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:

I had a very unpleasant reaction to the 5mg dose after 8 weeks of being on 2.5mg and feeling great so went I back down to 2.5mg for 2 weeks and my next dose this week will be 3mg. Lots of people titrate up slower than the recommended' dose.

Some Prai stuff is on offer at Boots

Both my Zava orders have been processed quickly. I requested and paid for a 10mg pen on Sunday. Approved on Monday (no photo evidence needed) and I received it today (the ice pack was still half frozen)

Shamelessly posting my code here if anyone needs one......

There’s no better gift than the gift of good health. Use my code and you’ll get 15% off your first order at ZAVA: REFJZZFF
www.zavamed.com/uk/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=refer_a_friend
Maximum discount value: £30

Did you change to zava from elsewhere? I'm staying with med express because I'm not convinced anyone else will accept me now I'm below 30bmi.

@Cerialkiller
I got my first 2 pens from Asda then my 7.5mg and 10mg from Zava.
My BMI was just over 30 when I switched to Zava.

I’ve been in the office today and wore my hair down just for a change. Every time I looked in the mirror when I went to the loo I saw someone else staring back at me. Someone a good few years younger than me, someone slimmer than me and someone hotter than me and it was me the whole time 😆 you can tell that flab jab day is tomorrow though cos I’m pretty hungry! Trying to push through as best I can but it’s not been easy. Off to the gym shortly so that will help 🙂

Hi all,

I would love to join if that’s ok! I’ve been following the thread for a little while and think it’s brilliant!

I’ve struggled with my weight ever since I was a child (I’m in my 30s now). I remember being put on diets by my mum - although looking back I was only ever slightly overweight. I think that set me up for a difficult relationship with my own body. I’ve got down to a normal BMI a few times, but each time the weight eventually goes back on (plus a bit more). Each time I’ve felt so ashamed, and it has affected my life and my confidence so much.

I’m really hopeful that Mounjaro is going to help. I suspect I may end up needing the higher doses as I’m now on 5mg and only have a bit of suppression. However, I have lost 6.7kg (14lbs) so far, which brings my BMI down to under 30 (which I am delighted with!)

Start: 93.4kg
Week 1: -3.4kg (90kg)
Week 2: -0.5kg (89.5kg)
Week 3: -0.1kg (89.4kg)
Week 4: -2.7kg (86.7kg)

Zava won't accept under 30, they refused me at 29.9 which I thought was a bit mean, but I get they have to have a cut off. I'm sticking with MedExpress, no discounts but hopeful they will continue to support through maintenance.

I'm just starting the 7.5 and hopeful that I will only need to buy another 2 pens to get to goal. I might stretch to another one if I can afford it to gradually reduce down but will see.

I contacted MedExpress to ask if they would let me order my next one early because of my holiday. They haven't responded yet. Has anyone else done this?

Did anyone go over 2.5 before the 4 weeks? I'm in week 3, I've been starving and have had minimal side effects apart from a bit tired. Worried my willpower isn't gonna last and I'll end up in a jar of Nutella. Ordered my 5 yesterday. Am I just being impatient?

Apparently people have ordered 3 months worth at once before as they were working abroad or similar. So it seems possible but whether everyone does it in all cases is the question. I would think there's a good chance.

I took it every 6 days early on for this reason.
People online have taken it in even smaller increments but we haven't recommended it on here.The thing is we have to learn to deal with the cravings. I find having the jab to wait for helps as I know it's only for a couple of days or whatever. Some people feel no effects at all on 2.5.

Yes, I used the bonus dose to do 3.75 for week 4. I haven't felt any particularly bad effects going up to 5 so this might be why.

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I need some advice. I finished my 1st pen last Monday and ordered my next one (5mg so moving up). Only my new pen spent 2 days awaiting approval from the pharmacy, and has now also got delayed with DPD. If it arrives still cold and useable, it’ll be Thursday earliest now. I should have used it on Monday just gone and have asked for advice from the pharmacy but they’ve just come back with information regarding contacting DPD for delivery information and nothing helpful.

Should I use it as soon as it arrives or skip a week. I’m a bit concerned about skipping a week and moving up to 5 the following week.

@SassyPinkWriter use the new pen straight away. You could do a 3.75 dose this week.

I injected on a Wednesday, but found the food noises were coming back after 6 days, so I inject every 6 days. Next week it will be Sunday for my final 2.5mg dose.

If the pen arrives warm then you can still use it if you start immediately. If it's a few days late I would consider doing another 2.5 and seeing how you feel. If all's fine after a few days then maybe go up to a 3.75 dose rather then going straight to 5 that might be a shock especially if it's late.

Most of us order quite early so even if there is a problem with delivery we have a week at least in hand to sort it out.

@diian & @Cerialkiller - thanks for the info, I’ll take it straight away and then tirate up next week.

Interestingly I just got off with DPD, and it’s prohibited to send prescription medication via them so at this point it may even get sent back to the pharmacy and could be the cause for the delay. Typically just as MJ was starting to work for me.

Has anyone moved to maintenance yet? I’d love to hear reports (though I’ve at least 2 months to go). Someone else started this thread but it didn’t look like anyone in that situation saw it.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107048-mounjaro-end-of-the-journey?page=2

Been so encouraged by all the NSVs lately especially the amazing one from @MelissaLouRocks !

I’m on holiday at the mo and tho enjoying the food - and also the drinks - I’m actually also liking it not dominating the holiday so much and just finding the whole thing more chilled

Have to say I’ve noticed the past few days feeling quite ‘flat’ and not being able to put my finger on why. Think food has always been my source of dopamine as I’m definitely an emotional eater too and now being on MJ has turned off the joy button food gives me. Felt very meh and can’t be bothered today so ordered a takeaway for the first time in ages and now just regretting spending the money and the calories on something that hasn’t made my mood any better!

anyone have any tips on beating the ‘flat’ feeling without turning to food?

Has anybody gone from 5mg to 10mg who can share their experience?

Partly due to the new jowls I started taking bovine collagen powder in my clear whey drinks a few weeks ago. Too early to say if it's made any difference. As PP says you need the powder not the tablets. I did a bit of research and went with Hunter and Gatherer brand as they seemed a good balance when looking at quality and price. If anyone wants to try get 20% off with my code prz.io/9ZGjlvgsa
Disclaimer - I get points if you spend over £30 but I can't work out what the points equate to.

I feel flat and anxious and struggling to sleep. I can emphasise. But I have no advice. To be fair 2 people close to me are battling cancer and I am finding it really difficult. I’ve been on a downward spiral since yesterday my friend unhelpfully pointed out that my loved one only has a 10% survival rate and their situation is “dire”…( this person is a Dr although not oncologist). I don’t agree and think they are jumping to the worst case scenario. My loved one is young and our lives are closely entwined (family & business).

My friends comments have massively affected me and I have no one to talk to for support. The Mounjaro has certainly made it worse- it affects my anxiety, I felt calmer when I had a break. So I’m thinking I might need to wind up my Mounjaro journey which would be a shame. I’m 2 stone from goal.

If anyone knows how i could access support I would be grateful.
I can’t post on the cancer boards because my loved one is on there and it’s all very outing.

Also if anyone has any sleep advice I would be grateful 🙏