Continuing Mounjaro...part 13

[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
furthet 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, 12mg £204. 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 £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £179, 12.5mg £199

Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189, 12.5mg £204

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

12th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5090788-continuing-mounjaro-thread-12?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:

@RagzRebooted yes I want to do some research and want to find a chemist who will let me stay on it as long as possible.

@MelissaLouRocks I just looked up the Family Chemist location. It's in a small business park type place so it could be that is an office / storage place and the prescriber isn't always there. It might be worth calling before you have a wasted journey. I checked the Google reviews and the latest one says Sunny was very helpful with a query. I just want to know what their maintenance policy is and how that was arrived at eg is the UK medicines agency very strict about what to do when people hit 25 or is there some interpretation to their guidelines? And is he expecting any updates from the agency anytime soon on Mounjaro maintenance?

My first 2 Mounjaro pens was from Bolt and I only left as MedExpress were so much cheaper with discounts. Their maintenance policy per the Redit spreadsheet is till you get to 22. If that was true I would go back to them even if slightly more expensive.

@choux thanks so much for pointing that out to me! If I get the chance I will call them tomorrow. I believe it's not far from the hospital I use all too regularly, so I may arrange a meeting if that's possible anyway. With information that's so important I prefer to do things in person anyway, and if I switch to them may also arrange collection instead of delivery.

I've made a note of your queries, and will make sure I let you know when I have any answers. 😊

Has anyone not had their Zava code used yet? I think I can order now and then order elsewhere in 3 weeks when I will likely still be over 30 BMI.

It was 10mg! And I had a bad week 2 injections ago as took too much with the extra dose 😭

I am not doing well at the moment haha

Mine has been used and I don't know how many more ZAVA orders I will do but if no one else comes along before you want to order my code is REFVYVHF

Use someone else's if they have one that hasn't been used yet though.

Thanks for the lovely messages 😊

@Choux I am also feeling exhausted! Had to come home for a nap!

Not enjoying food at the moment. Starting to taste when things are too greasy or too sweet so struggling to eat it! Picked a fresh cream choc sponge cake for my birthday cake. I used to love this cake and would be sometimes i'd get often on my fat treat days! Now I've eaten a bit of a piece and it's no longer hitting like it used to! Suppose that's a good thing!

Thanks @Choux I've used @Letsgoogogo Zava code as that was posted yesterday and no one has said they've used it.

REF946J9 is mine if anyone else needs one.

I'm also shattered all the time, the other side effects (aside from mild constipation) have resolved, but the fatigue is definitely a struggle. I've been having lunchtime naps in my car! I'd really like to increase my dose as I'm 13 weeks in and only up to 6mg last week, weight loss is ok but could be better, but I'm worried it will make that worse.

@RagzRebooted sounds like you are moving up sensibly. Maybe keep pushing your dose up each week if you are coping ok with it.

I'm going to have some electrolytes to see if that helps the tiredness!

@ObsidianTree yeah I was thinking maybe do 6.5 next week, then 7, then 7.5, which should then finish my 7.5 pen. I've still got at least 3 and a half stone to lose.

I'm really struggling with the fatigue too. I take my weekly jab on a Friday and I'm usually floored over the weekend. I have stayed on 5mg for my third syringe. My weight loss is really good and I'll increase only if I think it's no longer working.

@Choux Wow, amazing results and yes, I agree. Magic liquid willpower.

@MelissaLouRocks maintenance. Hmm. Well after my fainting fit I’m now back to my lightest and I’m 10 stone 13. I should be cut off now. However, I was naughty and on my little gain I weighed myself at night with the retention. Amazing how quick you gain 8lbs in water weight and from having carbs.

I used that gain to justify ordering one final pen. I got a 10. Approved within 15 mins the following morning.

I am going to get to 10:7 and then come back down.

@RagzRebooted I’ve just used your Zava code thank you.
Here’s mine if anyone needs one REFP3P3N it gets you 15% off

@MelissaLouRocks yes please! Could you ask them what the maximum time is between purchases? I will want to spread my doses to every ten days once I hit maintenance. Will they allow this? Also, if you came off mounjaro and gained weight could you go back on it without the obese criteria? Thank you!

Apologies for being dense. The info regarding mounjaro and other injections is that you can lose up to 10 or 15% of your bodyweight. I've got lots to lose. I need ideally to lose closer to 40% of my bodyweight to be in the top of the ideal range for my height. Will I be able to do it all on Mounjaro?

Thanks.
I had to send full body and scales photo, I also sent them a screenshot of my last order to prove I'm on 10mg at present, though they didn't ask for that.

Yes im sure it's possible to lose more. Plenty of American people on MJ seemed to have loads of weight. So sure it's possible.

Actually it's up to 20/22.5% with Mounjaro. But that's just based on their research studies. Some participants lost less, some lost more. There's people on the US subreddit who lost over 150lbs/50% of their start weight.
I had about 30% to lose and I'm hopeful it will all go.

@ObsidianTree @RagzRebooted

Thank you. I don't even know it works for me yet but I'd hate to think there was an upper limit

So the return of the runs has happened today. I thought it was pretty mild, but then I needed to fart a little... Which turned into popping myself 😱 so yes... I understand now what people say when they say never trust a fart! Thank god I was at home!

I took my 7.5mg dose yesterday so wasn't a dose I wasn't used to. I am thinking perhaps I should have started from the beginning back at 2.5mg after taking a week off on holiday. I think next week I'll have to go back down to perhaps 5mg until my body is used to MJ again.

@Lastchancefatty I’ve lost 23% of my body weight. 14.1 to 10.13.

@ObsidianTree After constipation and considering buying shares in Senna and aloe Vera, I have also gone the other way since taking my first 7.5.

For those who posted about fatigue. Yep. I may now consider shares in Monster. 😂😂

Can anyone confirm how much was in their bonus dose from the 2.5 pen please

@StrawberriesandMango I got about 2/3 of a 1ml insulin needle which another poster said if about right as it's 0.6ml per dose.

@StrawberriesandMango, if you prime everytime, then 0.60ml. If you don't prime everytime, there is about 0.80ml in the dose with an insulin needle.

Do you need to prime every time?