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:

There is no nuance on here so you can sometimes think someone is being patronising when actually, it’s a really kind, genuine, experienced poster asking a genuine question.

I would have asked you the exact same. Sounds like the medication is working perfectly for you. Def go back and re-read the leaflet and you will see.

Very good luck.

I'm sorry to ask a question that has likely been asked already, I don't mean to repeat a question.
But I've just taken my 4th dose and there is still lots of fluid in the pen.
Why is this?
It clearly says on the pen '4 doses' but I've taken my 4th dose just now and there's a good amount left.
I'm really confused!
I can't have been administering too little on previous doses as it's an automated release, so why am I left with so much after my 4th dose?
I'll attach a picture to show what's left this evening after 4th dose.....

Evening all, in case anyone is looking for a Zava code mine is REFHWYH8.

Sent them a picture of my feet on the scales after I’d just come out a hot bath. I’m surprised the prescribing doctor didn’t ask me why I am beetroot coloured 😂

That’s the extra dose we are always talking about

It’s just the leftovers.

You can bin it, or you can twist the pen very very hard (perhaps with pliers) to get another full dose (& likely more) out of it. You can also draw it out with a sterile 1ml syringe and inject it.

Every pen contains this ‘bonus dose’ 😀

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa yes was a shock to system for sure! I guess for so long I've not had any back reaction so wasn't expecting to be hit so badly!

@Thebaldprimadonna feeling better now thanks. Hopefully I'm back to normal by tomorrow

Ooo am NSV today - I’ve got a lovely thin denim boilersuit from Next - it is perfect and I love it. I’ve got it in a 16 & it was a bit baggy looking. Managed to find a 14 on Vinted & it fits!

That's about £30 worth of Mounjaro.

I use insulin needles to draw it out and take it as a fifth dose from each pen. Others use a pen needle and do a hard twist to get it. I haven't ever done it that way. Maybe someone has tried both methods and can advise on what they prefer. Then you can get any extra needles you need in prep for taking it next week.

Thank you for replying 😊
Wow - why don't they say 5 doses on the pen? Why do they say 4 doses, but then put enough in the pen for 5 doses? I'm possibly being stupid but I don't understand!
There's even a 5th needle in my box...

Sorry. I don't read every post, I must have missed these ones.xx

OK, thank you for the advice and tips!
Is there any issue about the 5th dose still being out of the fridge? It will have been room temperature for 5 weeks by the time I use it next week.
Can't believe I've got a 5th dose!😊

Each of the 4 official doses is 0.6ml but you need to prime the pen each time plus they allow a (generous) margin for user issues with injecting. Possibly the pen design is also part of the reason why each pen contains 3ml plus of medication.

If you prime it carefully ie not too much you can get up to 0.8ml out for that final dose which is a third more than a full dose so is a nice step up before you move into the higher dose pen. Most of us here get it out and use it.

It is supposed to be ok out of the fridge for up to 30 days which is enough time to do five doses if it comes out of the fridge for the first dose. They don’t advertise 5 doses and I imagine it is in case of excessive priming etc so they know there is definitely enough for four doses as quoted and/or just to do with the size and mechanism of the pen. I use a needle to extract the 5th dose and usually get 0.7ml which is a little bit of a step up towards the next pen as a dose is 0.6ml.

That's so interesting, and helpful too.
Thank you Choux!

@GloriaBunniford how long has it been out of the fridge? If only since you started using it, it should be fine as you do your doses on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 and the bonus dose on day 29.

I think the leaflet says to use it within 30 days if not stored in the fridge.

Oh yes, that's true, 30 days would cover it if refrigerated until the 1st dose.
Thank you for your advice!

Yes - I am not put off food altogether, still get hungry and enjoy tasty things but feel full much more quickly. I also find I can resist temptation much more easily, even if I do fancy something.

Yes, you're right, I'll be OK. It was refrigerated until 1st dose, so 30 days will cover it.
I wasn't thinking clearly.
Pliers here I come!😂

(Sorry about swapping names. It's really annoying, I keep putting GloriaBunniford in when I post, but it keeps on defaulting back to another name I used on a completely different topic.)

I have tried the hard twist method but it never really works for me. So I just extract with an insulin needle.

I don't know why there is an extra dose, but i'm not complaining! I don't think it could all be for priming as it stops you physically turning it when you get to the last dose. It does twist around an extra bit, but then stops. I think the extra bit is to allow for the priming amount. But it still has a spare 60ml which is a whole dose.

OK, thanks Obsidian.
I'm actually feeling over the moon! The cost is a big issue for me, I'm having to go without other things in order to afford this, so 5 doses works out better value than 4 doses!

I’ve had a horrible few days and scared myself shitless. Gave plasma. Didn’t eat before because I’m an idiot and appetite suppression.

I collapsed 20 minutes afterwards in the middle of at least a nice shop that sells the Percy Pigs. They were amazing. I am well now. Blood sugar crash.

I didn’t take my injection after that on injection day. Can’t think why. 😂

I did yesterday.

It really scared me. I have now been deliberately making myself eat more and the 5 wasn’t working well anyway. I was meant to be titrating down.

You’d be surprised how quickly you can gain weight. 6lbs up in 5 days. 😂

At this point I don’t care. It terrified me and realised how restrictive and daft MJ has and can make me. Why on earth did I think I would be Ok to donate and just because I wasn’t hungry it would be ok?

I’m absolutely putting health first now and now thinking screw the numbers on the scale.

I say that today. I may change my mind. But please remember this is powerful stuff.

Oh @FlappyFish you poor love. Would likely have happened without MJ but of course without MJ you’d have eaten I guess.

Gosh I went away for a week and missed at least 2 threads!
So I titrated down for the first time yesterday. I'm Within 5lb of my targets and I want to start dealing with feeling hungry and eating a more realistic diet.
2.5mg x 5 weeks
5mg x 10 weeks
33.5lb loss.

I took 3.75mg this week and all feels go so far.
Banana and protein yoghurt for breakfast, veg soup and protein thin for lunch, small (same as kids) dinner - low carb. A smoothie with flax and chia per day.
I ate at 6pm and currently feel a bit peckish. I'm in bed so won't eat. Need to remember to drink before eating.

I'd struggled to exercise for the past few weeks as I was so tired but being away and eating more has helped. I only put on 2lb and I'd lost that within 3 days of coming home.

Wow @FlappyFish what a scare. You do have to be careful. I just posted above about feeling just so tired on 5mg. I just wasn't eating enough to give me the energy I needed to function. Unfortunately mj makes it far too easy to forget to eat. I've now looked at making sure I get enough fruit, veg, vitamins, dairy and protein while getting some carbs for energy. If I'm feeling rough I always rely on beige carbs which I refuse now so I have to plan to get the stuff my body needs rather than what it wants.
Morning sickness x 2 pregnancies only surviving on chips and toast is what got me here to start with!