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 just thought I would try it and it doesn't work 🤦 typical MedExpress! I wonder if it's only for non weight loss drugs! Lol

I ordered on 2 July and cancelled today as it still hadn't been prescribed an I'm going away on Monday!

@Forevafatty I haven't been able to access the full study but that graphic from it does look like that and it is a bit concerning. Like others said it could be these people were somehow at increased risk from a general overweight or diabetic population. I just don't know. I am on mounjaro myself still at 2.5mg after 5 weeks and am hoping to find out more before I consider a new pen or moving up a dose.

@ObsidianTree 🙈!!

@Forevafatty and @ledfacesystem I understand it is concerning but remember that this is a relatively small study (so results may be skewed by things like participants all from a relatively small area so may have over-representation of some genetic groups, ethnic groups, prescribing patterns, diet, pollution, etc or even just coincidences)
It was all patients from one hospital so were the patients referred there representative of all patients with eye issues or is it skewed by being a specialist centre (in the same way we know in the UK some of our best surgeons have lower success rates because they take more complex patients).
I agree with others that we shouldn't just ignore it but this is such a small piece of evidence I don't think it should scare us at this point

Yes you need to be careful with this data. My local hospital has higher then average rates for newborn deaths dispite being a internationally renowned institute. I remember hearing about it from mother's in my NCT group during my first pregnancy.

Turns out, all the highest needs babies get sent because they have the best resources in the country. So their stats reflect their skewed intake naturally. My two were born there.

Ordered from Zava on Sunday uploaded pics Monday and still pending. New order, does anyone know how long it normally takes? Xx 💖

Hi all, I've been slow to lose and not had much appetite suppression. I have had other positive effects, no binging, no desire to eat sugary foods but I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and had good results from 10mg.

I'm two weeks into 7.5, still no appetite suppression and have been same weight since 20th July, despite walking 10k steps every day, lots of protein and clean whole foods.

Am I correct that 10mg saw good results for many? Hoping for some good news ha.

Call them. They've taken on too much and only pull their finger out when you call. I had issues with my second order last week but one call and they did it right away

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright I ordered Monday, prescribed yesterday with estimated delivery date Monday and just seen an email from RM who are saying it will be delivered tomorrow 🥳

amp.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/03/study-possible-link-weight-loss-jabs-wegovy-ozempic-and-naion-condition-blindness

My husband sent me this. It has got me really worried.
Anyone else worried or can unpack it to be more rational.

Apologies have just read the rest of the thread.

I did mine last Thurs and got approved today...and should be delivered tomorrow.

think they are a bit swamped with orders at the moment. I do kmow others on here got theirs quicker so fingers crossed!

I ordered from Zava Monday and received mine today, it seems I was lucky!

I ordered on with MedExpress on the 27 June and they emailed me asking if I wanted the 7.5 instead of the 5 as this was my second order of 5 with them. I responded straight away saying I wanted to stick to 5 and heard nothing back. I chased the order last night as Friday is my injection date and I still haven’t had it. I got an email today rejecting my order and the reason was I didn’t send a selfie. I was so confused as I was wasn’t asked for one (maybe as it was my second order) there were no emails aalb me for further info other than if I wanted the 5 or 7.5 so I found it so odd they rejected it based on me not submitting info I wasn’t aaked for!! I will know have try and get the 5th dose out the pens and try and find another supplier!!

Good video for anyone worried about cancer risks etc

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGesWEscx/

On fourth week of 2.5 (jab day is Sunday) ...am due on today/tomorrow and I have woken up ravenous this is the hungriest I've been since starting!

I'm looking to change supplier from medexpress too. They sent a pen Friday, wasn't delivered until Monday and was no longer cold. I don't need it for another 2 weeks, something they'd be aware of as I only ordered 2.5mg mid June and this one end of June. They've stated that they send them under the assumption the pen will be used within 30 days and that I shouldn't use the pen after the 1st August. Meaning that I am loosing 2 doses!
I want to find a supplier that offeres better maintenance now I think. I still have a while to go but not looking to jeep changing supplier.

@Flower79 why don’t you query that. Sounds like somebody has made an error. After first order there hasn’t been a requirement for a selfie with MedExpress. I’ve ordered 2.5mg five times with no issue or intervention.

Weigh day today 4lb off so I’m happy with that!

CW- 16 stone 7lb
GW- 14 stone

💪

Weigh in

Week 2 of 2.5mg -3.5lbs

Full suppression still, although tummy rumbled day 6 first thing so I ate but I didn't want to tbh.

Very pleased with how it's going. Have ordered another 2.5 for pen 2 but happy to also go up to 5mg if I need to towards the end of that pen.

Week 18 check in (I missed last week as busy stamping feet due to no weightloss).

1lb off totalling 38lbs

SW 13.12
CW 11.02

I'm continuing on 8.75 until my pen runs out and I'll move up to 10.

BMI 27.6 so still a way to go, so this slow down is frustrating as it's not like I'm close to a goal weight, when it would be expected. I think I need to realise 1b a week is ok and it all adds up. (It just feels expensive!).

Some great losses again this week!
Weigh day for me yesterday,
Had slow loss for last couple of weeks so was looking forward to going up to 5mg after using the bonus dose last week. Hopefully it’ll give me a boost but without the bad side effects 😂

SW 16st
CW 14st 12lb

Just for this week I’m changing my WI to tomorrow from today. I weigh less after I’ve slept for more than two hours 😂 an unplanned election result all nighter so this will be a real MJ test for me because when I’m this tired I usually eat myself awake

I have sent them an email but had no response. They sent me an email telling me they will be sending me a refund! Now I have to quickly find another supplier and it’s Friday!