Continuing Mounjaro... Thread 12

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30 until you get to a healthy BMI of 23 to BMI 25

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 that 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, vomiting, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may 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

Also there is a 5th dose in each pen. To extract it you can either try a hard twist or use an insulin needle.
https://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.

Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

11 - 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), psylum husks(fibre for constipation), electrolytes.

12 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

13 - 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.

14 - 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

15 - 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.

16 - 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.

17 - Some of the places you can order from are:

MedExpress:
2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. Coupon codes no longer working!

The Family Chemist:
2.5mg and 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £169

Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. Zava offer refer a friend discount of 15% off. Ask for a code on here.

Simple online pharmacy:
£149 2.5mg, £149 5mg, £169 7.5mg £189 10mg

Bolt pharmacy:
2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189

Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189

There are others not listed.

18 - 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

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

8th thread:
https://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?page=1

10th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5080755-continuing-mounjaro-thread-10?page=1

11th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5085436-continuing-mounjaro-thread-11?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in June:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5082791-mounjaro-june-24-starters

Video on how to inject:

Working away this week and was in a right rush setting off for the train - put my work trousers on and they almost fell down. No way I could wear them so ended up pulling everything out of my wardrobe in a desperate attempt to find something else that would fit. Looks like I'm in between a 16 and a 14 now so nothing fits properly.

I'm going to have to have another review of my clothes as I can't be rushing around like that all the time, my job is stressful enough 😄. Also my coat is now absolutely huge on me so that's going to have to be replaced too.

Morning all,

Still feeling rough. Still have diarrhea and vomited once this morning. Hopefully there won't be anymore vomiting. Starting to feel a bit better as the morning progresses. Had to call in my parents to come and do the school run this morning as was worried about needing to go toilet when walking the kids in. Luckily working from home today!

I am definitely going to stick to 7.5mg. Glad I got a taste of what 10mg would be like from the bonus dose, so I know I am not ready for that!

I now see why people get scared to take the next dose etc! I might push my next dose by a day so most of 10mg works it way out my system.

It's made me question why I even wanted to go to 10mg anyway. I guess thinking I want to be on a higher therapeutic dose to help with inflammation. Also after skipping a dose on holiday I wanted to get back to where I was so pushed it too much by taking the 10mg. Now in reflection I realise I have no need to go up. 7.5mg works well for me. I might have a few days at the end of the week where I feel hungry, but actually it's nice to be able to enjoy a meal or two without getting full after a few bites. Also I am still losing on it.

This diarrhea has scared me into making sure I listen to my body in future and only titrate up when I am feeling like 7.5mg isn't working anymore.

Have a good day all!

Welcome @CloudStar1 😊

Glad you are doing so well and have learnt a lot from these threads 😊

Thank you 😊

Yes it's definitely a reminder that these meds aren't always all rosey! It's now scared me into only moving up when I am definitely ready! Even then, I might have to start doing the slowly slowly thing of splitting the doses etc!

Will stick to 7.5mg for now as I seem to cope better with that!

Well done for all the losses today 😊

@StrawberriesandMango there is at least 2.5mg in the bonus dose. Sometimes you can get about 80ml. 60ml is a dose of 2.5ml. So whatever the maths of that is!

@spottydogsarethebest I try and get around 100g of protein. But this is very hard and I don't often succeed!

Well I weighed in yesterday and only 1lb down.
This week I've hardly eaten a thing!
Either through circumstance or because I'm just not hungry.....
But I only lost 1lb!
My husband said my face looks gaunt....I just wish my stomach did!!

I've lost 17lbs in three months which is really slow going compared to some....just wish the weight would go a bit quicker especially as I'm barely eating enough to keep a bird alive!!!

For those who may remember me posting I'd argued with MedExpress about the discount code they sent me that doesn't work, they emailed late yesterday and apologised. They've credited my account with the equivalent amount for my next order. Problem is I'd already ordered elsewhere 🤦🏻‍♀️

After reading @ObsidianTree problems on 10mg I'm quite worried about moving up. I'm due to take my extra dose from my 7.5 pen next Monday which should be around a 10mg dose. But by the time I find out if I'll have the same problems, I'll have three 10mg pens in my fridge 😕.

I’m considering reducing my dose from 7.5 to 5mg for my next pen. I just feel that the 7.5 is too strong for me and I want to feel some hunger again! I can’t believe I’m writing that, but there you go. It’s not pleasant to remove hunger signals entirely. It’s reducing my enjoyment of life and I feel like I have a constant lump in my throat and I’m super bloated in my belly!

I am not really bothered about losing more slowly from now on if that’s what happens by reducing my dose. I’m resigned to spending £200 pcm long term and I havent even spent that anyway due to discounts and the extra dose, as well as huge savings on food.

I’ve already lost 34lbs, I’m just over half way to target and accept it might take 6-9 months.

Has anyone else reduced their dose?

I’m feeling really sad about Michael Mosley. Apart from Mounjaro he’s the only other person to have such a positive and long lasting impact on my health and relationship with food.

Although Fast 800 was not sustainable for me, most of what I learned during the process I have applied in my Mounjaro journey. He changed my mindset on processed low fat diets (they’re really not good for you!) and got me eating more protein and a wider range of vegetables.

The Fast 800 cookbook is excellent for this diet.

RIP you wonderful man who helped so many reverse their Type II diabetes/ risk of developing it.

The good thing is, you can take less from the 10mg pens!

How have you felt on the 7.5mg pens? Problem is, I didn't have side effects on the 7.5mg. So felt taking 10mg wouldn't be a problem! But I was very wrong! Lol. I guess you could test the bonus dose of 10mg to see how it works out? Or taking under the 10mg from the bonus dose. You might be completely fine.

Re- med express... It doesn't hurt ordering a pen from them! If they've given you the credit etc!

@WannabeHealthier maybe try reducing with a 7.5mg pen. So work out 6mg ish and go with that for a bit?

I'm sure eventually you will get to the point where the dose isn't working and you need to move up

It is very sad. Also quite scary how a short walk ended in his death.

Yes great idea!

@ObsidianTree I'm fine on the 7.5mg but after 4wks on it I'm getting some appetite suppression for the first time. Nothing major, but I'm definitely less hungry than normal.

I'll order with MedExpress to use that discount but I'm wondering whether to buy a smaller dose pen as I'd like to think that by the time I've finished the 3 pens I have, I'll be towards the end of my goal.

I think I'm going to have to take a break from MJ for a month or two. I have a wedding coming up and my daughters birthday on the back on my sons and my husbands birthdays this past month and I just can't justify the cost at the minute! It's a shame because it's such a great drug and I was excited to get onto the 5mg but I'm happy that I've managed to lose almost a stone on one pen.

I'll miss the weight loss but I won't miss the side effects lol.

I guess you could try testing with the bonus dose to see how you cope with that. I have definitely felt more suppressed than you on the 7.5mg and sometimes have struggled to finish even half a meal when the medication is at its strongest. I suppose if you have never felt that then you might be ok moving up to 10mg!

You could buy a 7.5mg from med express. So you also have it incase you decide not to go onto the 10mg pen for your next pen. Also can keep for when working on maintenance

That's a shame. Suppose it doesn't help that they have removed discounts etc.

See you back when you're ready to return 😊

You could also see what the NHS is doing in a few months. They might start prescribing it more easily soon etc

Well I have ordered 12.5mg from Curate .......wish me luck. I hope they aren't dodgy!
I originally found a code somewhere for 20% off. I held off as the 12.5 wasn't in stock, then when I tried to order it had expired .
Emailed them and they said they only had a15% code .

I said that it made them the same price as current supplier so not worth moving. ( A lie😅). So they offered free postage then reinstated the 20% so they defo want the business. They also reply quite quickly.

Not sure if the 20% was only reinstated for me but if anybody wants to try I will send code.

It came in at £170 for the 12.5mg . Zava was £177 so Curate a tiny bit cheaper.

I am being "assessed" so fingers crossed.

Sorry folk aren't getting on with the 10mg. I am going great on it and looking forward to 12.5mg. I seem to be happily inmune to side effects even with my accidental 16mg last week! I bloody love not being hungry.

Weigh day, only 1kg off- not surprising as have had a family emergency this week which has turned everything topsy turvy and as happens in these situations I go from not eating anything for hours to grabbing a McDonalds because I'm coming back from the hospital and its all thats open and I cant think about cooking.

I wont be able to get to my pen (due to take today) until end of the week as I didnt pack it in my haste, so hoping it doesnt derail things too much. As much as it obviously isn't the main priority atm!

1kg is great, especially in the circumstances. It’s all I’ve lost most weeks without any sort of crisis going on.

I’ve won another pound overnight. I don’t understand anything.

Wow, I was still on the other thread and I’ve missed 25 pages here! I haven’t been on here a few days because my teen daughter and I went to Taylor Swift on Saturday night (also we were busy getting ready early Friday because she lucked out and her friends got them £57 tickets on Friday morning for that night too so she went twice 🤯 lucky we live local to where it was!!)

Sunday I was recovering and Monday I was still tired plus working 😂. We stood all day Sat in the early access line and got right next to the stage then and hour of opening act plus 3.5 hour concert, it was amazing but also - I’m too old for this sh*t 🤣. Felt like I had the worst hang over ever on Sunday and all I drank all day was water. It was an intense experience!

Morning all! Thought I'd drop this post here from Reddit, it's good practical advice on what to expect with weight loss and stuff - I found it useful!
https://www.reddit.com/r/mounjarouk/comments/1d9omfk/psa_feeling_disheartened_after_starting_on/

I also just wanted to post here about my brilliant experience with Voy - I think they are slightly slow in approving and responding to emails, BUT once you get in the system there's a WhatsApp chat with your coach - she has sorted all my issues super-fast for me... Plus when I had some health stuff last month I had 2 calls with their medics organised super quick and all free as part of the subscription service. I've found delivery to be good too, with Royal Mail.

The initial offer is currently £85 off their base subscription price - base price £229 for all pens up to and including 10mg, with the discount code it's £144 (I think?) BUT then you get your own code to share - if one or 2 people use it you get the next pen at 50% off, if 3 or more use it you get 100% off - free MJ!

I posted my code TWICE - once on here and once on the Reddit thread I got mine on. I also benefitted from a bigger discount they were offering before, 50% off my first pen. So I paid £114 for 2.5mg, then 5mg was free! And I just got told that my 7.5mg pen will be free too because people have used my code from that first posting!!

So for my first 15 doses (inc bonus doses) of MJ I'll have paid a grand total of £114! It's the bargain of my life!!!

I totally understand people chasing initial codes at Zava or wherever - but the way Voy is set up the BIG savings keep on rolling. I'd really recommend it - you just need to give them TIME to get you approved and in the system, after that you're golden.

Just thought it bears saying as I don't know anyone else who has paid as little as I have, genuinely without spamming any threads with my code... (Google for a code though as my next pen is already free so I'm keen for other people to get the love!)

I have had an equally good experience with Voy and the price is hard to beat at £144 up to 10mg.

I have a code for the £85 off if anyone wants to use it.

https://joinvoy.com/r/U-wjjjXONaOY

Hi everyone