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:

No you don't need to. Some people do though.

Someone emailed Eli lilly and they confirmed that you don't need to prime each time.

thanks. I thought it was a bit weird that I was having to do it every time

How was everyone’s jump from 5mg to 7.5mg? I’m not sure whether to do the bonus dose from the 5mg or start my 7.5mg pen on Wednesday? Side effects have been very minimal/manageable so far luckily!

Sorry maths is not my strong point so 0.6ml is 6mg

It's a full dose. So if it's from a 2.5mg pen it's 2.5mg, if it's from a 5mg pen it's 5mg and so on.

One of the graphs on the first post of this thread shows study participants lost 22% of their body weight in 72 weeks. But you can stay in it 2 years (possibly more) if you haven't yet got to a healthy BMI so that would be more lost.

So far I'm losing an average of 1.5lb a week. Losing that for 100 weeks would be 150lb. Do you know how much you would ideally like to lose?

@ObsidianTree what a birthday surprise! 😳

The moral of the story seems to be never miss a dose of Mounjaro.

Yes I think so! It's been a mess for sure! Lol

I stayed on 2.5 for April & May, & thought I would stick with this, but around week 8 appetite suppression began to fade. I moved to 3.75, very effective at first, but by third dose (last Thurs) I have felt little suppression, & in fact my appetite feels almost normal. I will go up to 5 on my next dose.
It seems strange to me how the low dose was so effective for 2 months,but now an even higher dose is not. I may end up at 10 or more. Most of my WL is from 2.5, hardly lost anything since I have moved up. It is as though my body has started to resist the MJ effects and compensates each time. I still have more than 2 stone to lose.
Side effects are generally fewer, tho I do feel tired a lot of the time.

I've only just started, but can see lots of people talking about maintenance. I just wondered - are people hoping to stay on it indefinitely / forever, or to eventually wean off and hopefully maintain without MJ?

Sorry I couldn't help laughing @FlappyFish, I had visions of you having a midnight feast just to order another pen. 😂 But with how brilliantly you've done, I don't blame you, and I'd be doing the same! I'm so pleased you're feeling better now.

@izzy2076 Noted, I will come back with (hopefully) answers when I've spoken to them.

I'm hoping to stay on it indefinitely. I'm disabled and its had huge benefits for me, the weight is a bonus. My pain and inflammation have improved hugely and I'm almost off my morphine after 15 years. I'm also AuDHD, and my head is calm for the first time ever, literally as though someone has flicked a switch.

I've lost 16% of my body weight (around 3st) in just over 3 months so higher % are definitely possible.

I need to lose another 3 to get to a BMI of under 30, and 5 stone to BMI 25 (not very realistic for me, but let's see!)

Good luck!

Thanks for the Zava codes, I’ve somehow lost the thread of which one I used but one of you will be getting a referral bonus!

If anyone else still needs one then my code is REFP6RVR

@MyCatsSlave I’ve just used your Zava code.

Use my code and you’ll get 15% off your first order at ZAVA: REFUM535
Maximum discount value: £30

I have lots to lose so going with the cheapest option for now!

Since taking my first 5mg dose last Thurs night I’ve had chronic diarrhoea. I think next week I’m going to just take 4mg and see if that is easier on my stomach.

On the plus side this has meant I’ve lost 7lbs in 4 days but obviously this isn’t healthy or sustainable!

Also sharing my Zava code in case it's any use to anyone!

Use my code and you’ll get 15% off your first order at ZAVA: REFZNHGW

Maximum discount value: £30

@rag I’ve just uploaded a terrible photo 😂 The scales one was really tricky as they have a blue light and I just couldn’t get the weight to show in the photo.

@Ivytheterrible Thanks, the 15% really helps

@Lastchancefatty you should be able to achieve more on MJ as long as you don't struggle with awful side effects etc.
I've lost 23.4% of my body weight since February which is over 3.5 stone. I still have a little over 2st to go to get to bmi 25.

Have you seen the other thread for those of us with over 5st to lose? Might be worth a read if you haven't seen it yet.

If someone uses your code you get 15% off next time. So basically your first and second are £30 cheaper.
Only works once, not like Voy where some people ended up getting them for free as they had so many referrals!

If you use someone's referral code, they get 15% off their next pen. So if you share your code and someone uses it, you will also get 15% off your next pen.

Everyone's different but I'd suggest using the bonus dose.

I've been a slow steady loser and felt little suppression of hunger and had no side effects with 2.5mg or 5mg.

My 5mg bonus dose worked out at 6.16mg. It was like magic, for the first time I felt a good level of supression and even though I was on holiday I lost 2lbs in a week, which is great for me.

My 1st week on 7.5mg was fantastic. But my goodness the 2nd week I had such a gurggly tummy and terrible sulphur burps. My diet has been exactly the same. I've persevered and taken my 3rd 7.5mg in the hope that my system gets used to the dose. If the burps return I'll dial back the next dose to 6.25mg.

Good luck moving up.

I just thought it would amuse you all that I’m currently pricing up rhinoplasty and a boob lift. I don’t need implants. I’m still a DD. I would just prefer them to be closer to my chin than my belly button. 😂

Good for you, genuinely 🙂

I've been eyeing up a tummy tuck and breast lift for years but I've never been closer to actually getting it done than I am now I've lost most of the weight. It felt pointless pursuing it before when I had so much to lose.

I've promised myself that as soon as I've maintained my GW for 6 months I will start allocating the funds for it.

Here is my ZAVA referral code for 15% off your first order at ZAVA: REFN6SPJ