Continuing Mounjaro...part 16

[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.
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 - 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.

9 - 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

10 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

11 - 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

12 - 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

13 - 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.

14 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Try and drink at least 2ltrs a day.

15 - 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.

16 - 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
furthet reading about injection sites and the effects: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

17 - 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.

18 - 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.

19 - 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.

20- 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.

21 - 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.

22 - 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

15th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107426-continuing-mounjaropart-15?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:

Not a migraine sufferer but I have experienced everything else. I am a new woman 😃

@Summerheels im a migraine suffer, generally 2-3 a month. I’ve not had one since I started MJ in April. It’s incredible. Now I can’t be sure it’s just MJ as I’m eating better (keto no sugar), drinking much more water and taking electrolytes.

I'm also a migraine sufferer 👋🏼

Diagnosed with chronic migraine, under pain management at the hospital for it and I have botox every 3 months which helps minimally.

Until two days ago I hadn't had one in weeks and weeks which is a HUGE improvement to my 20-25 migraine days per month 🙂

I'm a migraine sufferer and unfortunately mine have gone from once a month to once a week. I think it's linked with tiredness (which is my biggest MJ side effect) or even though I'm drinking 2-3l of water a day - I'm still running a little dehydrated.

Expiry date advice please- I’m due to take my bonus dose of my 5mg pen tomorrow and last week ordered a double pack of 12.5 and 15 to be prepared. I’ve been going up a dose each time and whilst I have the funds I want to be prepared. The problem is my 15mg has an expiry of October 24🤦🏼‍♀️meaning if I use my bonus dose each time I won’t complete the 15mg pen until November. I am suprised at the short expiry and didn’t anticipate that being a problem with the high doses as they are only just becoming available?!

Anyway, I’m just wondering what people’s thoughts are whether it might be ok to use the 15 pen a few weeks past the expiry or am I just better not using bonus doses, which will mean I’d complete the 15mg pen on 29th October.?

it feels such a waste not using the bonus doses but having said that, my suppression isn’t great for the first time this week and I feel ready to move to 7.5mg so maybe forgetting the bonus doses is my best option🤦🏼‍♀️

I can’t decide what to do for the best so thought I’d ask some advice please ❤️

Hi. I can't believe I'm writing this, but today I weighed in and I have hurtled towards a BMI of 25.8.. I started Mounjaro in May. I've followed the programme with the exception of using my bonus doses and am on my 2nd dose of my first 7.5mg pen.
I've been varying sizes in my life- from 16stone to under 9 stone. When I look at myself just now (I carry all my weight around my middle) I know that I have at the very least a stone of fat still there- a big roll. Don't get me wrong, I am delighted to have lost this weight to date, but I'm not there yet. The body fat on my scales is still really high. The BMI thing is really not indicative of where I'm at.
Just a bit apprehensive about what happens next, I guess. I have one spare 7.5mg pen that I managed to get left. I'll try to get more and manage this myself, but it makes me sad that it isn't going to be part of an 'official' plan.
Good luck to everyone with their losses!

If you are currently using a 5mg pen how have you ordered a twin pack of 12.5 and 15 instead of a 7.5mg? I thought you could only buy the doses in order or have I misunderstood?

Pens are supposed to be used within 30 days of first using them and before the expiry date which is the last day of the month. Each time the needle is inserted in the pen it could potentially introduce bacteria so should be done as few times as possible. Personally I would use the pen in Sept / October so it is fully used before the expiry date. If that meant taking it over say 35 days rather than 30 I would do that rather than use it after expiry date.

Well done @CherryCinnamon. I think there comes a time where we have to start exercising to build muscle, tone up and change our body shape. This won't reduce your BMI or will slow the reduction but the muscle and habit of being active will help increase your metabolism and help you keep the weight off.

Because I have already ordered a 7.5 and 10mg pen (also as a double pack) so 12.5mg was the next dose up. I didn’t mean use the pens longer than 30 days. What I meant was if I plan to use each of my pens with the 4 doses plus a bonus dose, I wouldn’t get around to starting the 15mg till towards the end of October and the 4 weeks would be into November, which is past it’s expiry date of October.

Hope I’m making sense

Oooh this is really good to know. I also suffer from migraines and have been pleasantly surprised not to have had any over the last couple of weeks. I wondered if it was because my eating is much more clean (less sugar and coffee) so let’s hope it’s another unexpected benefit!

I got a 15mg pen on weekend and just noticed the expiry was less than the 12.5mg and the 10mg and 7.5mg. I don't understand this as they have only just become available, so surely they should last as long as the 7.5mg and 10mg which expire April 25!

I didn't think too much of it as I thought October is ages away, but it really isn't now that your post has made me think! I was unsure if I was going to go onto 12.5mg for my next pen but may have to now. Alternatively I could use the 15mg pen and use less from it, but then the 30 day rule will be an issue!

I wonder if they will have to extend the expiry date of the 15mg pen like they did with the 2.5mg pens as I doubt many people would be on that dose so the prescribers stock of pens could expire before they are even bought.

I wondered that too about the extended expiry date and did google but couldn’t find anything, only the 2.5mg information 🫤 if is very strange when like you said, not a lot of people will be on that dose yet and suppliers are only just advertising they have that dose available aren’t they.

I wonder if they have put a short expiry date so that people don't buy 15mg with the plan to use it to take smaller doses so the pen lasts longer.

If the 15mg was manufactured after the 7.5mg and the 10mg pens, why isn't the expiry later! It's very strange!

A person at work, I don't work too closely with mentioned my weight loss today and told me I look fantastic 🙌🏼

My friend came over saying 'omg I can't believe they said that, it's not okay, they don't know if you're choosing to do it'
So I definitely think that these days it's a case of people being wary, especially in a work setting. Which would make sense.

Still, it made me smile 😁

Yes maybe! I don’t know what to do for the best now

I took 5mg last night for the first time since mid-June. Instant appetite suppression; feeling much more focussed, on it and calm; just slightly nervous as to whether I spend the entire night in the bathroom as I did last time I took this dose! I am hoping that have titrated back up to this amount very slowly that I will be OK.

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa fingers crossed!!

I was going to suggest messaging the prescriber to tell them the date is too short and you want to swap for a longer expiry date or a refund as you won't use them in time before they expire, but I guess they could say they would be used by the expiry. (As they wouldn't count the bonus doses)

In my opinion, I think that there is no reason for the expiry to be short and the meds would probably last longer than the expiry, as the 7.5 and 10 will. So I personally will probably just wait until I'm ready to use the higher doses and assume that they will extend the expiry date as the time comes closer.

Not sure what happened with the first batch of 5mg pens. Did they all expire end of June?

That's great that someone noticed. Also sounds like a lot are too scared to say anything ☺️

@ObsidianTree @Louboo3 so my 15mg pen coming tomorrow is going to expire in October then? Sigh.

I wonder if they have put the drug in a big batch of the pens and are then storing them without expiry dates on and then adding the expiry label and boxing them up in small batches to prevent stockpiling and using them for smaller doses. So the big batch could last for 9-12 months or even longer but they add labels giving you only 3 months to use it. Legally they can put any expiry date before the true expiry date on it.

@Louboo3 could you use your 7.5mg pen, then your 10mg. Then use your 15mg pen to take 12.5mg doses and then use your 12.5mg pen to do 15mg doses? Presumably your 12.5mg pen has a Nov expiry like mine? You will need extra needles, wipes etc to do this but it avoids using a pen beyond expiry.

I purchased my first MJ just over a month ago from FamilyChemist and it came with an official letter stating to ignore the expiry date on the box as they had been granted safe use for a further 6 mths. It all seemed very official so I used it and it has worked well for me with no side effects except feeling tired. The next pen set came with a longer date, although it has to be your decision. I think there will be lots of different dates.

4 batches of the 2.5mg pens had an official extension of the expiry dates. No other batches of any size pen have been given an official extension so per the manufacturer they should not be used after the expiry date.

Thanks for clarifying this as I did wonder.

A lot of speculation here re-expiry dates. V early on, the first batches of 2.5 had their expiry dates extended. I suspect this may be the case with higher doses. The first port of call should be the pharmacy & I would contact them as a matter of urgency.
one of the many reasons I do not stockpile….