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’ve done a few seasons as a chalet girl and to get that gig I did a high end cookery course. Pls don’t make me do it again. I barely survived it at 18. I wouldn’t make it thru now, aged 44.

NSV today as my weight it pissing me RIGHT off by hovering about 78kg and will NOT shift…. I’ve done a massive wardrobe purge so if you need barbie pink surgical scrubs (amongst other items) get yourself over to vinted! 😂obvs an essential item I think we can all agree.

Yep. Another fat bashing opportunity for fat phobic to have a go. (Not the op of that post)

The underlying issue is that slim people don’t want us fatties to be slim. It means they lose their perceived competitive advantage over us. So they feel threatened by us taking a medication that works.

Yep basically! And it shouldn't be funded by the NHS as it's our own fault.... But not feeling the same way about alcoholics or smokers and other self inflicted causes or illnesses!

I'm on day 6 of being on 5mg and the nausea is still horrendous. I injected the 5mg last Sunday, and was sick on Monday and yesterday. All I've eaten all week is toast as I can't stomach anything else. Today I had my first normal meal and I feel like I'm going to throw it all up.

Has anyone experienced sickness/nausea lasting for this long? I was hoping it would have worn off by now given that I'm due to inject tomorrow (I'm not though). I had no side effects on 2.5mg.

I use this one and yes, works really well in coffee. I also add it soups and meals with sauces, like curry or bolognese.

What's the thread? X

I think MedExpress recently suggested an anti nausea medication if it's bad. Just checked, it's called cyclizine. Assume it's over the counter meds you can get.

It's only on prescription unfortunately, although not expensive. Some people have not been hugely successful with it due to the slowing of digestive transit. I take it as injection as part of my other meds anyway, but if you're considering trying it, you may find it's more effective in the suppository form.

That thread….. OP asking a pretty sensible, interesting question. It makes me so sad how judgemental people are and shaming on those who are overweight. Every thread on weight loss turns into someone (who probably has never had to think about their weight) declaring they saw someone ‘disgustingly fat’ ‘hoarding doughnuts’ and they just need to ‘StOp EaTIng’ . The lack of intelligence and ability to consider why people don’t just diet once, how complex an issue it is and that their shaming is SO unhelpful.

(Meaning the AIBU threads, not these ones of course!!)

Lol we know 😜 yeah I've had to step away from that threat. We will never get our point across I don't think!

@MounjaroMunchie

Thanks for that, will give coffee a try tomorrow. Is it hard to get it to mix in? I use my bullet blender to mix up the clear whey and did the same today with the collagen.

Yes! I wondered this too! They don’t seem to care we could save the NHS lots of money (never mind make peoples lives better). It’s really odd.

Yep, I just stir it in with a spoon to anything that is warm or hot. For some cold like yoghurt or a smoothie maybe, I think it would benefit from being blended or at least whisked.

NSV - I've realised that, as well as having significantly less chub rub when in skirts or dresses, the inside thighs of my trousers no longer rub together noisily as I walk. When I say "noisily", I was never sure if anyone else could hear it but I was always conscious of it
NSF (non-scale failure) - staying with PIL and they have some mirrors in odd places. There's one of the turn of the stairs so I get to see the reflection of my bum as I come up the stairs. Then there's a full length one in the bathroom. Neither of these are views I want to see! I can only comfort myself with thinking that it would have been worse pre-MJ!

just lost an hour of my life reading that ridiculous thread on aibu... full of ignorant and out dated view points from people that clearly haven't read a single piece of obesity research in the last 20 years. this comment did make me laugh though

I agree
I'm stuck on 12st 3 and have been for over a month! Went down to 12st 1 and am now up two lbs!
I just cannot get down below 12st, no matter what!
I start 10kgs next week so 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I had this. I ended up spending the afternoon in A&E to rule out pancreatitis. I had to miss a jab for a week and then drop back down to 2.5mg for a few weeks. Yesterday morning I did a 3mg dose for the first time and by the evening I already felt sick and as stomach cramps so I'm obviously going to have to increase my doses very very slowly. I hope you feel better soon.

WK 9 weigh in and 4lb down which I’m shocked but delighted about. 1lb left to a 2 stone loss. I’m going to do my bonus dose today and then move up to 7.5mg next week.

I think I now have just over a stone to go until a healthy BMI.

Took 11th dose of 2.5mg yesterday - struggled to eat so suppression still alive and well. I had 1 glass of wine and OMG I feel hungover today! Only 1 glass thankfully as when I was offered more I just couldn’t manage it. Electrolytes and coffee to the rescue!

Hello all, haven't been on here for a while due to very busy at home and work and I got into the election coverage. Warning long post !

I hit my goal last week and have reduced my dose down this week. From 8.5 to 6.5/7 (finishing off a 10mg pen). Doing 5mg next week as I'm still having high suppression some days. I'm glad it's ending because I do feel I've had enough of MJ now, but equally its felt a huge part of my life since mid March. I would like to be able to enjoy a meal out or a cocktail without having a funny turn now. I've still lost another lb this week according to the scales too, which was surprising.

I have gone a way into a healthy BMI mainly due to surprisingly losing well the last few of weeks after a stall, the timing of using a pen and having some left over, and wanting to have a decent buffer for gains.I'm about 22/just under 21 now. It's a nice weight, but I don't want to lose any more. I've lost about 34/5 lbs in all. Not sure about dress sizes. Had second baby before this gain. Was an 8/10 before, now I wouldn't get in an 8 but weight less than then. I'm a 10 probably from a large 14 I would say (I'm short and petite). Hard to tell as I was seeking stretchy baggy clothes before.

This has really been a game changer for me. The amount I needed to eat to get here would be impossible for me. I tried. I get very hungry, even more so with exercise. And....I still have a bit of fat on my belly! It just won't go, but I do have a waist now. My legs look miles better and have shape again (shame about the thread and varicose veins) and my arms look so much better again. Boobs have shrunk a bit though which I was expecting and I need to build my arse up again. I do weight lift in usual times, but want to make the most of it's reduced size.

Sorry if I have bored everyone, but I know how encouraging it is hearing people's losses and NSVs, so thought it might be interesting to hear someone at the end of the journey. I'm titrating down for a few weeks before I come off completely. I have a spare pen left for winter gain/circuit breaker motivator if i need it. I'm going to get myself some decent weights for home to do on those rainy winter days too..

Only my OH has noticed the loss. My mum asked me if I was getting shorter yesterday which made me laugh. I have a feeling they know, and was testing my reaction.

I'm still going to check in now and again as it's been a lovely , positive thread which is rare on MN. You've all been a great help, so thank you everyone.

Apparently according to that nasty AIBU thread, there are gym parks we can all use and walk more 🙄😂

Congratulations Soukmyfalafel and I hope the maintaining goes well for you - good to hear from the other side of this!

Well done @Soukmyfalafel 👏