disappointing as I've had some really good low calorie days but I believe I ovulated this past week which normally sees a slow down in loss for me.

They won’t cost this forever either, once they are out of patent and other companies can make them. Of course there may be better medications then too

A maintenance dose would be good - preferably in tablet form as I don't like the idea of all these pens in landfill.

Yes agreed. You've barely started on it etc. Hopefully they don't cut you off so soon.

Maybe the person on wegovy was already on it a long time

Yes true. Or refillable pens.

I suppose if there is a market in it then drug companies will want to keep selling their weight loss /maintenance drugs!

As long as the NHS let us!

I suppose they could be waiting to see if you re-gain weight before deciding to let people stay on the drug forever etc. Maybe with research /studies before they approve

Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy has started a pen recycling scheme with participating pharmacies, maybe Eli Lilly will do the same for Mounjaro ones.

I'm keeping my used pens now. Will wait until they recyclable!

Judgy bloody google 🤣

I’m sure a maintenance dose is coming, we might just need to be patient. If you watch the video, the professor summarises the latest trials.

I think those of us in the UK should thank our lucky stars this is within the realms of being affordable…. I doubt many of us could stretch to £1,000 a month- I know I couldn’t! Although I know there will be plenty of people in desperate need who can’t afford £200

Will join in with my first post. I did my 3rd 2.5 injection today. Week 1&2 I have lost 9lbs in total. I get a really strong response from the starter dose. Have read all the threads up to now. I was a few pounds below this weight last autumn so it feels like I’m covering old ground rather than making real progress but just need to stick with it.

Agreed. We are so much more affordable than the US and so far we don't have stock issues.

Hopefully you are right and there will be maintenance doses.

Welcome @GingerLemonTea. Well done for your losses so far

I'm back in Banana Land, infection reared it's ugly head again. 😕

Who thinks it a bit weird I've snuck my scales into my bag?! 😂

There was an option to upload pictures but I didn't as assumed they'd contact me to confirm I had the prescription so would have provided them then if they'd asked for them. I'm sure it is legit product but it is a bit odd they didn't verify any of the info I provided.

My first medexpress order arrived! Will inject tomorrow though, also starting gym later this week so maximise results and feel better generally

There was a note inside from them and one from the manufacturer saying that the governments regulatory agency for medicines and healthcare have extended the expiry date of Mounjaro so the treatments can be used for 5 months longer than the date shown on the pen

Interesting!

Hi, I’ve been with Zava since late February but would like to switch to Medexpress - but I can’t see instructions on how to immediately get a higher dose as a new customer. The form greys out all but 2.5mg and asks for payment at the next step before I can add any notes etc.

would anyone be able to help me out? Thanks ever so!