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:

Done. Changed the needle. All good. Thank you @Choux

These are a lot stiffer to push than Oz or sax.

And yeah, the pen goes back to zero

Try another needle. Maybe it's the needle that's faulty.

Make sure you twist the needle on fully

I’m looking for advice.

i combined my last 2.5 dose with my 2.5 bonus dose to put me on 5mg a week early.

Not only have I had no extra side effects, I feel like the suppression is less not more!

I don’t understand. And now I’m worried my 5mg pen is going to be useless. Has anybody found a 5mg pen less effective than 2.5?

This was me when I tried to move up to 5! Happened 2 weeks in a row and I couldn’t handle it so I have started splitting my dose, have been doing 3mg followed by 2.5mg 5 days later and it’s been working better. No side effects at all. I don’t get the same suppression I did when I did the bigger dose but I have enough to stop me bingeing and I still feel fuller much more quickly than usual. Next week I might try injecting 3mg both times and try to build it up that way.

Has anyone had their pen arrive from Zava yet? Mine was supposed to come today but I missed it, it’s coming tomorrow and no one is home then either. Might ask my mum to collect from the post office but don’t want to if it’s written all over the packaging!

I've had no major negative side effects from 5mg (did second jab at the weekend) but the appetite suppression is crazy. The only things I can bring myself to eat are things that are really tasty, but even then I've barely eaten all day and don't want to. I do also have a cold so that might affect it, but I think I might stick at 5mg for my next month's pen unless things improve.

My ZAVA delivery did not say ZAVA on it anywhere. It was impossible to know where it was from and I noticed as a neighbour takes parcels in for me. MedExpress parcels do have MedExpress listed as the sender.

Hi. I have completed my 2.5mg and 5mg pens (10 weeks in total as have used the bonus doses)

I have a 7.5mg and a 10mg syringe syringe ready in the fridge. I think I have been too early to buy them as I'm contemplating staying on 5mgs as the effects are great and my weight loss has been significant.

I can easily just count the clicks and administer the 5mgs regardless of the pen. The concern is I will be using it outside the 30 day 'broken seal' window.

For example the 7.5mg pen will last 7 1/2 weeks (the 10mg = 10 weeks). This is outside the guidance of use.

I can't find any studies outside 28 days on the safety of this :-(

Having had horrible D&V for 24 hours after taking 3.75ml last week, I was really nervous today as I did the full 5ml last night. I've been fine! Feeling absolutely exhausted but I've had a busy few days. Decent appetite suppression but no gastric issues, not even burps. I am very relieved. I want to spend this week really focussing on veg and protein as my diet was a bit all over the place last week.
I'm not sure if this is a NSV or a NSF (failure) but my boobs are smaller. I tried two bras this morning as one didn't sit properly and then I realised I just have less boob to fill the cups. I'm apple shaped so I would have been quite happy to keep them as they were and lose some weight off my stomach, hips or thighs
@Exitstrategist my thigh rub hasn't disappeared but there is less area rubbing if that makes sense.
@ObsidianTree I hope you're feeling better. It's a bit of a shock, isn't it?
Sorry, I can't remember who commented on the mozzies but, if that's a thing, I'd be delighted!

Do I need to prime before every dose?

@PugLover2024 my first Zava order arrived today in a large brown cardboard box. Nothing on the outside to show it was ‘medicinal’ just a red sticker saying to refrigerate immediately. It was packaged really well with loads of ice bags and padding.

My first 2 MJ pens were from Asda but really impressed with Zava. I only ordered it on Sunday and it arrived today. They only asked for 2 photos for evidence - feet on scales and full body. They didn’t even ask for evidence of my previous 2.5mg and 5mg pens (which I thought was a bit odd)

Well, 2 days into my first week on 5mg and I've hit the magic first stone off! This is a huge, huge breakthrough - the most I've ever lost before through the most determined effort is 4kg / 8lb. This takes me back to my pre covid/WFH weight. Still have 3 more to go to make it even to the top of the healthy BMI range, and 4 if I allow for some adjustment/maintenance leeway, but this first stone makes me believe I might get there.

So, inspired by CerialKiller's system, my goals are:

SW 80 kg BMI 32.5 (I'm 5'2")
1st Goal 74kg (pre Covid /WFH weight)
2nd Goal 68kg (pre IVF / meno weight)
3rd Goal 64kg (wedding weight and lowest-ever adult weight for a few short months)
4th Goal 60kg (under BMI 25)
5th Goal 54kg (give or take, to get to the middle of the healthy BMI range for my height and allow for some bounce-back when I come off MJ)

Last question for today; is fatigue a problem on this. The fatigue in saxenda was crushing

I would like to ask for some advice and help interpreting side effects though. I've been very lucky and only had mild ones so far. But this week I feel so flat I'm apathetic. Almost no tolerance for noise/hassle, to the point of snapping at the DC for just playing. Brain fog to stupidity levels- doing school run forgetting DD is in after school club, mixing up a dinner date next week for today. Unable to read a page and understand it (great for work). Feeling very low.

Is this a side effect? I also feel cold/disrupted sleep/burps & bubbly guts, but nothing unmanageable.

I'm wondering if I'm actually eating too little to power my brain - but I am eating protein & fibre 3x a day, and only losing 1kg/week. Or not getting enough sleep - undeniable insomnia effect but I've had much worse at various times. Is this MJ dialling down my hypothalamus to vegetable level, and if so... what do I do?

I've also had a really good experience with Voy. £85 off if anyone wants it

joinvoy.com/r/U-E06l0Ll13n

Oh my! Have I started something? I've never started something before! Great goals! 👏

Quick question 🙋‍♀️ I’m only on 2.5mg and I don’t notice anything until 5 days in and felt a little nauseous.
im still getting starving BUT I’m finding it hard to find a food I want to eat.

Are others the same? That you’re starving you start to eat a meal and within a few mouthfuls you’re full?
rather than just going off food altogether?

Loving the mini goals @Cerialkiller you've inspired me to create my own!

Looking to move to Zava, does anyone have a code that hasn't been used?

Well, reading this epic thread was a mammoth task but well worth it for the tips and motivation. I’m about to take my second 2.5 dose tomorrow and am down 5lb which I’m very pleased about.
I had a horrific headache on day 2 but didn’t know if it was MJ related as I was also finishing my period and can get horrific menstrual migraines. I then came down with a virus on day 4 so am feeling quite rotten in general but again, I think it’s just bad luck that I’ve caught a horrible cough and cold!
Still am very pleased with the appetite suppression and just generally to be less obsessed with food. My DM really wants to try but spends a lot of time out of the country for extended periods so need to work out how to get round that- will do some investigating for her.

I used voy so if anyone would like to use my referral, please do- thank you! https://joinvoy.com/r/U-s43exPb2y3

Have you read the patient leaflet about how it works? Getting full quickly and not having cravings so you can make better food choices means it's doing what it's meant to.

"Mounjaro primarily works by regulating your appetite, giving you a sense of satiety (‘fullness’), making you feel less hungry and experience less food cravings. This will help you eat less food and reduce your body weight."

@livingwithpmdd
I have a code for zava that hasn’t been used
REFUX25W

Hope you feel better soon!!!

yes thanks 🙄 why be so patronising?
Just looking for real life experiences.
feel stupid for asking now.

I think grams of protein by some measures is very high indeed. I was advised a similar amount to you but as a vegetarian it is just impossible. I think previously I was getting around 50g of protein a day probably nowhere near enough and I am now aiming for and getting around 100g of protein a day but I literally cannot do it without using protein supplements so I'm having whey powder daily as well as upping things like beans and tofu. It is all very filling so lack of protein was probably part of the reason I was fat in the first place. Also according to my measurements and body scan I've gained a pound of muscle as well as lost 5lbs of fat so hopefully that does mean I am doing something right.