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:

@pinktransit Thank you. That's great.

Loving this advert from numan, does anyone here use them? It's not a supplier I've seen mentioned I don't think?

I have spent tonight down the rabbit hole of YouTube Mounjaro videos. Message coming strong from the US posters (both clinicians and users) is that these medications are new and clinical trials are not always compatible with real life so do things slowly, aim for around 2lb a week loss, make sure you optimise your diet, build in exercise and don't increase dose unless you need to.

I just need to convince my brain of that now...

NSV today… I saw a picture of myself at my daughter’s birthday party and I didn’t immediately recoil in horror!

@ObsidianTree @FlappyFish Could I please have the Facebook link? 😊

@QueenOfHiraeth hey what are the main concerns the clinicians have (the bit you need to convince your brain of I mean), are there any long term concerns?

Yes sorry didn't make too clear! Will do next Monday (i.e. a week tomorrow) rather than next Sunday ....no way would I do a day after another dose!

I have read so much on how some people (I know not all) have had initial GI symptoms on the jump up to 5ml and I don't want them to hit one my all day meeting/ travel so will do the Monday evening once I'm home (again not tomorrow! But next Monday a week and a day after my dose today ☺️)

Struggling a bit with nausea at the mo. I’m in WK10 and hadn’t had an issue until last week but now most days I feel really sick in the mornings and evenings, also tired and headaches. Going to try and up my water (but even that makes me feel a bit sick!) and maybe some electrolytes. Anyone got any other suggestions?

I've climbed Pendle! I'm a child of Lancashire but only climbed it as an adult. I was out of breath a lot. The uphill is incesssant.

Has anyone read Good Housekeeping's August issue? There is an article on weight loss jabs including interviews with a dr who says people need to take it for the rest of their lives or they will regain the weight, reference to fake jabs, online pharmacies prescribing without seeing patients, Sharon Stone, Ozempic face, side effects and it even notes 'the countless Mumsnet threads' about the injections! Fame at last!!!

I think most readers will come away with a negative impression of these drugs although there is a case study of a lady who seems like one of us and is using saxenda and Wegovy responsibly and finding it's changed her life. Overall it made me so cross when I read it though.

In fact here it is. It may get deleted as I am not sure if posting an entire article is allowed so read it fast!

So I'm about halfway through week 2 and apart from aches after the first jab and a crappy hangover yesterday, I've escaped side effects. I have some appetite suppression and have found it easier to make better food choices, although that may also be due to motivation and willpower, which are both strong at the moment. I've no desire to snack between meals, which is just amazing - I've never felt this way in my entire life, and I'm 42 (yes, it's weird that so many of us are the same age!)

Has anyone else noticed that the sweetness of food and drink has really intensified since being on Mounjaro? I've had to drop from two sweeteners to one in tea and coffee, fruit is really intensely sweet, and a protein Muller rice last night was completely inedible due to how sweet it was - sweet to the point of making me gip a little bit!

@Choux thanks for that - have read it. Agree a really disheartening read :(

I've just completed my first full week on Mounjaro and still not feeling any suppression, had a little nausea after the first jab and one night of not sleeping but none of the positive effects. Had my second jab (2.5mg) yesterday so hoping something kicks in soon.

I have been following WW though for the last week and a bit and am pleased to say I've lost 8lbs, mostly water weight obviously, but still a good start. I've always had big losses the first time I've started WW so this was nothing unusual, but I'm hoping the MJ kicks in soon as I'm still reaching for food regularly, albeit healthy food but the urges/cravings are still there.

SW - 14 stone 12 pounds
CW - 14 stone 4 pounds
GW - not sure yet - around 9.5 stone...ish

Morning from Stallvile!

I'm a daily weigher, and for a 3rd day in a row - same weight. I eat super clean and within calories, so I know it's not that. I am due my period in a day or 2, according to my app, so that may be it. Anyways, ready for a whoosh, pleaseeee. Thank you!

@MounjaroMunchie yes I have! I used to drink diet lemonade / monster / Diet Coke daily and I can't stand the flavour anymore. Moved on to sparkling water. I've also reduced the amount of sweetener on my coffee and tea.
Even the clear protein tastes sweet so I use double the amount of water to dilute it !

Urgh that article can't even spell tirzepatide on the second page in their rush to gleefully publish it.

Exactly the same here.

My weight hasn't changed in a week but I'm due on anytime now so I'll probably have a mini whoosh the week after, fingers crossed.

I've been here before and it always gets going again so I'm not too disappointed 🙂

Exactly. This is my journey, my body. Countless TT videos of people who have been on it and lost a vast amount are saying take it slow. Titrate slowly up the doses and don't rush. The guidelines of 4 weeks on each dose are based on weight loss success not on compatibility with day to day life. There are lots of medications out there that we are only supposed to take in the short term that people end up on for years. It's just the risk we take. Just my opinion

@GeorgiePorge and @PomchiK I have sent you the Facebook links.

Have also sent to the 5 others that the old links didn't work for.

The link is a new link today so hoping it lets you all in.

Can join 7 more people with the current link so pm me or @FlappyFish if anyone else would like to join.

I'd love the Facebook link, please.

Increased HR is a known side effect but don't know if it's absolute.
I have been combining MJ with drastic exercise. ( Have always been all or nothing with exercise. When I am on it, I am ON IT!) I am now crazy fit. Even before I dropped a load of weight jouneying on MJ, I had got very fit.
My heart rate has dropped from 55bpm to around 45bpm. I imagine that's despite MJ tending to push it to sit a bit higher.

My blood pressure has dropped miles too, from highish normal to a very healthy low. That happened before I had dropped enough weight for it to be causing the BP drop, so I think it's defo the drug doing it.

Point of my post is, get checked.
If you are then cleared as fine and good to go, ramp up the exercise if you can. Your HR will defo come down.
In combination with being lighter, being fit is amazing, you will feel great. I am astonished at how fast I fly up hills walking the dog etc. And a bit mortified at how slow I must have been before, even though my base fitness is always okish, even when I was fat .
I am trying to replace my food addiction with a different one!

Can I have Facebook link please

I’m a daily weigher. Every week I lose quite a lot (about a kilo) in the first 4 days after injecting, then stay the same for the next 3 days until the next injection. I’m on week 6 and it’s been the same every single week so far!

This is interesting.

I think for anyone thats struggled with their weight might well decide to give it a go off the back of the article. Especially if they see that it's popular on Mumsnet etc... as it would make people think it's not just for celebrities etc.

How many calories are people eating each day? I’ve been aiming for 1000-12000 but feel like I’ve eaten too much on days I’ve had over 1000 (which I know is silly).
I just wanted to see what others are having that works.