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:

Agree it should be framed more as “some people in this group have tried/found” rather than advice.

when I was in mortgages we were QAd and failed if we ever gave “advice” !

@ObsidianTree Funnu you should mention about titrating up. I just had an email from Asda (I started with them) and some of the advice says to basically go down a dose if you’re not managing to eat. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this advice anywhere else - it’s usually just encouraging you to move through the doses

That's actually some quite helpful advice from Asda there!

Sorry @BlackFriYay I thought that was 2 separate needle extractions you were showing. The one with the air in, I think that's about 0.20ml actually!

@GoingforitJune24
I'm seriously considering doing something different next time. I'm on 5mg and doing fine, with Medexpress who I'm happy to stay with. So far, I've followed all the rules! So 7.5 is the next one up and £20 more. Can't do the maths to work out how many extra 5mg doses this would give me and if it's worth it (also how many clicks/ml on diabetic needle 5mg out of a 7.5 this would be)...Maybe someone else is better at maths than me.

So with a 1/3 of a dose, that would be about 1.65mg extra. So 6.65mg?

On the doses I still wonder if people think you lose weight quicker by moving up?

I know the 2.5 and 5 are loading but I lost perfectly fine on them. I appreciate some don’t though. Also, I don’t think 5 was even out when I ordered my second pen. 😂

If people rush up the doses it leaves no where to go.

I am only losing a pound a week tops now and on 7.5. Stash in the fridge for titration down. BMI is now 23.8

Agree! I’ll just add the first party of the email too as it seems like they are attempting to tackle people taking it when they shouldn’t be

@FlappyFish I did two months on 5mg. I'm half way through my 7.5mg pen and I'm thinking I might do another month on it the same. And potentially use the bonus dose to do some higher doses if I need to. I'm trying hard to balance side effects and weight loss so I'm in no rush to zoom up the doses!

I’m titrating up asap because I moved over from the penultimate dose of Wegovy. I think 1.7 was the same sort of level as 10 MJ.

12.5 is higher than what I was on so I will see how that goes over the next couple of weeks

Edits :

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. If you have additional health conditions you can get the medication with a BMI 27. (Prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems)

7 - Some people find that they don't need to go up to the next pen dose every month if the current pen dosage is working well for them. If you are unsure when to go up, speak to your prescriber.

8 - The move up from 2.5mg to 5mg can be quite a shock to the system. Some people chose to take 3.75mg dosage for a few weeks to ease the transition. If you experienced bad side effects on 2.5mg, perhaps titrate up slowly taking 3.75mg dosage first when you decide to move up pens. See click chart for pen click dosage.

9 - If you are having bad side effects after titrating up, speak to your prescriber about your dosage.

21- You will still be prescribed Mounjaro when your BMI falls below 30. However, it may be harder to move suppliers once you BMI is below 30 if you wanted to move.

@RagzRebooted @summerlovingvibes Been trying to get in touch with them since Friday, have sent many emails, live chat and phoned the number but after 10 mins on hold gave up. Looks like I may order the 2.5mg. I'm happy enough on it but thought here about splitting the doses to make it last longer so 5mg would have been ideal.

Perfect - thanks @ObsidianTree

Phew, thank goodness for that. I'm not ready for 10mg just yet 😁

This was my step up dose before starting on the 7.5mg pen next week, so 6.65 is perfect.

Thanks for your help!

They can act as a laxative. I think it actually says on the packet - 'do not consume too many as it may have a laxative effect'. Or similar type words.

@Lexiepooch managed to get through to them today on the live chat. They first of all told me to book a consultation but when I checked they don't have any dates until July which the code will have expired by.

So I said no - I want to apart this today and the lady sorted it out for me. Quite a long chat - 30 mins or so just a lot of waiting but order was cancelled and she re-did it with the discount for the other dose x

That is good advise, should I add the bit about eating to the post?

Maybe I can say this in point 9

9 - If you are having bad side effects after titrating up or you are struggling to eat your calories each day, your dose may be too high so should consider lowering your dose. Speak to your prescriber if unsure

Quick question of those who have recently moved to zava.... as I'm thinking of changing.
What do they ask for in terms of ID/previous doses and pictures.

Ooof fair enough. Still wouldn't be my first thought of recommendation for constipation but any port in a storm I guess 😂

They ask for a full body pic in tight ish clothes and a pic of your weight standing on scales.

I sent proof of my previous prescription too.

Also, they won't approve unless your BMI is still over 30.

OK, I think I've got this...if I buy a 7.5 pen next, I can use it to get 6 doses (plus bonus dose) of 5mg if I count 40 clicks (obvs if i decide i don't need to titrate up from 5mg pen to 7.5mg pen which i may or may not by the end of the month). This has got to be worth extra £20. Have I got this right?

I used the contact us section and contacted customer services, quoting the order number. That seemed to get a faster response than contacting the medical team.

KrankyKumquat Yes that is right..

Update from E-Surgery. I was thinking of maybe switching with the discount codes a few pages/threads back but I e mailed them first to ask about BMI below 30 and maintenance. They said you can change to them if you are taking Mounjaro and your BMI has gone below 30. They will stop prescribing when your BMI gets to 25.