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.

@Trytowin20 I've just started too and I feel the same about the cost, it is mind bogglingly expensive so much so that I can't believe I actually bought the first jab in the first place! I could've had a new tv for that! BUT tbh I probably spend at least the same amount on takeaways for the month (actually there's no probably about it) so I'm justifying it to myself that it'll pay for itself with the savings I make on junk food.

For those of you concerned about cost. Many of us find that you save nearly as much on food/snacking/takeaway/eating out as the cost of the monthly pen. If you take into account the extra dose it's 5 weeks worth per pen so about £30 per week's. Lots of us find that booze in particular is not as attractive which could save the cost on its own.

For those of you who have just started and not feeling effects, some people feel effects within hours, some not until the higher doses. Try not to mentally justify binging (I've been there) as a last hoorah or because this is a magic drug that will fix your problems. You will still need to work at it, this just provides the extra omph some people need to not fall off the wagon. If it helps, consider the cost and not wasting that money, make the most of every week to improve your health and retrain your brain and body.

Wise words CerialKiller - and good luck to everyone just starting. I'm only 4 weeks ahead of you, and started with all the sa.e mixture of shame/ anxiety/ excitement/ trepidation/ determination. I do recommend reading back on the thread to pick up experiences and advice, especially the opening post on P1 which has lots of information and links.

I’ve just ordered!! Awaiting approval, eeek!!

starting to freak out a bit now, what if this is a complete waste of money like every app, meal plan, diet, gym membership I’ve bought in the last 10 years. I literally have no will power and can’t stick to anything for more than a week.
I feel like I’m going to fail befire I’ve even begun 😢

Good luck to everyone starting. You will definitely save on food and drink. The pens have 5 doses in them too.

From my understanding. In clinical trials, only about 5/6% struggled with side effects to the extent that they dropped out. The rest lost weight. Like I said above. Use the jab as a motivator to clean up your diet. It makes it work better and will minimise side effects. We are all here to support you so keep posting!!

@Bananabuttons keep posting lots if support on here. Once you get going on it you won’t look back.

You're too kind. I'm only in my 5th week myself and feel a bit of a pro already.

I was encouraged to start from reading these threads too. I saw a stark difference between these threads and some of the other weightloss threads. The latter would start off very positive and then people would start going silent, stalling, admitting they had binged etc, then the thread would kind of...die a few weeks in.

This thread is on its tenth iteration with posters on here for months and lists of successful week after successful week of losses. I haven't regretted starting. I'm only 5 weeks in and it's already worth the £800 budgeted for my total planned journey.

Hi all, I’m a total newbie but have been reading these threads for weeks before I finally bit the bullet and ordered through MedExpress. Just took my first 2.5 dose this afternoon! No noticeable affects yet but I’m not expecting miracles from day one 😂

Am both nervous and excited about this journey - but I’ve never been more unhappy with my weight (at least 2 stone to lose) and years of attempting and failing diet/exercise regimes has brought me to here. I need something that will truly help me to stop eating & drinking rubbish and actually see some results!

Question - I’ve read a lot about the “5th dose”, if this works via the hard click method, does that mean I need to order additional tiny needles that attach to the pen (like the ones that came in delivery - but only 4 came). Or, if people are extracting, do I need to buy full on insulin needles?

Thanks!

Welcome to all the new comers! Wow there are a lot of you!!

Yes you need additional needles for the 5th dose. I was sent 4 extra after I said one of mine didn't work. Or you can buy insulin needles to extract the last dose OR buy ones that are compatible with them pen so you use them like the originals.

@PopcornFiend yes for hard twist method you need a new small pen needle (some suppliers send 6) or if you are going extract method buy the small insulin syringes. Don’t reuse needles.
For newbies I wouldn’t worry yet you are a month off needing to decide re 5th dose.

I’ve been in since early threads. Some people do stall..I had a couple of weeks no movement but most are consistently losing. I can only remember one poster saying the side effects were too much and she was stopping.

Thanks @Hellijoy and @WoolyMammoth55 I am thinking I might see how I get on sticking with the smaller dose as I have half of a 5mg pen left and an unopened one in the fridge! By the end of 2.5mg it wasn’t really having much effect but I was thinking earlier I could maybe inject every 5 days rather than 7 and see if that works.

I also had a chat with a pharmacist from Med Express who suggested I get some anti sickness tablets ( cyclizine)from my pharmacy or GP. Has anyone used these before? Do they actually work?

Has anyone a link to the pen needles that are suitable and have used please

The links are point 9 in the OP -

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

I used the insulin needles in the link for my 5th dose, and I bought extra alcohol wipes for cleaning the red bit too. Worked great, super easy.

@Ghilliedu I was prescribed cyclizine when I was pregnant and had terrible sickness. It did really help. It didn't completely cure my sickness but it went from an all day thing to a first thing in the morning thing.

Has anyone done the hard twist, I don't want to start messing about with other needles etc

Thanks, I’ll get some then, just in case I’m ever brave enough to inject over 3mg again!

Yes I did the hard twist to finish off my 2.5 pen last week and topped up the dose from my 5mg pen so got about 3.75 as an interim dose. Plan to do one more the same this week leaving 3 full 5mg doses plus the bonus dose.

@DownWithThisKindOfThing It is very odd not to get that hit. Currently I don't know how much is the medication and how much is a kind of placebo but time will tell on that. Thanks for letting me know it isn't just me though!

I thought the same thing @Bananabuttons - that's why I told no one. Not even DH. I just didn't believe it would work. I thought it would be yet another thing I've spent money on and failed at.

But I'm 8 weeks in and 23 lbs lighter now. It still blows my mind that this is working! In 8 weeks time, you could be saying the same thing to another new poster with the same fears.

It was that hateful thread in AIBU last week that set me on this track! Basically I'm spending £180 a month to lose weight out of spite 😆