Continuing Mounjaro...part 14

[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.
https://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:

Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. 12.5mg £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 £149, 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £179, 12.5mg £199

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, 12.5mg £194

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

There are others not listed.

18 - Worried about your supply being cut off when you get to a healthy BMI? Below is some info on some places maintenance plans.

MedExpress: Once at healthy BMI continue on maintenance dose for 6 months and then step down medication and monitor loss
The Family chemist :Would consult you as approached healthy BMI to discuss maintenance under close supervision
Curate: up to 2 years
Cloud: up to 2 years
Boots: Cut off at BMI 23
Asda: Cut off at a healthy BMI
Pharmacy2u: Will supply for maintenance
Bolt:Individual assessment once BMI 22
Zava:Once healthy BMI will stop prescribing this treatment

19 - 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

13th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5096704-continuing-mounjaropart-13?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in June:

https://www.mumsnet.co
m/talk/weightlosschat/5082791-mounjaro-june-24-starters

Video on how to inject:

For those of you happy to use the pen for over 30 days for maintenance, how long are you happy to use it for? I'm wondering if 12 weeks keeping in the fridge is too long? Has anyone thought about the longest they are prepared to use one pen?

Taking 7.5 tomorrow for the second time and think I'll go back down to 5 the following week. Then need to make a reduction plan and buy the right pen accordingly. Help!!!

@CiderJabs I think I would have to take it a week at a time. Will look out to see if it looks cloudy and see if it feels like it's had an effect each week. I think the main concern is the strengths of the medication, rather than it making you ill etc. But that's just speculation as we don't know what the medication effects will be the older the pens are. I think I'd try to use it within 60 days initially and go from there.

Just waiting for my first pen to arrive before I join in properly, and sticking with the MN threads rather than FB.

Actually just popped on to have a bit of a vent. My lovely niece has body dysmorphia and ended up in hospital for 4 days after taking weight loss jabs (she lied to get them, she’s a size 10). She’s learnt her lesson and feels very guilty about the harm she did to herself. Fact is my sister has set a really bad example to her girls by eating very little herself and passing on the mantra “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” 😡. Sis has called me fat to my face on occasion but has “let me off” since my ASD diagnosis… don’t get me started!

Anyhoo, I’ve told sis I’m starting Mounjaro and she’s told me she’s been using Wegovy for the last 10 weeks. She’s 5’ 7” and is/was in the lower 9 stone mark. WTF? After what happened to my niece too! So she’s obviously lied to obtain the pens or she’s possibly got it from her Botox woman, I don’t know.

Just needed to vent!

I should have done another dose of 3mg last night? I have been hungry and had food noise today and have been mainly at home with full cupboards & fridge. I have largely stuck to plan but did have an ice lolly and half a small glass of wine. I'm now looking very bloated and much more nervous about what life will be like again post MJ.

Having previously ordered a 7.5mg from MedExpress, I re-ordered a 5mg pen. Whilst they have despatched it, they did email to say they noticed that I have reduced the dose and to contact them if I am struggling with side effects & need some support.

If only MJ was around when my dad was alive. He was type 2 diabetic and struggled with his diet. He ended up with a quadruple heart by-pass, a leg amputation and being totally blind when he died. I do not want to go down the same path. I have the money and want to spend it on having a healthier future.

I am BMI 30 and have gained 3 stone in 3 years since losing my parents.

@diian my dad has a bmi of 55. This week I ordered him a pen and said I'll go to his house once a week to give it to him. He had a gastric bypass 8 years ago and somehow has put all the weight (and more) back on. I'm hoping MJ will at least make him "just" obese.

@ObsidianTree that's a good way of looking at it. How's this for a rough plan?

• one more week at 7.5 (will be on or around 10st which I'll be over the moon if I maintain)
• 2 weeks back on 5
• 2/4 weeks on 3.75
• 4 weeks on 2.5
• start spacing the 2.5 for longer than a week

@Ballyguin that's bad that your sister is taking it without needing it. Especially because of your niece. I don't get the appeal for people that are already in the normal BMI. I suppose it must be people with eating disorders or anorexics liking the idea of not feeling hungry.

@CiderJabs that plan looks good. I suppose it depends if you want to spend more money or not. I haven't really thought that far ahead for maintenance so not sure what I will plan to do. Seems scary thinking about it!

Have just ordered my 7.5mg pen from Zava ( @MathildaMattie I used your code so I’ll let you know if I get approved!).

Just taken my 3rd 5mg jab and I can’t believe how chilled I feel about it all. I’m 1.5st down in 7 weeks and although I’ve had only 1lb a week loss for the last 2 weeks I’m happy as I have no negative side affects, I’ve got enough suppression that I’m literally only eating 3 very healthy meals a day, feel full easily and have very little food noise. It’s like a miracle and I can’t imagine going back to the constant never ending food guilt and cravings.

If anyone else wants 15% off ZAVA my code is REFPDMRB

Voy has offered me 44% off discount code, anyone else received this? It seems to be for the 2.5 only though. I've been on 2.5 as last 2 pens and would like to move up.
Have no pens left so missed dose this week and feel very bloated and appetite back with a bang. I may order the 2.5 as I need something as I'm braidsmaid next week and can't afford to put on 😑

Yeah but @BlackFriYay now I really need to know! 😂

Same here. I ordered and wrote all over the "current medication" that I had already been on 2.5mg and then 5mg and I would like to order the 5mg dose again.

They authorised the 2.5!!

They haven't dispatched yet so I have emailed / sent messages / tried to contact customer care to say I don't want the. 2.5 / I want the 5mg etc.

Waiting to hear back.

If they say the code isn't valid I'll respond to say that I am a current / previous customer and they have all my details so shouldn't text and email me if I can't use it!

It says it's only valid for a week and it's already been 4 days as I ordered Friday and then it's been the weekend waiting for a reply so fingers crosssed it gets sorted today.

Does anyone have a Med Express discount code?

Do you remember the game buckeroo? Well, that 😂

They don't issue them anymore.

Of you are a new customer you should be able to find one by googling... however they only do codes for first orders so there will be no further discounts for subsequent pens ....I'm with med express as signed up with a new customer code before realising the ongoing codes had stopped!

I have stayed with them as want all my records with one supplier (and also don't want hassle of changing!)

However Zava do 15% off first order with someone's referral code (there are plenty on this thread) and then you get 15% off on subsequent orders is someone uses your referral code

I had the same issue last week, eventually they refunded me and re-ordered the 10mg. I submitted all my evidence through messages to clinical team and customer service as soon as I ordered but they still keeps emailing asking for it. I replied that I'd sent it already then I got a confirmation of ordering 2.5mg. It took most of Friday to sort out with emailing back and forth!

Thank you to whoever used my code- heres my next 1 😁 ZAVAKVMGVAB
**

code is for zava 😁

@RagzRebooted thanks, I'll chase more today. A bit annoying that they are sending these out to pre-existing / previous customers - clearly not for the 2.5mg dose but then automatically taking the money and wanting to send 2.5 out?

Anyway, will keep chasing.

Did they let you sue the 44% off for your 10mg dose then?

Feeling really disheartened that in a week I’ve lost all of 0.4kg. So frustrating, it’s my first week on 2.5mg and I just hoped I might be lucky and be a super responder but sadly no.

@BlackFriYay just got the funniest image!

I remember seeing someone join up to slimming world once with big stones in her pockets for her first weigh in so that she would have a definite and large loss the following week...

After some great progress I’ve been in a stall/rut for two weeks. Very frustrating. It’s now TOTM due so I’m hoping after that I’ll start to lose again. NSV though…I was sorting out my holiday clothes and my 16 bottoms were noticeably too big (cue new bikini ordered £) and trusty 10 year old stiff denim holiday shorts that I use as a benchmark each year and could barely fasten buttoned up nicely . I’ve lost a stone and it’s the first time I’ve felt it.

hoping and praying med express start to reduce pricing soon but not too hopeful. I’m watching with interest for the impact generic lira has but want to stay on MJ.

@CiderJabs i love that you’ve bought for your dad. Best of luck to him!

Hey all.

Haven't been on in a few weeks so was catching up. Well done all 😊

I was on the 2.5mg and got 5. Was away on hols and was too full after 1wk of it so went to 3.75. was due to take it on Thursday but actually have stomach bug so haven't yet. Question is as 4days late taking should I stick on 2.5 or 3.75 for this week then go up??

Thanks 😘

1 more edit- code is actually REFGE8EX 🤦‍♀️