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:

Well done @Choux! I think I've just got down to 79 kilos - down from the 80's, I'll be happy if I have.

5mg is considered the first ‘therapeutic’ dose, so maybe you need to move to that to see better results?

I am well and truly down the rabbithole of TikToks by American obesity doctors. Most of them are saying exactly this, it is normal to feel hunger and MJ should not be used to suppress all feelings of it.
It worries me how many are using these drugs to the point that they are not eating a healthy, balanced diet with reasonable calories in as they are then more likely to regain all the weight due to not having learned good habits and strategies.
I did exactly that with diets from the doctor, from magazines, WW, SW and more which is why I am still fat and aiming to do better this time

Good reminder about it’s okay to feel hungry. I was usually the first to pipe up and say that.

I am on week 3 of 7.5mg and honestly I have zero interest in food. 7.5 is a very powerful dose for me. I keep getting to 5pm and realising I should eat something.

I am finding the Aldi chilled chocolate protein shakes tolerable. Almost 20g of protein and about 14g carbs and some fat.

Got my £20 price match credited by Med Express , price matching Pharmacy UK. Pissed I hadn't seen the Care price which would have been £30 but still, better than nothing.

By jings they have been on fire this week, Processed and dispatched within 24hours, cash back sorted!

I know folk have had delays this week but I must be on their VIP list😂 ( should be, the money I have spent with them!)

Hi. What did you send them as proof for the price match, pls?

@Thebaldprimadonna I sent a screen shot of the order details on the web page, ( sort of the last page where you would press "Pay Now".
I didn't pay obviously.

They must check it out themselves. They will only price match the advertised price, Not a discount code price or special 10% off price etc.. So it's no use sending them details of the big voucher discount suppliers.

This is what I am like on 5mg. Absolutely no hunger or desire for food at all. Really consciously having to make myself eat a nutritious meal!

I’m not deliberately using it for that purpose but it is having that effect on me. On 5mg I am struggling to eat at all. I don’t want to not eat, but it’s a real struggle. I’ve never been able to eat past the point of fullness so with constantly feeling full currently, it can be hard to force food down.
I’m back on 2.5 temporarily after having a week off so will see if I think I’m better off staying on that dose longer term.

Yes me! I was fine for the first 2 or 3 months also

With the psylum husks you should expect to just be regular! Since I started taking them I haven't had any problems with constipation which was a problem when I started.

Can you take 2 at the same time and see if that helps? I take 2 in morning and they work a treat.

If you find it, can you have another read and report back please. Would be interesting if this applies to all doses. Thanks

What are people's thoughts on extending the time between injections to 8/9 days routinely? I know it goes against the prescribing guidance but I've felt so much better this week (on my 5th 5mg dose) after delaying last weekend and appetite suppression has still been good, just not completely overwhelming like it had been. I know it's often done on maintenance but never seen anyone describing doing this during their weight loss period.

@toomanycushionshere some people don't really feel much or lose much weight until 7.5mg +. Some people just need to be on higher doses to start feeling the full effects. I'm sure your stall will break soon.

Great work @Choux it's a great feeling hitting a milestone you have not hit for a long long time

Well done @Choux just a little bit more to go!

I think I was just a bit surprised at how hungry I feel today, I do still eat three decent meals a day, I'll top up with a meal replacement shake if I can only manage 2 though. Been thinking about what I can have for dinner all the way home from work lol. Like you though, I've never felt this motivated to eat so well for years, I definitely would have fallen off the wagon if it wasn't for Mounjaro

So I have been on MJ since April & have lost 22.5 lbs, two-thirds to goal (155lbs/70.3kg)
I have met my July goal to achieve 75kg today, & my next goal is 73kg in August. It is going rather slowly, but steadily. Some thoughts which I hope might help other MJers on their WL journey:
Alcohol As of this week, 4th on 5mg, I am completely off booze. Just don’t want it.
Appetite suppression Now, finally, v consistent. It used to wear off around 5 days after jab. Now on day 7, still not hungry.
Tiredness somewhat, but it is better & helped if I eat just a bit throughout the day (no long fasting periods) Alsodrink water/fluids throughout the day.
No other significant side effects.
I am one that has to eat well below my TDEE to lose weight, but I accept that. MJ makes it a lot easier.
Staying on 5 for awhile still.
Great losses being posted, well done all.

Looks like Retatrutide might be coming out in the US soon.

Apparently it works better on women than men! Wonder how long it will take to get to the UK!

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeWR4KXu/

@KrankyKumquat i may do this when I reach maintenance as I’d like to keep taking it for 2-3 months + after I reach my goal.

@3wDavid ive been taking PH for nearly 3 months and I keto so whatever happens I’ll keep taking this! I’m just regular and it’s lovely. I take mine in the morning but like the idea of evening others have suggested so may switch!

Actually, I think this person is promoting compounded version. The official version isn't out yet. The comments on his posts are pretty dodgy! Some people seem to be stacking the meds and with meds I've never heard of!

I have placed my order with MedExpress. Hopefully the delays aren’t real. My price match was waiting for me so I’m pleased with that. I’ve emailed them to price match this order too. I had two emails suggesting this week it was time to move up to 5mg but I’ve included in my email that I’m happy on 2.5mg with good steady weight loss and good suppression so I see no reason to change.

Thanks for this.

It's not clear if they mean for all doses. But as your pen is 5mg, maybe it means all doses then.