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:

Sorry to read the negativity on here today. There's a big difference between feeling like you need to 'fudge' your BMI for maintenance purposes to someone doing it due to never meeting the criteria for prescribing, I'm sure we can all understand that.

Anyway hopefully the thread can continue as the lovely safe and supportive place that it is.

So I appreciate it's very early days but I appear to have fallen into the group of people who have found MJ has improved their mood and reduced the anxiety. I'm feeling so relaxed and content, it's lovely! Hope it lasts!

No idea if it's the changes in diet or the actual medication.

I'm on day 5 now and feeling great, still getting good appetite suppression too. I had planned to move my injection day forward to Friday from Saturday as that suits me better plus I want maximum benefits over the weekend going forwards - will decide for sure on Friday I guess. Might go Fri night this week then Fri morning then week after to make it a gradual change.

This sort of change is definitely within the guidelines so I'm not doing anything wrong - feel now that I need to add that disclaimer to my post!

Chaz I completely agree and it's important to remember that we are dealing with big pharma here where all that matters is profit - so of course 'they' want us to keep moving up to more expensive options!

Also on antibiotics and stalled this week 😕

Thank you that's really helpful 😊

Is it weird that I keep going upstairs and putting on the dress I just bought? I think I'm still in disbelief that i look decent and need to go and check again. For so long I have tried on new clothes that i thought looked great online or on the hanger and was soo....deflated at how it looked on me. Not having that feeling feels a bit unreal now.

@Cerialkiller enjoy it! I want to bottle the feeling so it becomes my new MJ when I hit my goal. Something to stop me overindulging!

@Cerialkiller it's not weird at all! Enjoy it ☺️

Anyone else experience a longer waiting time with med express. I know it says busy so up to 72 hours (it said this on my first order too) and luckily I ordered with plenty of time, but worth others being aware so as not to cut it too close. My first order was rapid but I'm still at 'awaiting prescription' and I reordered last thing Sunday so would have been with them first thing Monday.

@Cerialkiller I LOVE that! Make sure you get in loads of photos in it! 😁

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have just injected my 3rd 5mg in my thigh (and accidentally in the top of my finger 😣) to see if this changes anything. I usually rotate around my stomach. I will use up my current batch of meals and then start using nutracheck to keep an eye on calorie intake after my next food shop. 🤞🏻

Oh I intend to do some fabulous before and after side by side images for you all.

I'm hoping to get a picture with me in the dress having won an award in my industry next week!

Has anyone had to tick the 20-24 weeks box on MedExpress yet? Just wondering what happens at that stage. I think I've only been on it for 12.5 weeks not sure how much earlier others started

Sorry I missed this!

I'm not doing keto now. Managing to lose weight by eating a balanced diet with a calorie deficit. So I am having some carbs!

When I get to maintenance I will stick to a balanced diet and calorie counting to make sure I stick to my daily calorie allowance to maintain.

I also need to start going to the gym. I am thinking getting into the gym will be good for when I am working on maintenance.

I just spent a happy half hour inputting new meals into Nutracheck - a squash soup (now awaiting eating) a fennel, celery & apple salad, and 2 cole slaw recipes. A small dopamine hit ( due to completing a task)
I have loads of recipe clippings hanging around that I never get round to actually cooking - this is a motivator!

I'm due to order today (around 5pm) and would anticipate a Friday delivery as usual. I am around Saturday worst case. I hope they clear their back log.

I think they have to do "extra" checks - something around making sure you have made enough progress to remain on the medication - maybe more photo evidence. Didn't I read by 20-24 weeks you are expected to have lost 10%, if you haven't they may decide you are a non-responder. Hopefully somebody else will tell me if this is right... I don't think I've made that up?!

I emailed Med Express yesterday morning with a question and have had no response. I guess they are too busy. I might order my next pen elsewhere if they are going to be slow

You need to have lost 5% of your bodyweight by that point, otherwise you are considered a non responder and may be discontinued.

@MelissaLouRocks As soon as I said 10% I thought that's huge, thanks for correcting me!

Yep me!

congrats on your loss @ObsidianTree !

Just calculated I have lost 20% of my body weight since starting on MJ! I made the 5% then 🤣 Unless my maths is wrong!

@ObsidianTree According to MFP I've lost 15.7% Absolutely incredible!

I've used an online tool that shows the percentage lost. I'm at 14.85% since about starting MJ, and just over 17% since Feb this year.

Just over 2 stone in total, and still another stone or two to go (not sure of end goal weight yet).

These numbers make me feel better about the slowness of my loss in recent weeks. 😀

Free Weight Loss Percentage Calculator (dna-lean.co.uk)

@ThirdStorm it definitely is! Just worked out what my goal weight percentage would be and that's 34%! So I'm already half way there!

I've just worked out I've lost 8.5%! That makes it sound so good. I need to lose 30%.