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:

Well I go away for a few days and come back only to see I'm a whole thread behind! taken me days to catch up!

My trip to yorkshire to see the inlaws, festival, followed by baby shower went good but unfortunately there was a lot of pastry and pasta involved and I had a full 6 days off my usually eating plan. Unsurprisingly I gained a pound that week which i think is about as good as i could have expected. I have got if off already plus another pound so 18 in total and my week 7 weigh in is on friday with my 8th Jab tomorrow.

Just for confirmation from Medexpress that my 7.5pen is being delivered tomorrow. I have a 5 tomorrow followed by another 5 and the bonus dose before dosing up. My mid dose strategy of 3.75 worked well, no side effects so will do similar for next dose up. Can't be asked to change provider based on the hassle everyone else has had.

SW 196lb (14st)

Week1 -7lb
Week2 - 4.5
Week3 - 1
Week4 - 3
Week5 -1
Week6 +1
Week7 so far 2.5lb down

CW 178lb (12st 10)

Total 18lb

Goal 1 Lose a stone - done
Goal 2 get to pre-DD weight (12st7)
Goal 3 get to pre-DS weight (12st)
Goal 4 get into healthy weight category (11st5)
Goal 5 Get to wedding weight (11st)
Goal 6 get to lowest ever weight 10st6.

I’ve had no side effects until now. Currently on 10mg pen taking 5mg Monday and 5mg Thursday to split the dose.
I’ve had diarrhoea for 9 days, gurgling wind I can feel and hear moving through my bowel and then explosive acid 💩. My arse is so sore 😫. I’ve also had the eggy sulphur burps. I’m 11kg down on MJ since 1st April. It’s just horrendous. I’ve had 3 x 5 mg shots out of this 10mg pen.

I also had this on Wegovy once I got to 1mg, it was one of the reasons I stopped buying and it, but 6 months on and 13lb gain in weight I thought I’d try again. Chose MJ as it had better reviews and thought I’d escaped the side effects. Not sure if I should miss my next dose.

Still wanting another 5 kg off before holiday at end of July…….. any thoughts?

Twin! Royal Mail also attempted (and failed) delivery at my address despite the clear instruction/confirmation to hold at the post office. I suppose it’s a good thing it’s so cold here and I can wait another day to collect it 😖

@Cerialkiller I love how you’ve set out your goals! Such a great idea to give them all meaning rather than just a number or percentage!

Makes me think I need to be more creative. “Weight of DDog” “Weight of Ds when born” etc… 😁

Thank you. I will definitely stick. My body isn't ready for 10mg!

I have 7.5mg and 10mg. Both expire April 25.

My Mt Etna (from both ends) was a salmon and cream cheese croissant 24 hours after the first 10mg dose -embarrassing lesson learnt and what a waste of the poor salmon!

9 days of diarrhoea! I've had it since yesterday and already my arse is sore! I'm feeling the gargling wind in my bowels too.

Have you lost much so far? I also am suffering after doing 1 dose of 10mg and have decided I will stick to 7.5mg for now until it really stops working. I couldn't cope with diarrhea for that long.

If you were losing on 7.5mg I would say go back down to that. If not, maybe reduce a bit to 8mg or 9mg?

Sounds like a lot of us are struggling trying 10mg! Guess this is a strong dose!

I'm too scared to keep trying it 🤣 hope my diarrhea goes away quickly!

I'm also scared to eat now!

@Chucklesisters it was a salmon and cream cheese bagel that set me off yesterday! Maybe there is a link there!

Hi fellow losers (and gainers and losers again),

Has Voy got its act together now? I tried to move to Voy when I first decided to leave Boots but they insisted on starting me on 2.5mg when I was already on 5mg and could prove it, so I ended up with Med Express instead. I would try Voy again if they accepted transferees as I guessing my next Med Express pen will be too expensive.

Have gained another 0.3kg this morning, this stall is just taking the blooming biscuit.

Haha it's also a calendar of my weight gain in reverse. My lowest adult weight was 10st 10. When I was 24. Anything below that point I haven't weighed since I was an actual child!!

I was one of those slightly chunky babies who turned into a slightly chunky girl and teenager and stayed a slightly chunky adult. Always floating about 10-20% above a healthy weight until 2 back to back pregnancies.

Hi everyone, been lurking for a while and finally took the plunge last week after months of considering it. So I’m coming to the end of week one, due to do my second dose tomorrow night. I’ve had a great first week but did feel hungry today. Can I inject a day early?

Took my second 5mg dose on Sunday afternoon and omg I felt rough yesterday, vomiting, stomach cramps, sulphur burps, it was awful, I feel quite a lot better today but exhausted and dehydrated. It came as a shock as I didn't have any symptoms with the first 5mg dose or the 8 weeks I spent on 2.5mg. I'm thinking of splitting the next 5mg into 2 2.5mg doses over the course of the week or should I just grin and bear it next week and stick with 5mg. Any thoughts?

I would hold out. Hunger is normal and there is nothing wrong with feeling it. This is a whole lifestyle change.

Yes I did on 2.5mg and it was fine

Good point Agatha

Today's posts make unsettling reading. I am moving up to 10mg this weekend so all this diarrhoea talk is making me nervous. 9 days!!! 😱😱😱. I haven't really had side effects so far other than appetite suppression but clearly that won't make me immune to the side effects of 10mg! Luckily I don't routinely eat smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels and have a quiet weekend planned. 🤞

I feel like I am now half way through my Mounjaro journey. I have used three pens entirely and already have three new pens in my fridge (2 x 10mg and 1 x 12.5mg). I have lost 51% of what I needed to lose to get to a BMI of 25 although I am not averse to stopping a few lbs above or below this depending on how I am feeling and looking. It feels good to have lost over 20lbs and I am looking forward to losing more. And buying new clothes, and building up my fitness and muscle.

For anyone looking at 12.5mg pens my MedExpress pen arrived today and the expiry is Nov 2024. I was surprised it was so early as both my 10mg pens are April 2025.

Sounds rubbish. Glad you're feeling better.

Maybe take 3.75mg (40 clicks) for next two doses then try 5mg again?

Thank you for that, I think that's what I'm going to do, honestly yesterday was a complete right off.

Help! First pen ever and I think it is faulty. I primed following all instructions. When I pushed the button nothing happened and it didn't go back to 0 I have used saxenda so I don't think I'm doing anything wrong?

Didn't it move at all when you injected it and pushed on the end?

So you primed the pen and a drop came out when you pushed the end down?
Then dialled it to 1 by twisting for 60 clicks?
Then with the pen in your body pushed the end down and it didn't move? Did you push hard enough?

It could be faulty but in three months I don't think anyone on these threads has actually had a faulty pen so that must be rare.

@Choux nothing cam out when I primed either. Will try again. Does the spiral part retreat back in when you are done?

It took me a few days to feel the full effects. I felt fine when I first took it on the weekend. So be prepared for it to hit you in the week... If you get a bad effect.

Hope it goes well for you!

That's strange about the 12.5mg having a shorter date. How weird!