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

I moved up to 10 yesterday after a disappointing three weeks on 7.5. Early signs are good - no side effects and little interest in food (although I can eat and enjoy it).

Fingers crossed that it's a good move up for me!

You are doing amazing @Scalessayeek 👏
Enjoy your holidays!

Sorry you’ve had such an awful reaction. I have no advice to give but like you I’ve felt mainly ok 2.5mg (I didn’t have an awful day of nausea on Sunday). My appetite is suprised and the food noise has gone. I’ve ordered a 5mg but it’s not been prescribed yet, seriously thinking of changing to 2.5mg. I know it’s not meant to be a therapeutic dose but if it works it works!

Can you work out how many clicks of the pen will deliver 2.5mg and just continue with that once your next dose is due? x

@ObsidianTree

The Family Chemist don’t seem
to do discounts that I could find.

Can anyone post a link to the needles use to get the extra dose out please. Thanks so much! x

Fingers crossed 10mg is a good dose for you. Let us know how you get on

I added a link to the original post.

Number 9

So you did! Sorry and thank you x

@Mycuprunnethempty
The nausea, bloatedness etc may have been caused by what you ate. Any fatty foods will do it. Ice cream was probably the culprit. I ate a third of a take away fish (bought for me at work without me asking) and was wiped out for the rest of the day, vomiting and frequent loo trips.

Hi all! Brand new to this thread.

Sorry if this has been already asked (a lot!) but how much have people lost in what time frame?

Thanks

It's fine. I didn't mention that I added it. Just thought it's a question that gets asked often so might as well add the link

To be honest this is a really broad question. Everyone is different and everyone looses at a different weight.

There are early responders who are very sensitive to the drugs and see weight loss on 2.5mg pens and others who see no significant loss until week 10 or more once they are on a therapeutic dose.

It’s not a miracle drug (feels it at first) - it’s a tool. The work comes within. Most of us on here are deep into our journey - 10 weeks or more - and the NSV are as important as the loss itself now.

Hi- I’ve lost 15 pounds in 9 weeks so not quite 2 pounds a week but I’m realistic about it and that’s probably slow and steady and more likely to stay off. I should add I have a very sedentary job and I do very little in way of exercise.

I would guess it’s to keep the heal life of the dose consistent. But it’s not how MJ is designed to be used.

as an aside, Tik Tok was once described to me by a teacher as ‘the cesspit of humanity’ 😂

@Letsgoogogo a lot of people find the drug 'wearing off' around day 5 due to the half life, and/or find a full dose in one go harder to deal with regarding side effects.
I quite like the end of week wearing off stage as it means I am able to enjoy meals with family more and also can have a bit of a re-feed if I wasn't able to eat much earlier in the week. But I don't take MJ so I can never be hungry, I appreciate still having an appetite at meal times, it just gives me a lot more self control and means I can eat smaller portions.
Side effects wise, I could be tempted to split the doses if I struggle more when I go up a dose. They can be rough. But mostly, for most people, after a few months they do settle.

There is no research on splitting doses because the drug is designed for a simple, once weekly regime. That doesn't mean it won't work fine, but it's off-license use. So is using the extra dose and counting clicks for different doses. Many people are not comfortable deviating from the prescribed and licensed use and that's fine and sensible.
Some of us, especially those with a healthcare background, feel quite comfortable making small tweaks providing they make logical sense and aren't unsafe practices (like reusing needles or keeping opened pens for long periods of time). At the end of the day, doing something because you saw it on ticktock is not sensible. Doing it because you've thought it through, read as much as you can regarding other people's experiences and have decided to try it, being fully aware of any potential downside, well, that's up to you.

Thanks @LifeisHard73

i only took 3.75mg, not even the full 5! I still feel absolutely rotten, my whole body aches like I’ve got the flu.

5mg is 60 clicks so I could do 30 to have a 2.5mg dose but I’m thinking about maybe doing 3mg and see how I get on with that - then titrate up slowly. I was going to order a 7.5mg pen next but I might stick with 5 for the time being. I’m going to message medex about the June expiry dates as surely they must be expecting some later dates to come into stock soon

If you read back over the last thread or two, we've probably all posted our weigh-ins several times, usually including how long and what dose so that would give you a good idea. It varies. A LOT.

*half life

@Ghilliedu I went up to 3.75mg, a 50% increase on 2.5mg rather than the 100% jump to 5mg and I'm glad I did as I have had a few days of not feeling great. I think 5mg would have floored me!
That was 45 clicks on the 5mg pen.
I might try a 5mg this weekend but in my thigh rather than my belly as it's meant to be slightly less harsh on the side effects. My first 3.75mg I did in my thigh and I didn't have any upset stomach that week, just a bit achy and tender for a day or two and the usual nausea.

It was my weigh in and exercise class today. l discovered Nutracheck converts weights to imperial so I'll post those as
SW 16st 2.6lb
Week 1 ( only few days into MJ routine) 16stb1lb
Week 2 15st 10lb
Week 3 15st 6.5 lb

Total loss: 10.1 lbs
Short term goal 14st 6lb
Long term goal 11,st 5lb to be in healthy BMI range

I considered staying at low dosage until stopped working but looking at those charts from clinical trial think I really need to increase to get closer to the 20% body mass loss I want. I have been calorie counting, in the gym pretty much daily better if which I was doing before so hopefully it is habit changing for life.

The two 5mg pensive got have June and September expiry dates.

I’ve decided that I’m sticking with 2.5mg as it’s working for me but know I have the buffer of going up to 3.75 or 5mg if I feel like I need to. I’m happy with my choice to stick given all the struggles people have posted about with going up to 5 and effectively have 4 months worth left so hopefully won’t need to buy any more 🙂

Amen.

@funmamamoo

There’s another thread with people specifically sharing losses so far I’m following which is useful
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5050045-mounjaro-start-weights-and-losses