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:

@Choux its such a motivating app I agree. Sometimes I just stare at it and convince myself I will reach a healthy BMI.

@Johaanah I feel really good actually had a banana for breakfast and a chicken salad for lunch no snacking cravings it's great!

Sounds like they pack the box like a day or two before they send it! If this is true, Zava should know better!

It is pretty shoddy! They clearly aren't updating all the staff with the correct guidelines!

Official weekly weigh in. Still at 9st 13. Part of me is happy but part of me is pissed off it won't go any lower.

Took 3.75 yesterday. Planning to go down to 2.5 next week for 4 weeks. Then I've no idea what I'll do!

@ObsidianTree sent you a PM x

Got it and replied ☺️

It's interesting that a couple of you have received that message from MedExpress. Whenever I've ordered from them, there has always been a message to say how busy they are but then they have proceeded my order the next day. This time, I ordered on Saturday and I have just had the email to say it's been despatched and should be with me on Friday. I still think that that is pretty efficient but it is slower than usual. It also means I'll going to have to get DH to open the packaging and put it in the fridge as I'm away for a few days!
Like others, I need to step up the gym attendance I think to get this current mega slow weightloss moving again.
For some reason, I have decided I want to get 9st5 which would give me a BMI of 22.5/23 (I can't remember). This is a weight I have never been as an adult!

@Fromthesidelines

I have 😬 When I first started I didn’t know about this group and didn’t know how to get the extra dose out… but kept the pen as there was obviously still some left. Fast forward 3 months and I had a issue with an order (all my own fault) and didn’t have any on injection day - so I used the bonus dose from my first pen - which had been out of the fridge for 3 months. I did some reading and it seemed to me the worst impact could be that it wouldn't be effective. It worked perfectly well and no side effects for me. That said, I had very few side effects ant lower doses and we are talking about a 2.5 dose here.

I want to stress I don’t have a medical background or research to back up my decision and am not advocating this as fine for anyone else - it was an errant call and I personally was happy to take the risk.

Argh! I need to vent! I was on 2.5 for five weeks and am now on my first week of 3.75. I lost 10lbs in the first three ish weeks, but have stayed the same since then. I’m really struggling to believe that this is actually going to work for me. Was the initial drop just a fluke? Am I actually a non responder? I would be THRILLED with even a lb loss a week at the moment but all my scales are doing is loosing and gaining the same half lb. Fuckers.

Please convince me that I’m a not a medical anomaly and wasting my money!

I thought that 5mg was the first therapeutic level where MJ has been shown to work? So, it may well be that you need to move to that level, or you are just in a plateau and the scales will start to move soon.

10lbs across 5 weeks is still what you'd expect to lose on any kind of weight loss method, an average of 2lbs a week.

Question for those of you taking psyllium husk - I just purchased the Solgar capsules after finishing the last of my Aloe Vera tablets. I found the AV tablets rather mild / didn't do allll that much for me. What should I expect from the PH? Also is it better to take them in the morning or evening/before bed? Thanks!!

I used my 5mg pen for 7 doses...ie 6 weeks after opening it and have had no issues at all. Still have great suppression and no food noise.

I take my PH in the evening so they can do their thing overnight and I can 💩 in the morning as usual

Having posted about delivery times, I should now update and say Royal Mail have just messaged me to say the delivery will be with me tomorrow morning rather than on Friday, as predicted by MedExpress.

They're doing nothing at all for me unfortunately, I take one morning one evening. I'm back on 8 sachets of laxido, Bisacodyl tablets and suppositories but my bowels are completely screwed anyway although no worse for being on MJ, about the same really.

Thanks. Was it at room temperature at the beginning or in the fridge for the whole time? The question I have is whether, once it starts degrading at room temperature, does it continue to deteriorate even if subsequently refrigerated. I will risk using it as zava are clearly not interested in putting it right and hope it stays effective.

It was in the fridge from when I received it until my first injection. After that, I kept it out. So in total it was out for 6 weeks. I had the 7th injection last Tuesday, so was due another one last night but have pushed it back until tonight.

Took my first 5mg dose on Friday, am now hungry! I think I need to white knuckle it to Friday again, and hope the dose builds up over the next few weeks.

I've emailed Cloud with a view to changing to them, my BMI is 29 now, so hope they will do it

Are you calorie counting? What are you eating? Is it time of the month?

I think if you lost 10lbs in the first three weeks you aren't a non responder but if I am bunged up, have had salt, eat carbs I don't lose weight until I start doing the right things again. Am now on 12.5mg and across the 4 and a bit pens I've used I've lost on average 1.3lbs per week. I call myself a steady responder while for some people here the weight seems to come off much faster. But I am getting there.

I don't think the manufacturer is saying it 'starts degrading at room temperature' as I think what they tested is if it is still stable and usable at room temperature after 30 days out of the fridge.

My personal view is that whenever you can keep the pen in the fridge. Try to use open pens as quickly as possible but if it looks cloudy or odd don't use. If using after 30 days - I took a dose after 42 days but it had been refrigerated the whole time - self monitor for any adverse effects or loss of effectiveness. And read other people's experiences here for any advice etc.

@3wDavid I take my Solgar psyllium husk capsules every night, but I actually take 3 rather than 2 (as recommended by a PP many threads ago)
I’m now regular, apart from maybe once a week, which seems to be 48 hours after each MJ injection.

First post of the thread: 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.

As well as losing the weight we need to re-educate ourselves ready for maintenance. Three meals a day is fine even on Mounjaro. It's about what you eat and how much of it.

Feel like I'm on the cusp of a big moment. Am exactly 160lbs today. On my weight gain journey, the first time I weighed 160lbs+ was October 2014. If I eat well today and drop into the 150s tomorrow I will have undone over a decade of weight gain.

I have never been so motivated to eat well even though I am feeling hunger after a 12.5mg dose on Sunday night and a high protein salad for lunch today.

I'm sure I had a note with my 5mg pen from Med Express today to say that the manufacturer has extended the shelf life of MJ for another 5 months or so (not just the 2.5 & 5mg pens). Sorry to be so vague as I'm in work and don't have the note to hand. I've tried to look online to see if there is a June / July update from Eli Lily but can't find anything.