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:

Hello newbies, congrats losers. 🎉

Many congratulations on your award @Cerialkiller, you must be extremely proud, and rightly so!

I've had a lovely post holiday boost, had a 2.5lbs whoosh overnight. 😁

Hoping I can get some advice from you lovely lot. Due to my conditions, exercise has pretty much been out of the question, especially as I was bed bound for a long time. Now I'm 'only' overweight, have got doc's approval to start with some walking, but it's difficult outside as I don't know if I'll make it home!

So could anyone recommend a decent walking pad? Sadly I don't have the space for a proper treadmill, or I'd consider it.

It must have a support bar for me to hold if needs be, preferably under £300, but I need something decent quality that doesn't come from Wish or Temu, or is shipped from Outer Mongolia. And if it has a speed of above a mile per month, t'would be a cracking bonus.😏

I just converted kgs to stone and have worked out that in two and a half weeks I’ve lost a little over a stone!!!

Yes, I have not had the best suppression on 7.5. Less effective than 5. I have my last dose this week and my 10 pen waiting for next week. I wouldn't want to stay on 7.5.

Congratulations @Cerialkiller. If by any miracle you are in the Essex area, please let me know as we are in desperate need of a good landscape artist for our disaster of a garden.

I love those OB jeans and will definitely investigate. Thanks to the poster who shared.

I am hoping someone good at maths can check my homework for me. I've just taken my bonus 5th dose from my second 5mg pen. I managed to extract 7.8ml which I have calculated to be 6.5mg of medication (working on the basis that if 6ml of solution contains 5mg of product, then each ml contains 1.2mg of Mounjaro and 1.2mg x 7.8ml = 6.5mg)

I have no idea if I'm correct or not but if I am, I'm counting that as a NSV as Mounjaro has clearly made me better at maths 🤣 Is anyone able to confirm?

@MelissaLouRocks I have this one from Amazon. Looks like it's out of stock at the moment but I they do other models. It was under £300 and has coped with my heavy weight walking on it daily for a few months now...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0CR46DKPH?psc=1&ref=ppxpoppmobbbasin_title

Not sure if I should complain to ZAVA or not…
I missed the delivery yesterday and have only just got home from work at 6pm today to put it in the fridge. There was only 1 ice pack in there and it was completely melted. Inside the bag felt a little bit cold but not much and when I took the pen out the box it felt like it was room temperature, not cold. I know it’s partly my fault for missing the delivery but the despatch note inside the box has Saturdays date on it and when I check the tracking on Royal Mail it said “sender has dispatched item” on Saturday although they didn’t receive it at the hub until Monday. I know it’s okay out of the fridge for a bit but I still have a few doses of my current pen left. Should I complain?

@YouAreEffluentKim I have pm' ed you ☺️

Thank you, I shall have a peek. 😊

Im not sure what to do. I'm currently with med express on my second 5mg pen (taking 6.25)
Loosing steady
I have a 7.5mg in the fridge and a 10mg in the fridge.
I've been buying when cheapest with discounts and at earliest time to build a stash.
I bought 10mg 14 days ago so can now order again with MedExpress but they are nolonger cheapest but I can't afford to pay the full amount yet and zava don't take PayPal pay in 3.
Do you guys know other pharmacies that accept PayPal

I expect this last pen order to be my last due to finances

@toomanycushionshere I was the same. Once I'd made the decision to place an order I was really impatient to get it. Then it arrived and I was then terrified of doing it. Didn't know if it was going to hurt and also worried about all the possible side effects.
But it was absolutely fine, really easy to do and I've been extremely lucky so far with no real side effects.
But there is no way of knowing how you will react to it until you take it.
These threads have been brilliant though as support whilst starting this.
So far I'm really pleased I decided to give this a go, I'm a new person who doesn't eat junk food anymore and only has very small meals twice a day. It's amazing.

Does anyone have acid reflux before mounjaro? If so, how's it been while taking it? I'm on Lansoprazole and zava know this so I assume that's OK. Do any of you take gaviscon for acid reflux while on mounjaro?

@Lastchancefatty yes, I do. I have had it a bit but I think it's because my stomach has actually spent time empty. I have had Gaviscon with no ill effects.

I was also on Lansoprazole, mine has disappeared altogether!

I have a hiatus hernia so suffer from reflux. The early days of MJ were tricky and I took gaviscon or similar plus a ppi every couple of days. Now it tends to flare around meal times so I think it may be a sign I need to eat. Heartburn is the new hunger pangs. I am finishing my second week and symptoms are getting less frequent.

Glad my ramblings were helpful. I'm similar to you as I've had no gastric side effects but I'm very lethargic and my emotions feel muted somehow. Not depressed (been there, done that) but off kilter and a bit detached - it's very strange. Don't get me wrong, I was no gym bunny before, but I seem to have lost my mojo a bit and would quite like to spend the day watching Netflix! I've lost 17lbs in 5 weeks (I too hit overweight this week and sub-200lb) so very happy about that, but I was puzzled by my feelings, and my aversion to alcohol specifically, hence my reading a bit today about what else this stuff actually does.

@Lastchancefatty
I currently take lansoprazole and still have a bisodol if needed too

That's what I have too. It's caused me grief for years now but weight loss apparently will help it so if I have a bit of short term extra discomfort then so be it I guess

Thank you. I have gaviscon here at the ready

Now that is hopeful as I've been on a strong dose for way way too long now

Thank you!

@livingwithpmdd
No problem

I’m 7 days past my bonus dose of the 7.5mg pen and I can’t face taking another dose. The effect is soooo strong I’m struggling to eat, don’t feel hungry and have a constant lump in my throat. I’m drinking lots of water.

What’s that about?!! It’s week 15 and I’ve not had any significant side effects before… I do think I have a virus as I’m quite snotty. I can’t contemplate another dose and even stronger appetite suppressant - it’s just too much

I also have a hiatus hernia and have been on Omeprazole and it's been fine, except after a probably too big portion of homemade lasagne. Came back on me with a vengeance! Not doing that again.

Took the bonus dose of 7.5mg and hunger has completely evaporated. Had two chicken skewers wirh a small portion of rice and could've easily skipped it. All I've had today is a couple of coffees with two custard creams as I didn't want to be rude to my colleague! Bit scared of going to 10mg.

I'm on bonus dose of 7.5mg too, but not so much suppression as before (well I'd say I'm still eating in a deficit, but not as much as before). I thought last week was an injecting fuck up as not much supression, but I know this week it all went in, so it's just I'm getting used to the meds again. A month on one dose seems to be fine for me before moving up. The only thing different is it is lasting longer as I get the suppression later in the week at the end of one doseage. When I start a new dosage I get it at the beginning of the week.

I'm nervous about going up to 10mg. I'm not far off the goal now and want to space the last few doses out or titrate down with them. Might just do 7.5mg instead.

I'm feeling under the weather too, and feel a bit flat, fat and lethargic. I felt really good last week! Not sure why I feel like this. Maybe it's just this shitty weather making us all feel a bit meh.

After a few weeks of feeling lighter, clothes looser even if scales weren't moving too quickly I'm now also feeling fat, bloated and blah. I've also tripped and fallen flat on my face out of nowhere three times in the last month and my partner thinks it's because I'm not ingesting enough nutrients as I'm eating much less.