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:

Can’t believe we need a new thread already! What a chatty bunch we are!

@CiderJabs we're at a similar place. My stall is also between 10.1 and 10.3 and my goal weight is 9 stone 10. My bmi is higher though so ideally I'd like to get below 9 10. This is my fifth week of 7.5 and until the last couple of weeks my weight loss increased on the first 3 lots. I've got a 7.5 and a 10 in my fridge. I think I'll continue with the 7.5 though as I've had some side effects this past week. Fingers crossed we break through soon!

Thread 13

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5096704-continuing-mounjaropart-13

@Stickthatupyourdojo oh we are indeed in the same space! I wonder if it's because I've not been under 10 my whole adult life so it may be a stretch too far even though bmi is over 25.
People are commenting I look slim and I've no boobs left so if I knew I could maintain this without MJ I would actually be very happy.
It's so hard to judge!

@ObsidianTree @MelissaLouRocks that's a good idea. I think I'll see how I feel and what I weigh on Monday. Decisions!

On a more positive note - I've been to the gym 4 times this week and have been focusing on toning. I'm achey but happy I found the motivation!

Thank you @WannabeHealthier 😊

My medical team are pretty gobsmacked to be fair, I have 7 consultants and none of them can quite believe the improvement. My pain specialist said in over 30 years he's never seen someone come off longstanding morphine this quick without replacement drugs. Knowing all this, I just wish they'd bloody prescribe it!!

I empathise re the bruxism, have you tried botox in your jaw? I needed a bilateral jaw replacement a few years ago, and still need the botox every 6 months to prevent muscle spasm, but it helps hugely.

My BMI is 28 now, and I'm getting very worried about who to move to from Med Express to ensure I can negotiate a maintenance plan. This isn't something I can see me ever being able to come off completely without causing major issues. It's more than a bit scary.

Maintenance may have just been made much easier for us to calculate. I was looking at prices on Click Pharmacy's website, and they state the single use pens are now available in the UK, although they are still only giving prices for multi dose pens. Hopefully this is something that will become widely available.

https://www.clickpharmacy.co.uk/weight-loss/mounjaro

@CiderJabs I know the others have replied and if I was you I would go up to 6.25 for a week and split it. I’d also order another pen whilst you still can. The fear of getting cut of is real.

I do really understand the “Is this my new weight?” Question. I do think my body is stabilising. We have lost a lot of weight quickly. At some point our bodies do start to go nope. Behave.

Ok, mine has 😂

@FlappyFish yes that's exactly what I'm thinking. I did noom a few years ago and some of the lessons were quite useful. They say your body has a comfortable weight which may or may not be a bmi of 25 and that forcing it to go lower increases your chances of putting it back on. So in my case, if I was to believe what Noom says I should stay at 10-10.3 rather than try to go to 9-10 and end up putting more back on.
How many clicks would 6.75 be ? 50?

Yes @CiderJabs

@CiderJabs

40 clicks would be 5mg. 20 clicks would be 2.5mg. So an extra 1.25mg would be 50 clicks. So it would be 6.25mg.

So maybe stick with that to save confusion!

That website has prices for bulk purchases of three pens! I wonder if I could buy three pens from them while my BMI is still 28?

Just in case anyone's interested, I've complained to Med Express. Said I understand you wanting to stop codes, but how can you then write all over your site you guarantee the lowest prices, when I know at least 3 providers cheaper than you?

Stated I would prefer to remain with them for continuity of care, but would I then have to complain whenever I wanted to place an order to get them to price match. Will let you know what they say!

I don't see why not, worth a try?!

Their price is good for 12.5mg. Although, don't know if that's the price for 1 week pen! Or 4 pens!

Individual pens would make it a lot easier to use this for maintenance, even if we were to buy a 10mg and use over 4 weeks. Wonder if everyone will start offering it?

I think with the single dose pens you hold it over your leg and push the button and it delivers the entire single dose to your leg. It comes with the needle already attached so there is no scope to split the dose in the pen.

Although I've never seen one in real life so could be wrong.

I've searched, and not been able to find reference to it anywhere else. Also, I understood they were trying to convert USA to multi use pens, so why would they give us single use ones? 🤔

Would be really handy, but will keep an eye out to see if anything gets mentioned before I believe it!

Oh no that's a shame. Here was I foolish hoping they would make it easier for us to maintain. Silly old me.

@MelissaLouRocks yes I agree. Doesn't make sense as they say the shortage in the US is because of the pens and not the drug. So why start individual pens here? It's all a bit of a minefield tbh

I just wanted to give you guys a bit of a warning if you are using ZAVA.

My order was approved on Tuesday but not dispatched till yesterday evening. I'm in Scotland and my order is still in England and was meant to be here today. I don't think it will arrive tomorrow unless it moves fast.

I just rang them and the information the call centre are giving to patients is information regarding wegov and not mounjaro. He was trying to convince me the pens are fine for 6 weeks out of the fridge and only need refrigerated after using which we all know is wrong.

He is away to speak with his manager and get the correct information to the call handlers because in his own words "I don't want to be responsible for something happening to someone".

If and when I get this order it will be the last time I use zava. They may be cheaper but it could be that I am without medication for more than a week so I hope I don't need to start at 2.5mg again.

6.75mg would be 54 clicks of a 7.5mg pen.

@Choux argh! 54 and not 50?
I'm going to end up confusing myself (doesn't take much 😂)

Think I'll either do 5 or 7.5 for 2 weeks and reassess.

Thanks :)

I had a similar experience. For some reason they despatched my order on a Saturday even though their website says they only dispatch Monday to Friday. I missed the delivery on Tuesday and when it came on Wednesday it was room temperature. There was only 1 ice pack which was completely melted. I messaged them as I know it’s ok out of the fridge if you use it straight away but I’m still using up my current pen and they basically said it was tough and I’d have to dispose of the pen after 4 weeks, even if I’ve not used all of the doses. I’ve pushed back at them as they shouldn’t have dispatched it on a Saturday. I will be sticking to MedExpress in future!

Can you see where it is on the Royal Mail tracking? When do you need to start using it

If you count is as being refrigerated today but not from tomorrow and you receive it Monday then the 30 days would be up 15th July. That's still enough time to get all 5 doses into you if you start it immediately. But you might be able to get them to send a free replacement next week and then you have two for the price of one!

The end :)