Continuing Mounjaro Thread 10

[FlappyFish]

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

9th thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5074054-continuing-mounjaropart-9

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

Courtesy of Flappy, deputising for the wonderful Obsidian.

@PissedOffNeighbour22
Your post really concerns me, if you've been ravenous and haven't been able to stop eating when you're this far in to the doses.
I only took my first dose on Tuesday so I'm nowhere near as far along in my journey as you are, so I haven't got to where you are yet, but at the dose you're on surely it should be working to supress your appetite?
But what concerns me is, none of us can stay on MJ forever.
So when we come off of it, what is going to happen if we start feeling ravenous again? It's impossible to resist that feeling long term. As PissedOffNeighbour22 says, she can't stop eating. And that's because she's feeling ravenous. I know that feeling and it's impossible to fight it!

The pricing model of quite a few of the providers (Juniper health etc) is based on people going up on schedule, so they tend to be inflexible about sticking on a lower dose. My instinct, though, is that if you save money with a provider who is more flexible and allows this, you could find at 5 or 6 weeks that it’s not effective any more and then end up having to wait two weeks to increase, during which time you may not lose weight?

The 2.5mg dose is an introductory dose to get your body used to it, and tends not to be effective for long - the therapeutic doses start at 5mg, so if you were going to stay on a dose for longer than a month, I think the suggestions on this forum is to do it at that dose (5 or 7.5mg)?

I’ve opted to follow the schedule as it’s what’s been clinically tested as the most effective tritiation onto the higher doses, which is where the most weight loss happens. My goal is to get to my target asap with as little money spent as possible - and I feel I lost 3 months being stuck on 5mg of Ozempic during the shortages last year (no weight loss at all, bloody hungry throughout, and more than £750 out of pocket for the privilege).

I know there are others on here, though, that have stayed on lower doses of MJ and do half dose increases, so they may be able to advise. If it’s about the money, I found that I saved more than the £200 each month simply by reducing my food/drink intake so actually spend less now, but I know that for some that monthly outlay, in that one hit, can be a bit of an issue.

Honestly - and I mean this kindly, the cure is, you can’t eat that sort of food on this medication.

maybe try an Imodium?? Good luck xx

Thank you for your reply @BusyMummy001 !

It’s not a money issue, although they are obviously pricy. It was more a question of if you have results on the lowest possible dose, why go up? But I guess it makes sense what you explain. I assume if 5 then works you could stick to that indefinitely? Until it no longer does? I’m just thinking along the lines of: I am putting medicine into my body, so if I have results when I put a little bit, why put more? Obviously, super abstract this question, given I only injected myself for the first time ever yesterday. 😄

The tough love we all need 😄🫶🏼

@3wDavid many providers don’t force you up the doses and there are posters on these threads who have stayed at 2.5mg for quite some time. People who have done more than one month but since moved up typically did so when they felt the 2.5mg was no longer working. Advice from the US, where people have been taking this for longer, is to stay on the lowest dose that works for you as long as possible, so you have that step up when weight loss slows. Those who have a lot to lose are more likely to be cautious I would imagine as it’s less worrying to think of the drug no longer ‘working’ for you if it means you ‘only’ get to BMI 27, say, rather than still having a long way to go.

Apparently SOCIAL5 gives a discount at the Family Chemist, although I am not sure how much the discount is.

They have the lowest price for 10mg at the moment.

This is my approach too. I can't afford to do this for more then 5/6 months at most and I want to reach goal in good time to reduce the dose slowly to wean off. That means maximising weight loss asap. I'm splitting doses between escalations but otherwise I plan to go up each month unless side effects get too much. I've been very lucky those effects have been very minor.

I have overhauled the diet. I keto and only eat two small meals a day, just water, tea and coffee, lots of protein, natural fat and almost no sweet things (dark chocolate, strawberries occasionally) very clean, no processed food and mostly from scratch cooking.

I don't know if this is why side effects have been ok but weight loss has been great. I'm exactly a month in and have lost 16.5lb. I'm a third of the way to my goal.

@3wDavid i start my second pen next week and it’s 2.5. I didn’t move up as it’s been working. I’ll see how I get on and may move to 5 on the next pen.

Can anyone recommend a set of scales please? My latest set have broken after just 9 weeks. This keeps happening- I’m on my third set of electronic scales now. I did buy some old fashioned scales which still work, but it is impossible to read the number from a distance so they are next to useless!

Renpho scales are brilliant and around £20 on Amazon. I've had one for about 5 years and never had any problems.

@GloriaBunniford I've never had much appetite suppression on any of the doses but it did originally stop the snacking which is why I've still managed to lose a good amount of weight. I also still don't feel full when I've had a huge meal and can eat takeaways etc without issue. There are a few of us on this thread that just don't seem to be seeing the suppression that most do.

There seems to be some sort of cycle - I've been on the thread since the start and every few weeks some people seem to hit a difficult patch, have a grumble and then a week or so later get back on track. This patch seems to be taking its time to end though 😄

I do worry a little what will happen when I stop MJ, but as my appetite isn't really suppressed, I'm hoping I just have to keep the snacking in check. At the moment it's definitely that impossible to fight feeling of hunger and I've ended up going out to run some errands so I can't stay in the house and snack. It's my 40th next week and I'll be away, so will be more tempted than usual to divert from the diet.

@PissedOffNeighbour22
You have had an amazing journey and I can understand your frustration. I hope you find a way though this plateau. I think you're right, our bodies do make it hard for us.

Well you've done amazingly well @PissedOffNeighbour22 losing 3 stone and you should be really proud of yourself!
When I say I'm surprised you are ravenous on the dose you're on, I hope you realised I'm talking about being surprised at MJ itself for not working properly to suppress you're appetite at this dose. You yourself are doing amazingly well!😊

When I got severely hit with diarrhoea I hadn't had anything to eat that might have set it off, I think occasionally it just has some odd side effects (haven't had it before or since) The Imodium worked for a few hours but I had much more success with a co-codamol tablet recommended on here and this from Amazon recommended by a friend who has ibs. You can just add a bit to a drink- doesn't taste of anything. It then finally settled down.

@Cerialkiller that’s a fantastic loss.
I’ve had virtually no side effects but am also following a very healthy diet. On the odd occasion I’ve pushed it eg a can of fizzy pop a few weeks ago made me feel awful it’s been enough to stop me repeating it.
My advice for newbies would be to cut takeaways, rich food, alcohol, fried, greasy and pastry.
I’m 11 weeks in and averaging 1.5 lb a week loss. Feeling really well. I don’t have much to lose and I’m perimenopausal so I’m delighted with that. I’m a stone off a healthy bmi and hoping I can achieve it after a few years of dieting and not getting anywhere. I’m eating well lots of protein and veg, avocado etc. Getting compliments on my skin, nails growing faster than usual.

I’ve been able to eat almost everything without any dire consequences although I feel carbs pretty heavily for a while after eating them. But I rarely eat carb-heavy meals anyway. The only time I’ve felt anything like unwell was a fatty pork chop.

For me the prospect of a future life in which I could never eat remotely like a ‘normal’ diet, meaning no celebration food, no occasional takeaway, no glass of wine, without being obese, makes me truly miserable. I’m very happy to eat healthily 95% of the time!

My lovely daughter bought me these, very simple to set up and send weight to an app on your phone.

They also have a smart tape measure that uses the same am, you just click the button and records your measurements and plots them as it does with your weight.

RENPHO Smart Body Fat Scales USB Rechargeable, Bathroom Scales for Body Weight High Precision Weighing Scale with Bluetooth Smart App, Body Composition Monitor for Body Fat, BMI, Muscle Mass, Elis 1 https://amzn.eu/d/5ImpRhf

RENPHO Body Tape Measure for Weight Loss, Smart Body Measuring Tape for Body Measurements, Fitness Body Composition Monitors with APP, Retractable Dual-Scale Body Measurement Tape https://amzn.eu/d/fvCJYy0

@Exitstrategist

Really well done!

If you don’t mind me asking, you must have had a BMI below 30 to start with? Was it above 27 but with other conditions to be prescribed? Just being curious.

Second the Renpho scales. Cheap, and lots of features on the app. I love the weight loss progress graph!

@MrsFrisbyMouse
You're right, our bodies sure do make it hard for us!
Why do they though?😞
I'll go to my grave never understanding why my sister in law eats like an absolute horse and eats white bread, white pasta, white rice, crisps, cakes, chocolate, processed foods, convenience meals, takeaways....yet remains as thin as a rake even now in to her late 40s, she's been a steady size 6 to 8 for the 25 years I've known her, whilst spending her life vehemently avoiding exercise (which she readily admits to!).
Meanwhile I am 5 stone overweight, have spent my entire life struggling with my weight, yet I do not over eat, have never over eaten, I never exceed my daily calorie intake based on what i need for my height/age, my diet consists of wholegrains and clean foods every day of my life, I literally never eat processed food, everything is fresh, whole foods, home made, the opposite of my SIL, and I am very active, but I'm huge!
Just don't get it.

Just injected my first dose today 2.5mg Mournjaro.

was really expecting it to hurt, but didn’t feel a thing. BMI 35.7.

as I lose weight, will I stop being able to have this as it says you can only have it with a BMI over 30?

You can access it to bmi 25 certainly. Just need to be over 30 bmi when you start (or have certain health conditions) I’m still on it at bmi 27. Good luck

Yes I’m still having bits and pieces. Had a bit of cake yesterday but 1/3 piece. I’ve had a small glass of wine when eating out but chose fish/veg for my meal.
Everyone is different but personally I would err on side of caution especially at start.

I tried binging a couple of weeks ago.

Followed my usual pattern of losing 10lb then weight loss flattening to nothing, me losing motivation and something in my brain convincing me that having a 'refeeding' day was a great idea. Cheesecake is a real weakness for me so that was what I chose, I literally stopped half way through the slice and couldn't bring myself to eat another bite, the thought was gross.

This is the same person who impresses their DH friends twice her size at all you can eat restaurants with how much she can eat. Who can eat second and third helping followed by dessert.

Even now I'm feeling physically hungry (5th day after jab) stomach grumbling, pangs etc but I just can't think of anything I want enough to bother to eat.