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:

The registered directors of Oushk and Curate are different, but they are certainly linked in other ways. As far as I'm aware, Curate have no doctors at all, only the director of Oushk (Hira Malik) who prescribes for them.

A tentative suggestion but, given how much support a lot of us are getting from this thread and how long running it is, should we end the Curate chat? For those who catch up or read through the whole thread, there is enough on here to show that some have concerns about them but we don't know the whole story. We don't want them challenging MN and bringing these threads down.

My Facebook feed is full of med express adverts. This is from the thread on the adverts.
I emailed yesterday about price match but they haven't replied😡

I don't have a problem with it, I just wanted people to be aware.

I'm going to bring my next jab forward by a day to tomorrow. I've deffo had food noise this week which at first I put down to the fact I had a nasty cold but I'm still feeling the same. A few slices of cake have happened today.

That was my last 2.5, going up to 5mg tomorrow and hopeful that I can flick that switch again because I'm really not liking how easy its been to slip.

If you check companies house, Hira does not own curate health but she's certainly in bed with them by being their prescriber. They obviously can't prescribe as they're not a registered pharmacy.

I made the jump from 3.75 to 5mg yesterday and I feel like absolute shite today to the point where I had to log off work so I could have a doze. I had to tell OH that it was a migraine so he’s very thoughtfully done this evenings salad which is bloody huge!

They're literally cashing in and riding the wave of skinny jabs. It's mega bucks. What it means also is you or i could set up a business and get someone else to prescribe for us. It's a dodgy practice and I definitely think you've done the right thing in reporting them. They are not even providing a good service.

Weigh in day today and I have lost precisely nothing (first time since end March)I have had nine weeks on 10mg, so may need to move to 12.5. Not looking forward to the added cost...

SW: 13st 10
CW: 11st 0
GW: 9st 7

Start weight 13st 10
After 1 week: Feb 28th 13st 2 (- 8 pounds)
After 2 weeks: March 6th 12st 12 (- 4 pounds)
After 3 weeks: March 13th 12st 9 (-3 pounds)

Moved to 5mg
After 4 weeks: March 20th 12st 9 (-0 pounds)
After 5 weeks: March 28th 12st 8 (-1 pound)
After 6 weeks April 3rd 12st 4 (-4 pounds)
After 7 weeks April 10th 12st 3 (-1 pound)
After 8.5 weeks April 22nd 12st 2 (-1 pound)
After 9 weeks April 23rd 12st 0 (-2 pounds)

Moved to 7.5
After 10 weeks May 1st 11st 12 (-2 pounds)
After 11 weeks May 8th 12 St (+2)
After 12 weeks May 15th 11st 12(-2)

Moved to 10mg
After 13 weeks May 23nd 11st 10 (-2)
After 14 weeks May 29th 11st 9 (-1)
After 15 weeks June 5th 11st 8 (-1)
After 16 weeks June 12th 11st 7 (-1)
After 17 weeks June 19th 11st 5 (-2)
After 18 weeks June 27th 11st 3 (-2
After 19 weeks July 4rd 11st 2 (-1)
After 20 weeks July 11th 11st 0 (-2)
After 21 weeks July 18th 11st 0 (-0)

38 pounds total loss (2st 10Ib)
BMI down from 35.7 to 28.7
HbA1c down from top of prediabetic to normal
Waist down from 40 inches to 33.5

@CiderJabs @Ghilliedu Echo your experience with Health Express. I have used them for a long time for other meds, so when I decided to start MJ, I went to them. Price is mid-range. Always get meds within 24 hrs via Royal Mail. Legit, I think. The 10% off code will be super-helpful as I need to order next week

Just to add, someone said they were surprised that Curate were involved in the FB group, but they're named on the picture in the cover photo so I always assumed they are involved in the group!

Anyways.... Zava! Anyone received a delivery recently? I've ordered pen number two and it's been approved but says it will arrive between Mon and Fri next week! Not very helpful - I had deliberately timed my order assuming it would arrive Fri, Sat or Mon - as I'm home those mornings. Won't be home Tues to Fri. Hoping it will come soon! Just wondered if anyone has recent experience of delivery times.

Am very happy with Bolt as a supplier. My order was approved and dispatched on Monday using Royal Mail 24. It was delivered on Tuesday morning - a neighbour took delivery and I wasn't able to get it from him till 9am this morning so nearly 48 hours after delivery.

It was really well wrapped and sealed in the Puffin packaging wool with a large size Puffin gel pack in there. The gel pack had melted but was still really cold so I know the cold chain is intact. It also came with wipes and 5 needles (one for the bonus dose!)

I live in London and Bolt is based in Lancashire so it has come a long way and is still cold after almost 48 hours. I also just noticed the box does not have a 'refrigerate after opening' sticker on it which is good for those who are hiding their Mounjaro use from family members.

Prices are pretty good and they apparently don't cut you off as soon as you hit 25 BMI.

Sorry I mean I got it from my neighbour nearly 48 hours after DISPATCH not delivery.

Oh gosh, I was going to order my second pen with Oushk next week but now I’m wondering if I should go back to Asda!

I leave the thread for five minutes and you're uncovering pharmacy dodgy dealings! I love it. Excellent investigative work @MelissaLouRocks

I'm really glad people care about this sort of thing and are paying attention, it's really important.

Agree that it's frustrating having to shop around and use discount codes though, it leaves us open to issues.

It's a shame we can't form some sort of Mumsnet pharmacy cooperative and bring in the drugs and supply at cost price. Surely we must have some licensed pharmacists amongst our numbers?!

...I'm only half joking, part of my brain is now crunching the logistics.

I ordered from them on Monday. Said despatched yesterday afternoon but tracking information from royal mail still says they are expecting the parcel but haven't received it. Getting worried about cold chain as their packing is not the best.

@MountKilimounjaro I watched Dallas Buyer's Club yesterday afternoon and wondered exactly the same thing 😂

Software engineer here, I can do the website! 😄

Thanks for the reply. Oh dear that's not reassuring for either of us 😭 fingers crossed you get a positive update soon!

I'm not sure my skills will help the collective, I work in an area that's contraindicated with MJ 😂

I had my 6 month Doctor's visit yesterday with blood tests and the results are very encouraging (effing miraculous!).

I am in the US and I started in mid-Jan. I am diabetic (Type 2 for 10+ years, as well as gestational diabetes in 2004-2005), and I know I am insulin resistant. I have been overweight most of my life, and certainly for the last 20 years. MJ is prescribed by my doctor to tackle my diabetes and my blood sugar issues.

To date, I have lost 41lbs (started at 202lbs). My blood pressure is normal for the first time since I was 15 years old - 116/74. And my blood sugar level is normal! I cannot believe it! I went from a high level of blood sugar (11.8 fasting) to 5.4 fasting yesterday. I know my diabetes is not cured, but I will take remission! Also, my cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.. are all normal, or very close to normal. My doctor is so excited she hugged me!

I still want to lose some weight, although she was happy for me to start maintenance if I wanted. She wants me to stay on the 10mg for now, as she does not want me to have low blood sugar (which I could never have imagined!), and we are starting to discuss what a maintenance dose might look like.

The interesting part of the conversation was when we discussed how I feel about this. I have said it here before, I just cannot believe it. I intellectually can see the numbers on the scale, on the measuring tape and the need for a whole new wardrobe (and shoes), but I still think of myself as fat every day, and I feel fat. I told her I need time to come to terms with it and really live in my new skin before I can really tell her how I feel, and I suspect that is going to take some time. It is very strange.