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:

I thought the same thing, is the 30 days just to make you keep buying it.

Not sure I should be admitting this but I started my current pen on 08/05. I have been splitting the doses of a 5mg pen. I had a break while I was on holiday. I’ve just realised that I’ve had it going for that long! I dosed 3.75mg yesterday as I felt that 2.5 wasn’t giving me the same suppression and I’d done 10 weeks of it but is that being on 2.5 for so long or the pen being open for more than 30 days? It’s been in the fridge the whole time other than when I was at the airport/on the plane

You have got me thinking now 😂

@Nicmox

I've taken generic supermarket laxatives a couple of times when I was feeling really uncomfortable, eg. 4-5 days without going, without dramas. Once per week was enough. This was when I was on 5mg.

Haven't needed to for a while though. Current dose, 7.5mg, has me at the opposite end of the spectrum. Quite gassy with some random cramps.

I can’t see the table someone helpfully posted pages back re dosage of pen and clicks equivalent.

my maths isn’t the best. I have my final dose of 5mg to take today. Going to 7.5 next week.

I want to use the extra in my 5 pen this week to go to 6.5 (help get used to higher dose slowly) rather than do an extra week of 5.

How many clicks do I need to get 1.5 out of a 5mg pen (from extra left) I have new needles so will change as I inject the extra :).

mid someone has a screen shot of the table posted I’m sure I can work it out 😊

@CiderJabs The thing is, I am loving 10mg. And I REALLY loved my accidental 15mgs even more.
I LOVE not being hungry, totally love it, and am always bemused when posters seem worried about lack of appetite.
I want the rest of my life to not be hungry 😳

Thanks for this suggestion, I’ve just tried my next dose of 6mg in my abdomen as usual but if I’m sick again then will try in my leg as I think that slower absorption might help- worth a shot!

Found it :) page 2!

Thanks @Choux for sharing this. Here it is for those who need it.

18 clicks.
60 clicks is 5mg
6 clicks is 0.5

3 x 0.5 =1.5
so 3x6 clicks

Used someone's cold from earlier so sharing the love ❤️

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@Upinthenightagain
It's great to hear your experience of a tummy tuck. I've always said I wouldn't have surgery that was for vanity but I hate my hanging tummy so much I've really considered a TT lately. So much of the info never touches on any downsides and you've given me huge food for thought.

@Nicmox I recommend Psyllium Husk capsules. Colon Cleanse(Aloe Vera blend) from H&B did nothing for me and Dulcolax had me laid on the bathroom floor thinking I had a serious blockage and was going to pass out. Thankfully I did get a movement after 2 hours of hell, even vomiting some bile up from feeling so weak and I laid on the floor wondering how I would get help as I couldn't muster the energy to shout and didn't want to frightened my child who was closest - at one point, when I felt the urge to go I felt so weak i contemplated just messing where I was, embarassing to admit! So I 100% do not recommend Dulcolax but can say PH capsules have completely turned things around and I go at least once or twice a day most days, not loose or urgent so feels a healthy way to be!

I think you’re on week 18 - based on me starting 2 weeks after you.

You were one of the early pioneers!

Same dilemma here. I'm normally petite (or was) so 25 BMI isnt that great on me. I'm on 10mg but only took 8.5 this werk and felt rough on it, but equally getting very erratic suppression on it and have stalled. I have another pen, but want to save that if I gain in autumn/winter. Ideally I'd like to lose these last few lbs in the next couple of weeks and use the last 30mg left to ease down for a couple of weeks. Hope it's doable. Bit of a risk going over the 30 days and dont intend to go over this by much, but many of us are doing it already with the 5th dose.

@InstagramIsMounjaroJourneyUK I don’t think people admit the downsides of plastics or talk about it much. I suppose it can feel foolish to spend all that money on ‘vanity’ and the experience/ results be less than desired. Also you can’t really moan about anything because you’re not going to get sympathy for something you’ve inflicted on yourself. I certainly don’t tell anyone irl I’ve had a tummy tuck or my boobs done.

I think I’ve officially hit my first stall! Been hovering around the same weight +/- a pound for the past 2.5 weeks and I’m now realising how spoilt I’ve been so far by losing weight every week (currently on week 10, 2nd month of 5mg).

I stayed with 5mg for a second month as in my first month I had so much suppression I was barely able to eat a thing, but definitely notice this month I’ve got a lot more appetite and food thoughts to battle. In a way I’m almost welcoming trying to retrain how I feel about sweet treats/snacking as it’s definitely my weakness, but feel like if this carries on for the rest of the month (stall + snacking!) then next month I’ll have to move up to 7.5mg.

I suppose if you feel like it's not working, then maybe the potency of the drug has reduced? I think that's the main concern about using it over 30 days.

Is it that though or that I’ve been on 2.5 for so long that my body is used to it?

Yes this could be the main reason.

It sounds like the pen your using is working fine still

That’s why I’ve gone up to 3.75 this week. I think I’ve got 2 doses left in this pen so I’ll see it through and see how it compares when I start using my next pen. I won’t hesitate to stop using this pen if I don’t think it’s working effectively because of reduced potency.

I very much suspect that I am not the only person using it beyond 30 days

I'm suddenly feeling rough for the first time. Could sleep for the whole afternoon and don't feel like eating. Also been to the toilet 3 times. Bugger.

@guestusername yes it does seem a waste throwing away pens half used if it gets to 30 days.

I know people on wegovy use their pens longer than the paper work says they should. So think we'll be fine!

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@Mrsmounjaro thank you 😘

@giraffetasticc

I hit a stall at about the same point, half way through second 5mg pen. To address, I turned the final two doses into 7.5mg by using an insulin syringe to get out 0.9ml X 2 weeks. It worked for me.

Quick question. To those that struggled with the jump from 2.5mg to 5mg, how long before you felt better? I'm trying to avoid feeling shit for my holiday.

I could use my extra dose to make my last 2.5mg a 3.75 mgand then just to 5mg the following week.

If I use my extra dose as a normal 2.5mg then go straight to 5 I'm worried I'll spend my trip on the toilet.