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:

Hi everyone

think I’m 2 if not 3 threads behind but great to see all the losses and people at or close to goal.

I took 3 weeks off MJ as had a bad case of shingles and didn’t want to make myself feel any worse as I was due to move up to 7.5. Debated not bothering to restart as had had minimal results on 2.5 and 5 but decided it would be daft to waste the pen. I counted clicks to restart on 5 and was fine though still not much appetite suppression. Am now on 7.5 and can feel it starting to work, appetite suppression is only mild-moderate but when I do eat I get full a lot faster so having much smaller meals and not felt the need to snack either, fingers crossed weight loss will kick in now though still think I’ll need to be on 10mg or more to really see the benefits.

I’m still with med express so good news re maintenance though I’m a long way off yet and my goal weight at the moment will still have me slightly in the overweight category. I might adjust that nearer the time, just wanted to aim for something that felt more achievable initially.

@DesparatePragmatist
I'm post menopausal 57yr old and know I don't lose weight if I eat to my official tdee limit either. I'm at week 11/12 and tbh, have felt quite unwell this last couple of weeks, due I think to my BP plummeting and not eating enough. However, I took a couple of days off this weekend by delaying jab from Friday am to Sunday pm and felt 100% better. Mainly, I think, because I ate a late breakfast which I haven't been able to face while on MJ - porridge one morning and boiled egg and crumpet another. I then didn't want lunch (snacked on a babybel) but ate a healthy tea (meat/salad/fruit). The improvement in energy has continued into the week so I'm thinking my mum must have been right all those years ago and breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

I got the med express email late this afternoon. Have contacted them to ask about side effects as the constant upset stomach is not fun.

Hi everyone!!

I'm now W4D5, hadn't been feeling good suppression this week at all ..... Until today! How strange that it can kick in so late in the week! Had considered moving jab day from Thurs to Wed but won't bother now (have moved twice before, started on a Sat! Don't really want to move anymore).

Felt a bit nauseous today too, for only the 2nd time since I started - nothing I couldn't handle.

Interested in the question about CC - I track my food but only to monitor my protein intake, I don't pay much attention to the calorie count - I've been eating under my recommended amount anyway but seeing the total doesn't make me able to eat anymore so it's pointless 😂

I workout hard, so protein is very important to me.

Great to see Med Express doing the right thing re. Maintenance. I've got the email today despite not ordering from them since mid-May.

Does anyone know if Care has published a maintenance policy? Their pricing is very attractive

Anyone got the inside scoop on Zava?! Last month pen was delayed in transit and it arrived at room temp with ice totally melted, and I feel like I have had no suppression at all on this pen. (Coincidence maybe?!) now I have ordered again and it’s been sitting at “sender is dispatching item” for over 24 hours, so my question is - until they dispatch do we think it’s sitting in a fridge. As its not going to arrive tomorrow so will be Thursday earliest now 😳 worried it’s going to arrive at room temp again!

I think quite a few of us on here have been experiencing delays and warm pens from zava lately. They didn't seem bothered when I contacted them

My last order from Zava was approved on a Monday. I was given estimated delivery of Thursday to Tuesday.
Royal Mail said we're expecting your item until Wednesday afternoon when it was finally with them.
It was delivered to me the next day, Thursday.
It was cold and ice pack still a bit icy.
The prescription label had the weds date on it. So my guess is they sort the Royal Mail label when approved but it wasn't actually packaged and signed by pharmacist until the date Royal Mail received it.

Thanks, @3wDavid @Pinkbendyman and @KrankyKumquat . There seem to be quite a few of us menopausal hypothyroid rockstars about! I'm at a similar stage to you Kranky, week 12, halfway through 7.5mg. OK then, you've reassured me that my approach isn’t wildly off (3 meals based on protein + fruit or veg, no snacks, alcohol/pudding WEs only), which is a relief as that's a pattern I think I could stick with afterwards - but I think I'll slightly increase the amount I'm having at breakfast or lunch.

Probably also need to make a more determined effort to exercise, as I'm definitely not doing anything like the amount I should. That's probably in play here too making me feel less energised than I should be. It's so easy with work/kids/life to just not factor it in and put it down to the MJ demotivation when actually it's just sloth!

@MassiveSaladDodger ive had shingles too! Just getting over it now but have awful facial neuralgia:(! Wiped out for a few weeks! Totally knocked me for six!

I didn’t think to leave the MJ aside for a while, but in hindsight I should have really. I’m going up to 10mg this week so hopefully all will be ok. The 7.5 worked but I do think I need to go up.

I am still very tired though and don’t know if it’s recovery or the MJ.

Hope you feel better soon :)

@Waspwine yes facial neuralgia here too and also completely wiped me out, I didn’t think I was likely to get side effects from MJ as never have done but as I was due to move up a dose didn’t want to risk anything that might make me feel worse! And I did wonder if MJ might prevent those big horse tablet antivirals from working…

I’ve still got tingling/itching where the blisters were which is uncomfortable but manageable and I’m finally getting a bit of energy back, hope you feel less tired soon and luck with the 10mg :)

Interesting to read that I’m not the only menopausal one who finds it impossible to lose weight at a given TDEE. I need to reduce by about 200 more calories than it tells me to 😞 the thought of only having 1000 cals a day for the rest of my life is really quite depressing!

Second dose of 5mg today. I could have stretched it out another day as I’ve felt zero food noise in the last couple of days when I’d have most expected to. Suppression is probably about where I want to to be - not too much 🙂

Evening all! Coming to the end of my first pen, just the bonus dose to go and I’m slightly eeking it out until payday although I seem to have lots left in the pen for the bonus dose. maybe even enough to go up to 3.75mg

I'm really struggling with fatigue. I’ve been using electrolyte drinks and taking vitamins, and tried some myprotein clear powders (jeez they’re 🤢 ). Anyone got any hacks I can try to manage my energy levels?

I took two dulcolax at the weekend too having not ‘been’ for a week and…. Well…. I felt very empty afterwards 😂😂

I hate weighing myself, I get obsessive and it can lead to binge/purge behaviours, but I’m sure I’m losing as my fat jeans now do up with a bit of space to spare.

Absolutely love this thread, I check in every day and you gang are so inspiring. Thank you!

I'll be honest I haven't actually been to the gym that often, only a handful of times in the last 4 months. What I have been doing is a shed load of walking, atleast 10k steps per day but often more.

I've only given myself a shove to commit to going to the gym again now as I'm approaching goal weight and want to prioritise toning up and getting stronger, so don't beat yourself up if you haven't been or can't commit to going very often - you will get good results from walking alone 😀

This was exactly the same for me last week.

The care pharmacy only take PayPal payment ? Also when I went to give them proof of my old prescription the email address they said to send it too does not exist? Or am I on the wrong pharmacy

perimenopause brain … i put the email addy wrong with a . On the end !
but still can’t find another way to pay other than PayPal and I don’t have that

Hello I'm new here so following with interest. Did my first 2.5ml injection today

A few of you have mentioned taking measurements, any advice on which measurements to take please?

Waist, hips, thighs, upper arms, bust, calves. It depends on how much you want to keep a track on your progress. I did these measurements at the beginning but I'm not going to do them again until I hit my goal weight.

Welcome.

Weigh in day and I have moved down into the next stone bracket.

@Waspwine fellow shortie, I have also made it to the tens!

SW: 13st 10
CW: 10st 13
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)
After 22 weeks July 25th 10st 13 (-1)

39 pounds total loss (2st 11Ib)
BMI down from 35.7 to 28.5
HbA1c down from top of prediabetic to normal
Waist down from 40 inches to 33.5

Has anybody struggled with their anxiety whilst on MJ? Initially it seemed to really really help and the first two months I felt calm, relaxed and happy - the best I'd felt in forever. However the past couple of weeks I've started to struggle and feel a bit low, I wouldn't say depressed but definitely low. I have considered its the stage of my journey as I'm on my last half a stone to lose (which is incredible and doesn't seem real).

I think I’m going to have to skip a dose this week the nausea and upset stomach is pretty much constant. I’ve been up all night again. I’ve dropped my dose, moved injection site, split the dose and nothing is helping.

Weighed myself this morning after getting back from a 2 week holiday yesterday and I’m already 1.5lb down of the 3lb I gained while away, which I’m really pleased about. I thought I was going to get home to a much bigger gain.
Ive started back on 2.5mg rather than going straight back in at 5mg, so will see how this week goes.

Thanks for the comments about the stall which now feels never ending! I know it has to break at some point but today is not the day sadly.

Going to concentrate on upping my water and protein both of which have been a bit lax and I’ve just rejoined the gym so fingers crossed. If no movement soon I’ll try the high cal day, I’m only resistant as I have such good suppression I struggle to eat a big meal at the moment!