Continuing Mounjaro...part 9

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

Also there is a 5th dose in each pen. To extract it you can either try a hard twist or use an insulin needle.
medbasic.co.uk/bd-micro-fine-30g-1ml-syringes-needles

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:
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
furthet 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 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:

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

2nd thread:

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

3rd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjaropart-3?page=1

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

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

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

7th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5062935-continuing-mounjaropart-7?page=1

8th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5068850-continuing-mounjaropart-8?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

@KeepingUndercover @ObsidianTree @MelissaLouRocks

Found it, it’s in the weight loss eligibility section
https://support.medexpress.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/18449019056541-What-BMI-do-I-need-to-be-to-start-treatment

That would make sense actually. Although enormously frustrating if you thought you were going to get a prescription! Especially as they take your money first.

@KeepingUndercover

Yes that would be very frustrating!

Thank you. 😊

I’m about to start 7.5mg even though I still have appetite suppression on 5mg. I may go back down to 5mg after a month of it but I am curious! I have about 1.5 stones to lose to get to 25 so I don’t think I’ll be hitting that any time before autumn given that my weight loss has been slow throughout, but it would be nice to see half a stone go in the next month.

I had a glass of wine last night just for the sake of it for the first time since starting the jabs ten weeks ago. Every other time I’ve drunk has been because it was social. So while I’m still eating a lot less (never thought I’d happily eat a single sausage as part of my dinner!) I do wonder if 5mg is now starting to wear off on me.

If you’re a sensitive soul look away now.

I have some advice. If you have diarrhoea or ANY kind of loose stools on Mounjaro do not let loose wind unless you are on a toilet.

Won’t go into detail. That is all. 😬

HAHAHAHAHA! I'm laughing so loud as on Saturday I had a similar incident. I think the technical term is "a shart"

😂😂

Sorry @lurkylurk you've really made me chuckle! Sadly the birth of my first was badly mismanaged, and I've now suffered what's called "discrimination" for 25+ years. Used to have little control at all, but yet another thing where MJ has woven it's magic. It seems to have struck just the right balance, so have a bit more of a life now. Sorry I couldn't help laughing, after dealing with it so long you develop a rather bizarre sense of humour. 😏

@lurkylurk this almost happened to me a few times the other night. I was lying in bed thinking ‘should I trust it’ The answer was always no!

@tunnellights76 welcome 🤗 I am also a ‘tea head’ as you put it! I think it depends on your symptoms. I felt dodgy the first 24 hours or so but otherwise have been drinking tea as normal! Just finished my first week x

Hi All,

Firstly, a big thank you to those who have spent so much time and effort putting these chains together! I’ve been lurking for a while and found them so useful.

I started Mounjaro 1.5 months ago and am half way through my 5mg pen. I have seen a huge huge impact on my appetite, to the point where personally I do not want it to be reduced further. Alongside that, I am REALLY struggling with the nausea side effect. I am wondering then if I should just stay at the 5mg dose? Has anyone here done anything similar, or should I persevere?

thank you 😊

Week One Complete!
Had a really surprising 5.5lb loss which I’m so happy with!!!
That drops a BMI point straight away! The last few days have felt harder (less suppression) but even last night I refused a chunk of toblerone from DH 😮I definitely could have eaten it to be honest…but feeling stronger about pushing against my default ‘fuck it why not’ setting!

Does anyone know which suppliers let you contact your GP on your own?

I don’t have any health issues and I’m not currently on any other meds. I’m trying to change GP practices right now because my lovely old GP retired and the other one they assigned me in the practice is not very nice. I haven’t seen him years because he was so rude and dismissive about things I went in for in the past. He’s also good friends with my father in law and told him about medications I was on a decade ago (I’m sure I could have reported him to the GMC or something for that but I honestly couldn’t emotionally deal with that at the time, I really would just rather avoid him if at all possible!). So I’d tell my new GP as soon as I get moved to another practice but don’t need this guy knowing my business again!!

I specifically ordered my first pen through Mayfair Weight Loss Clinic because they let me tick “I will inform my GP on my own” (and I fully intend to once I get registered somewhere else). Anyone know if any other places do this so I could shop around price-wise and not let Dr Rude Nosey-pants know??

Has anybody had a 5mg pen with an expiry date beyond June? I’m definitely going to stick with 5mg but am going to go very slowly up from 2.5 each week after the horror show that was Monday. However I’m worried about the dates. I have only used 3.75mg from my current 5mg pen but because of the way my dates worked out I’m coming to the point I need to order.

I’ve messaged Med express about it but they’ve come back and said they’ve escalated to their pharmacists and I’m impatient!

@MelissaLouRocks @CiderJabs @Ghilliedu @R4ch402

Glad it gave you a chuckle, luckily was at home, will be more careful in future!

Wow that’s fantastic! Great to hear about your successful first week. Hoping next week I have similar news to report!

Im now on 5mg (3rd week) but I’m finding the exhaustion and tiredness unbearable. I already have the 7.5mg pen but I can’t function with how tired I am, so I’m considering just taking the 40 clicks to stay on 5mg.
I wondered if you knew if the pen will function normally after the 4th dose (as in will give another dose as I’ve not taken the full one each time?) I’m loathed to purchase another pen when I have a full one, but it’s unsustainable for me to feel like this as I can’t stay awake all day!

@Ghilliedu

Someone on here had two, I think both from MedExpress but not sure, one dated June and one dated September. Other than that they all seem to be June.

Either wait for them to come back to you or contact some other pharmacies.

You could order 7.5 as they are dated next year and only take 5 mg doses from it but they are more expensive

I am doing a second 5mg pen due to the side effects I got with my first. I'm happy with that decision as it took the whole of the first pen to get used to it. If I find it's getting less effective I'm planning to just exercise my willpower if I can. If that starts proving hard I might just use the pen up faster by upping the dose a little. This is my 6th week on 5 and I still feel it's working well though. It's currently a nice balanced where I can eat meals but don't snack.

Yes, that was me. Both from MedExpress

I have a works event at the weekend so I am going to probably start on Monday. I’m so excited but apprehensive at the same time. Got mine from Asda fairly easily.

Thanks @lurkylurk and @guestusername I’ll wait to see what they say. I feel like ordering the 7.5 would be a waste as I’m not even up at 5 yet and I’d like to use my current one to build up to it and then see. Can I ask when you ordered the one with the September date?

3rd 5ml jab done.
Will see if the bruising is less with the new needles I bought, rather than the medexpress ones.

Thank you @evolute! I've started 5 cups this morning ie since I took the first dose, the last 2 I couldn't get anywhere near really... this is unusual! I drink lots of tea although probably naturally run out of steam around 4... hope it's going ok with your first week behind you! :)