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 was worrying about that @ObsidianTree. It's partly why I wanted to get another order in. I hope MedExpress ship before anything can happen.

@ObsidianTree The bbc had Neil kinnock on and he was bloody hilarious when he was saying what he thought of George Galloway 😆

I am pretty sure the country has more pressing problems than trying to pass new laws on injectables. And it will soon be summer recess anyway. Hopefully nothing will be done although if there was a spate of severe illnesses or worse from misuse prescribing guidelines could be changed.

Am about to spend a few days with friends. We generally lurch from one meal to the next with cakes in between so I am splitting this weeks 10mg into two 5mg doses. I don't want to say I am using Mounjaro so need to be able to eat more normally than I usually can on days 3-5 of a dose. I don't think this is a particularly daring change to the schedule as the instructions say you can change your dose days but should leave 3-4 days between injections.

I think we are ok for a while before they look at it.

But I think with some providers putting in extra checks, it might be ok. Maybe stricter rules for all at some point.

Lol. That's probably why then!

Was probably funny to watch

Hopefully you should be ok @Choux

I have moved my jab day to Sunday nights so I can still eat on the weekends without being too suppressed. Will stick to this I think. Don't mind if it reduces my weight loss. Happy to stay on MJ for the max 2 years!

I'm watching the football.

Trying to figure out how many Spain players won't be playing the next match due to all the yellow cards they racked up!

I might need to take back what I said about the 7.5mg.

I had a tiny cottage pie from sainsburys and a slice of garlic bread and I feel full to the point of being nauseous 🙃

It must've just taken a few days to get going this time. Today is day 4.

I took my 4th 5mg dose on Sunday and have had no negative GI effects for the last 8 weeks but woke in the night with a stomach ache, nausea and dreaded sulphur burps! Strange how it can come out of nowhere. I think maybe because I’ve not eaten much over the last few days but I had some cured meats and full fat yogurt so probably higher fat content than usual. Didn’t eat much today and felt exhausted but then managed steak (lean) and salad for dinner but now feel absolutely stuffed to the point of sickness again. Hoping I feel better in the morning and the sulphur burps don’t make a reappearance!!

@Cerialkiller ref the codeine constipation challenge (I really struggled with this in month 1 due to an injury and mj) I upped my fibre but like you didn’t find it that effective (although I’m still taking psyllium husk at night). What really helped me was increasing the “good” fats for a few days - avocado and olive oil on salad, mackerel fish etc. And I drank 3l of water a day.

Although they definitely have to be the healthier fats for me, as I said in my last post, fatty meats have made me feel really sick!

I hope you feel better soon.

Just a quick update after switching injection site from stomach to thigh. I went for a family meal last night and after my starter of salad and rice, I felt full up but had to force some of the main down due to questions about whether I'd already had a dinner or a big lunch 😂 Today I've had some bran flakes and nothing else. I just don't feel hungry. I have some prawns defrosting as I know I have to eat something. Hopefully I will see some loss this week now the suppression is back 🤞🏻 I'm also sure there was something on earlier posts regarding Labour restricting injectable weight loss meds. Let's hope that's very far down their list, surely crime and the cost of living etc are higher priority.

Exactly the same for me. 7.5 was pointless! I'm really loving 10 though.

Those are all the original ones mentioned 3 months ago.

I had a long standing lunch booked today, couldn't be changed. Managed 3 small sandwich halves, a small scone and a tiny tiny vegetable tart. I could've easily and happily stopped at 2 sandwiches but didn't want to arouse suspicion/lead to questions.

Feeling very full for the rest of the day. Had 1 leftover half a sandwich tonight because I thought I should eat.

Still very very full.

Can't remember if I posted my loss this week now with ask this and the election excitement 😆

Week 2 2.5mg -3.5

I mucked up my pen at the start of this all with bent needles and feared I'd lost two doses and indeed I had as it wouldn't turn, so I did the bonus dose this morning, extracting 0.8ml which I believe is around 3.3mg?

Don't know if the super extra fullness is from that or just my new normal now.

linky

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general-election-2024/5112693-kinnock-on-galloway-in-case-you-missed-it

I took my first 10mg jab yesterday, and the appetite suppression is TOTAL. Like, I cannot even think about food. I'm really going to have to force myself to eat if it stays like this!

The only downside is, I am really really constipated. I am taking psyllium husk and loads of water, but not much seems to be happening. Yesterday I had a Pepsi Max and a peperami....and well, let's just say that works better than psyllium husk. Hopefully I will have lost a bit more weight by tomorrow 😬

SW 118kg
GW 90kg (first goal)
CW 98kg.

Ah thanks. I don't seem to have any issues with any type of fat but I keto and so adapt to high fat pretty easily now so that might be why, my side effects have been pretty minimal in general so far.

I made myself a fibrous lunch, phylum husk (made with ground almond, egg and cheddar) pizza with chorizo and mozzarella followed by lots of water, a double dose of magnesium and a coffee so hopefully that helps. It was mostly fat.

Weirdly it has taken me ages to remember what i ate today, food is really important so thats really out of character. Its like food isn't significant anymore so no point retaining that info.

I usually wait until im hungry to eat so sometimes its at 10am and sometimes 1pm. I have a complete meal and usually don't eat much for the rest of the day as i'm full up. I had a big strawberry and some dark chocolate with my coffee, that's it. I feel really satisfied right now though (jabbed yesterday).

Off to drug myself to sleep so i don't cough myself awake all night.

Spotted this article earlier. I know some don't like to click the Daily Mail but it may give some reassurance re cancer risks
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13603883/Ozempic-cancer-weight-loss-jabs-study-suggests.html

Sorry if this is a daft question, but just wondering if anyone can tell me how to do the 5th dose from the MJ pen with a needle please? I've bought the needles from Amazon, but am terrified I'm going to do it wrong!
I also feel like I am liking the past few weeks on 2.5mg. I've little side effects and have lost 10lbs. Do I have to move up to 5mg or would it be OK to stay as I am?
Thank you!

@SetralineQueen I just put a new needle on and use as normal. I use a pair of pliers to get enough force to twist the pen.

I'm been on MJ for 10 weeks now, and I'm midway through my 7.5mg pen.
I've lost just over 2 stone so far, but things have slowed down on 7.5. I'm not feeling as suppressed and although I'm sticking to a diet I'm still finding myself hungry and thinking about food a lot more. I didn't have this on the lower doses. I feel like I could almost be doing this without MJ (although in reality probably not)

Is it usual to have a stall like this? Will things kick back in again at 10mg? Or should I be thinking about going back to 5?

You put the needle through the red seal. Hold the pen upright with the red dot part at the bottom so you don't get air in the syringe when when extracting.

Hope that makes sense!

Thank you, I'm due to do it on Tuesday so 🤞🏻

Try a different injection site next time? I definitely wouldn't move down doses - your body is getting used to the medication, and I know that I certainly find that suppression is strongest on different days each week. Sometimes it takes a few days for the suppression to really kick in, and other times, it's instant.

I've done two 7.5mg doses too, and am finding suppression doesn't last the whole week. But on the plus side, I don't get bad side effects anymore. I still have to work at this and make good food choices (which I don't always do - but it isn't on the scale before. Like last night the family got a McDonald's, and I didn't, though I did pinch two of ds's chicken nuggets!)

Ensure you're getting enough protein, veg (fiber) and water and hopefully it will get easier. From what I see on here of people who are on 10mg, that seems to be a really effective dose! It isn't far away, and in the meantime, learning to live with hunger and appetite without overeating will be useful for when we are at goal.

Week 5 weigh in!

SW: 86.9kg
GW1: 70kg

2.5mg
Wk1: 82.4kg (-4.5kg)
Wk2: 80.5kg (-1.9kg)
Wk3: 79.9kg (-0.6kg)
Wk4: 78.6kg (-1.3kg)
Wk5: 77.6kg (-1kg) (bonus dose)

9.3kg lost total or 20.5lbs