Continuing Mounjaro...part 17

[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! Make sure the needle is twisted on tightly. Priming will help confirm if the needle is on securely and not faulty.
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 - 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 - Taking Mounjaro can stop birth control from being effective. If you are on birth control, consider extra protection if you aren't planning on conceiving anytime soon!
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. Try and drink at least 2ltrs a day.
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
15th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107426-continuing-mounjaropart-15?page=1
16th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5115015-continuing-mounjaropart-16?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:

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So I've been thinking a lot of about other people noticing weight loss. It hasn't ever really bothered me, I know how I look and I'm pleased with progress and yes I've lost a lot and its really noticeable. However I didn't get one compliment from a family member yesterday and I'm really disappointed! I know I don't need validation but a compliment especially as they know how hard I've been working would have been nice. We're funny creatures aren't we!

Just had a message from Med Express confirming that they will indeed price match.

I wish they'd simply drop their prices, but it's better than nothing!

Hi everyone just wanted to ask a quick question.. so usually I order from pharmacy2u the pen comes nice and cold with the ice packs still half frozen.
This time I ordered from cloud pharmacy to try and get it a bit cheaper and when the pen turned up today it wasn't chilled and the ice pack was completely defrosted.
Will the pen still be OK to be used? I've put it straight in the fridge now.
Thanks in advance.

From @montysma1 from thread 16....

From Med express We are pleased to inform you that we offer a price matching service for our valued customers. In order to proceed with the price match, once you have placed your order with us, we kindly request that you provide us with the source of the price you would like us to match via email. Please note, post order, we allow you 7 days to send us the required information we use to action the price match for you and we will only match the alternative providers original price, we cannot match any additional discounts.

--That's new, the 7 days to send us the information. I guess they need a cap.

I've had quite a few people mention my weight loss but it's made me feel really awkward. I have only told my husband I'm doing mj so have had to lie whenever anyone else asks...ie intermittent fasting, low cal diet, moving more.
I have lost a lot in a pretty short space of time (38lbs in 11 weeks). Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted that mj is working so well for me but feeling very self conscious about the comments and worried that someone will ask me if it's a flab jab I'm using. I'd rather keep that to myself so I'm hoping no-one figures it out 🙈

Copying from 16 as it was right at the end and I’m really intrigued…!

Has anyone else found they’re loosing weight in different places to previous attempts? When I’ve dieted before it’s always come off my boobs and top half first and my bum and hips have been very resistant (I’m a true pear shape!). On MJ my hips have slimmed 2.5 inches in the last 2 months and my bra size is still the same. I’ve definitely lost bloating from my face etc but predominantly the weight appears to be coming of hips and thighs first which I am delighted about! I wonder if it’s to do with hormonal weight distribution??

@DragonflyRuby
ive noticed this too… usually my boobs first but not this time, it’s all going from my middle 😀

Having had conversations with people, if they don't know you are trying to lose weight, they may not feel comfortable mentioning it, as they won't know if it due to diet, or something else.

Yes! To start with it was all coming off from my waist to my thighs, including my butt but not off my boobs but it has started to come off there too now. Now I just need it to remove itself from my belly which now looks rounder than my arse…

I would agree! I’m a pear too but seem to be losing weight from my bum and thighs (need to start doing squats!!)

@DragonflyRuby it's really interesting now that you've pointed it out! Seems to have gone off my face, hands and feet first and then my bum, belly and hips! Would quite like to preserve some boobage if at all possible...

@DragonflyRuby yes! I’m losing from my stomach and neck (hello clavicles! Haven’t see you in a while!) but not my butt

My colleague and I have both found we're losing more bum than on previous diets. Which is annoying!

I’m an Implementation Manager so I can deliver the wonderful updates to our fantastic website that our Engineers are working on 😂

I’ve noticed the weight has come off my middle and bust, not much off my legs/arms!

@lastchancefatty replying to you from the other thread!

I’ve just took my 4th dose of 7.5mg and the weight loss definitely slowed down the past 4 weeks but I feel like like I have definitely seen a change in my body. I’m currently debating on whether to do my bonus 7.5 or go straight onto my 10mg as I’ve heard good things about the weight loss on 10! Either way I’m still over the moon with my 35.9lbs since April and down from a size 22 to a loose 20!🎉

Med expresses price matching seems like a pain to do!

Order with the higher price, then email them with proof and they will refund? Every month? CBA with that 🤣

Jeez I've been away for 12 hours and the thread is gone!!!

Haven't caught up yet. I guess the thread finished over business planning!!!

@Choux I believe we do the same job!!!! 😱😱😱

Thank you for the new thread @ObsidianTree

I've just had an email from med express asking why I've not reordered from them so I gave them the feedback that it's purely due to price and based on their maintenance approach I would rather stick with them.

However, ZAVA are coming out the cheapest with the referral codes - I assume that med express would not price match in this instance and would only match advertised prices?

Mine is REF46QFN - as a reminder you get 15% off your first order and I get a 15% off code too. You'll then get a code to share and I think there's enough newbies and people reaching goal to keep the cycle going!

Congratulations everybody on your losses 🙂

NSV 1:

I met up with a friend yesterday who I haven't seen in the 4 months I've been on MJ and she clocked the weight loss straight away. Apparently I look great and so different. It means a lot coming from her as she's a total gym bunny, super health focused and everything I aspire to be 😂

NSV 2:

Every pair of size 10 jeans I tried on in Primark today fit me beautifully 🥺

I'm forcing myself to the gym this evening so I can start working on toning up my arms which still look and feel a bit out of proportion with the rest of me!

I've been to a school event and quite a few mums commented on how much weight I've lost. I made a joke and added the ex husband's weight 🤣

I still don't like it very much when people comment (unless they are genuine friends) as it almost feels like they are envious (maybe they are ?)

Does anyone know the current cheapest provider without any codes for 10mg - so that I can respond to their price match guarantee please?

I'm having the same dilemma, I had a real slow down/stall effect the last few weeks but also had TOTM this week. I was hoping not to have to go above 7.5mg but now I'm 4 doses in and I'm so tempted to go up to 10 in case I lose faster. I know the general advice on the US subs is don't go up unless you're not losing and I am, just feels like it's slowed a bit. I guess I'll see where I am Monday.

@Slimstar13 thank you that helps a lot. I really hope this will be honoured. MJ works so well for me, but cost is a factor I need to consider. I want to stick to a supplier I’ve had good experience with.