Continuing Mounjaro...part 15

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30. If you have additional health conditions you can get the medication with a BMI 27. (Prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems)

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 - Some people find that they don't need to go up a pen dose each 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.

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.

10 - 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

11 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

12 - 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

13 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss.
Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

14 - 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.

15 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

16 - 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.

17 - 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
further reading about injection sites and the effects: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

18 - 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.

19 - 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.

20 - Some of the places you can order from are:
MedExpress:
2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169.99, 10mg £189.99. 12.5mg £209.99. 15mg £209.99 Coupon codes no longer working!
The Family Chemist:
2.5mg and 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £169, 12.5mg £194, 15mg £199
Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. 12.5mg £204. 15mg £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, 15mg £199
Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189, 12.5mg £204 15mg £204
There are others not listed.

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.

22 - Worried about your supply being cut off when you get to a healthy BMI? Below is some info on some places maintenance plans.
The Family chemist :Would consult you as approached healthy BMI to discuss maintenance under close supervision(if you started with family chemist)
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 and does offer maintenance
Zava:Once healthy BMI will stop prescribing this treatment
Med Express: BMI 25 and cut off.

23 - 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
14th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5102149-continuing-mounjaropart-14?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in July:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5101435-mounjaro-july-2024

Video on how to inject:

Hi did anyone experience issues with zava order? I placed my order after 4PM to ensure its dispatched next day and with me the following day but they decided to ship this the same day in the evening so it was sitting 2 nights at the depot during the hottest days and arrived warm :( still have a previous dose to use so will be more than 30 days. so annoyed and they don't even reply to me

@3wDavid I did 1 week at 3.5 but the suppression wore off toward the end of the week so went for 5 on Sunday morning. The suppression is much stronger and no side effects. I am very sensitive to meds so was nervous about going to 5 but have been fine and the scales have moved again already.

I have a turkey neck now. I am 8 stone down from my largest a few years ago and 20lb down on my Mounjarno journey. I have 10lb to get to where I was 5 years ago and my lightest weight since uni. I am 53.

Is there any non surgically treatment to help with the turkey neck ?

MY STALL IS OVER.

That is all.

Hurrah!
Did you do anything different to make it happen?

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright

I am finding this too, my mouth feels a bit droopy and my neck is looser. I think overall I look younger - if only because I can dress a bit more my own age (!) but I'm definitely not a tight-skinned 37yo right now.

However, overall I'm much happier with my appearance and figure that over time the skin will improve especially if I keep at the collagen.

Fabulous news!

Long may it continue.

What collagen are you taking? I think I should do this too.

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright

There's a marine version (capsules) I got from Amazon by SuperSelf, plus bovine collagen capsules from MyProtein.

I have just ordered but not yet tried the collagen protein powder from MyProtein to try killing two birds with one stone.

No idea about the quality of any of it so could just be making expensive urine. I did notice that my nails and skin improve on the marine one.

Love this!!!

Re collagen - the capsules average 1.5g and the recommended dose is between 10 and 20g per day. The only way to get this is by using the powder.
I tried a couple and they were vile but the my protein unflavoured one is awesome. I mix it with fruit / milk and make a smoothie. Or sometimes I add it to my clever whey drink.
I is making a difference I think. My skin looks more plump and someone commented I look younger!

Hiya I have a zava code if anyone needs one for 15% off REFYDWTW
i stayed on 5mg for the second month and really regretting it as feeling much more hungry and only lost 2lb in 3 weeks (that did include a holiday for a week though)
just ordered 7.5 so hopefully I can get back on track!

Does anybody know how much is left as the bonus dose in a 2.5mg pen? Would it be less than 2.5? Wondering whether to use this for my 5th week before starting 5mg but don't want it to be less than a full dose as my suppression isn't great and tails off towards then end of the week.

@spottydogsarethebest most of us get more than a full dose, depending on how much came out while priming. The only way to know for sure is to use an insulin syringe.

@spottydogsarethebest

It depends on how much is left in your pen. 0.6ml is 1 standard dose.

I've had 0.8-0.9ml left in the ends of my pens that I've used. I got it out with an insulin syringe therefore have known exactly what's there.

I clumsily extracted my BD from my 2.5 with a syringe and got around 0.7ml which was 0.1 more than a normal dose.

I placed an order with ZAVA last week for a 10mg and 12.5mg combo.

They wanted me to send pics etc but I was away at a conference so took me 2 days but I submitted on Friday with my 'Proof of Life!'

I noticed this morning that I've been refunded and my order is still pending. I did receive a holding message to say they had got my photos and a doctor would be reviewing shortly.

I've called them today and the guy on the phone said he'd contact the prescribing doctor so I hope all will be ok and they can just re process my payment again!

Just thought I'd let everyone know if switching providers to get in there early. Im well ahead with my ordering to try and get the good deals when they are available so I don't need to panic and I use the bonus doses too.

I'm here for the long haul!

Sneaking back in after a break and sprinting after the rest of you to catch up to the thread!

Have been avoiding the scales for over a week because I have not been following my usual eating rules at all and I expected it to be awful...however just weighed this morning only to find myself 4lb down from my previous low. 23lb in total and I'm the middle of week 10. Chuffed. I'm well under my second mini goal and now weigh less then I did before dds pregnancy 5 years ago.

My award event is next week and just went to town to shop for a new dress. Found a really stunning dress in tk max, not my usual style as its oversized and a bit flouncy and with my body type this usually makes me look like a frilly shed. I liked the colours though (deep green) and a wrap top which is very flattering. My god! I looked stunning! Had to go down a size to size 12 which made me very smug. Only 29.99 too!!

I plan to post a picture of the outfit next week when I'm fully dressed, next to my deliberately ugly pictures I sent to medexpress 😆.

I've just got an email from Mounjaro saying if I'm getting nausea from M, to order some cyclizine from them!

I just got that one too!

Please do share @Cerialkiller

I am chuckling at the medexpress pic description! It's the only time we do push our stomachs out for a photo! 😀😀

Yes I believe I gave everyone a little tutorial a few threads back when I had to go through that little project. It was the only way I could stop myself feeling crap about it and now I can look back and snort with laughter. They are really awful but I hope I can give the full contrast best Vs worst when I'm actually trying to put effort into looking both bad/good.

It was the full works, greasy hair scraped back into a messy bun, flat footed straight to camera, pale/shiny and too tight clothes, gut pushed out, bad posture, face like a slapped arse haha.

Haha I wore an awful unflattering tshirt in a light colour so you could see every contour of my pushed out belly. I had too-tight trousers slicing my fat belly in half for maximum awful. I scraped back my hair and pushed my head down for maximum double chin and just made sure I looked miserable.

Yeah!!! Amazing work!😆

Just want to second the recommendation for the My Protein unfavouresld collagen. I've been on higher protein diets before and this really helped. I put a scoop on my coffee each morning, you can add it to your own smoothies, stir it in soups and saucy foods etc. You really can't taste it.

Speaking of recommendations, can anyone recommend a good electrolyte drink that doesn't taste too salty or chemical-y?