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:

Is anyone with Oushk? What sort of photos do their require and how frequently can you reorder? Given what's been said about them accepting transfers with a BMI of less than 30 and maintenance to 23 in consultation with patient I think I'd seriously consider moving!

That’s interesting about blood donating. I’m coming up to the end of a 4 month hiatus after my last tattoo and I always start to dread the constant phone calls and te t messages. Some days I’ll get 3 or 4 phone calls in addition to text messages. I’ve done 25 donations and since covid you don’t even get a cup of tea anymore unless you take your own!

Loads of snacks at mine @guestusername I was at a permanent centre rather than a pop up though. Although I don't know if tea was an option, I was offered a drink but stuck with water. I was impressed because they had crisps, biscuits and chocolate bars. Fancy.

Same here. Much prefer my local donor centre as it’s on the same site as the hospital so I’m in the right place of anything goes wrong 😆 they always have the best snacks as well, before and after donating 😀

Just a quick update from my last post. My Zava parcel was delivered just one hour after I sent them an email. Royal Mail must have just been a bit slow with updating the tracking (the tracking said it was in a sorting hub). Luckily the pen was still cool so I just put it straight in the fridge.

I have just completed my first week on 5mg, and I have lost 3lb, which brings me out of my 3 week stall. Thank goodness, I was beginning to think my body was immune to Mounjaro.

Curate and Oushk are the same company

Oushk is a registered pharmacy - I just checked the register. Seems to be new

My scales showed 13 something for the first time today in 11 years 🙌 A big milestone for me!

can you buy a 5m pen after just one 2.5m pen? I looked on medexpress who I used the first time & they are offering me a reorder of 2.5m. Can I switched to another supplier with proof of the first pen? Thanks, this thread is a great support as I’ve stalled this week probably because it’s hot & my body has gone uhoh not dropping any in these conditions despite sticking to a calorie deficit on mfp & exercising daily.

You can. If you go through the form with MedExpress they give you the option to switch to 5mg near the end. The initial reorder page is misleading.

@KrankyKumquat thanks for that, I am saving the name.

Off topic but thank you to those of you who donate blood. I needed transfusion when I had cancer and it's people like you who save people like me ❤️

Yes she said it was a relatively new family business, her and husband, and definitely registered, etc. She is also the prescriber for Curate. Certainly the FB group is full of very happy customers and she (Hira) often pops into chats to answer questions.

I wish I could give blood. I used to but since my underactive thyroid diagnosis i'm not allowed to. Due to medication in bloodstream I think.

@ObsidianTree i could never get appointments to give blood. I used to. It’s why I gave plasma and had my fainting incident on MJ. Note to all. Remember to eat before doing something like that. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have an underactive thyroid and take levothyroxine and they accept mine. The guidelines say as long as not started or dose changed in the previous few months.
my.blood.co.uk/your-account/eligibility/health/article/?id=00027t12&title=Underactive+Thyroid+%3A+Thyroid+Disease

I've had an unexpected expense today 😐 bloody boiler!

Last ordered 30/05 can I order next Friday? Tomorrow will be week 4 single last order

Evening all

I'm just catching up!

A huge well done to WannabeHealthier for hitting that big milestone, you must be elated 🙂

Has anybody received a 10mg from MedExpress recently? If so what was the expiry date please?

I received my first ever 10mg from Zava yesterday and it was only 24 hours between approval and delivery, so I'm impressed. Said pen is in my fridge for my little stockpile.

I'm just on the fence about whether or not to also get a 10mg from MedExpress whilst I can (currently BMI 27) as I'm still technically with them and they've been emailing me to tell me it's time to reorder.

This all stems from the lack of clarity with regards to their interpretation of 'maintenance' and it seems as though they may cut you off once you reach a healthy BMI after all.

Oh ok. Back when I got thyroid problems I enquired and was told no. That was over 10 years ago so maybe information has changed.Thats good to know. I will look into donating again!

@PomchiK that's great news!

April 2025 for my 10mg from MedExpress

Thank you! Its the same as my zava 10mg then.

@BlackFriYay my 10mg arrived two weeks ago and it's dated April 2025. So is the one that arrived yet weeks before that

I was gonna say the same. I'm not allowed to donate anymore since the cancer, but was v grateful to get donations. I wouldn't be here otherwise!
Am outraged that you don't get tea or biscuits anymore though!!!

For those reaching the stronger doses of Mounjaro, 15mg is now showing as in stock at ZAVA, MedExpress and Bolt. Not checked other suppliers. The full price is £204, £210, £199 for each supplier respectively.

@ObsidianTree did Bolt respond about staying on a maintenance dose when your BMI is sub 25?

Ha! So true!