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:

Thus week I’ve stalled, in fact put in 2 pounds. I’m in week 6, so upped from 2.5 to 5 but although I feel okay, just not loosing anything. The first month I lost a stone, yeh, but now nothing.. I’m going to try more exercise and protein.. as it’s not that I’m eating masses as I’m not.

I think I'll email Zava and ask about the 12.5mg and 15mg pens which have expiry Nov 24 and Oct 24. Although I've emailed them a few times now and they never reply!

You may be better off emailing Eli Lilly and/or MHRA direct?

So the original notice about extensions to expiry dates had three specific 2.5mg batches listed.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/665700c9d470e3279dd33315/4Mounjarootopublish.pdf

BUT the notice contains the statement 'Mounjaro was validated with new stability data to support an extension of shelf life from 9 months to 14 months, which the MHRA has approved on 25-Mar-2024.'

That implies the shelf life of all doses and all batches is now 14 months from manufacture. But there is literally nothing anywhere that has been published in the last few weeks to say this. And there is no way of knowing if the date on the pen is 9 or 14 months after it was manufactured. Any drug packaged after March might already be given the new expiry date so just to add another 5 months might take it to 19 months after manufacture.

Lol you're right 🤣I will look for their email

www.lilly.com/uk/contact-us

Email us your Question
[email protected]m_

Email us your Question
[email protected]m_

Just .com at the end.

No idea why the extra m_ appears

I just emailed the ukmedinfo email address. Will report back when they clarify.

I would rather keep my 12.5mg and 15mg pens until I'm ready to use them, and not be forced to use them because they expire within 3 months! So hope they are extended 5 months.

Have to say tho, it does seem like Eli lilly pick their expiry dates out of thin air!

I ordered a couple of days ago and they are delivering tomorrow.

I ordered on Monday and it’s stuck on ‘order received’, I wonder why the difference between orders? I have 3 weeks worth left so I’m not fussed, but it’s weird that some are going straight though and others still stuck!

Strange!

Care pharmacy have been great today
I said I didn’t have PayPal and they sent me a link so I can pay by card. The price was fab £159 for 10mg , hopefully a quick delivery and a cold pen fingers crossed 🤞

@Thebaldprimadonna 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 that’s fantastic! In the 10s 🎉🎉 I’m so happy for you 😊

Im moving to 10mg tomorrow and hope I don’t get to many side effects!!!

I just started on 12.5. All good so far 🙏

Hey, it looks like they print the delivery labels in advance. Mine sat for days saying RM we were expecting the package - when it finally arrived, the ice was melted but the pen was cold enough.

according to this article we’re some years away from retatrudide, shame as it sounds awesome!

also mentions Eli Lilly are looking at developing a tablet form of MJ which sounds interesting

https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/62610/1/what-is-retatrutide-the-new-godzilla-weight-loss-injection#:~:text=Retatrutide%20is%20being%20heralded%20as,to%20know%20about%20the%20drug&text=According%20to%20initial%20research%2C%20a,reportedly%20more%20powerful%20than%20Ozempic.

@MassiveSaladDodger Tablet form of MJ sounds interesting. Especially if it's for maintenance. Sounds like these things will be quite far away tho. At least we have mj ☺️

Has anyone experienced pressure like headache but painless? It comes and goes

I'm feeling a bit frustrated with my lack of "suppression". I've even started second guessing myself and wondering if I am still eating 3 meals a day out of habit rather than hunger. I've definitely got fewer cravings and better impulse control plus often, even when I think I want a snack or treat, can't think of anything I fancy but I still eat 3 full meals a day.

The only time I felt I couldn't eat was on my first week of 5mg after going out for a hefty lunch with friends (had a buttermilk fried chicken burger) and then felt uncomfortably full and couldn't eat for almost 24hrs but have had nothing like that before or since 😭
I'm on my second week of 7.5mg now and, this week, had a couple of days of feeling a bit washed out and yukky but am now back to normal. I'm tracking my foods, sticking to the recommended calories on Nutracheck and losing steadily (22lb in 12 weeks) as you'd expect with eating as I am. MJ is, so far, making dieting a bit easier but it isn't being the miracle for me that others seem to have found and I am a bit frustrated by that.

My daughter's Zava pen 2.5mg arrived today, earlier than predicted by a day and nice and cold which is encouraging for those of us using them .

You must live next door to their distribution centre to get that kind of service from them!

@QueenOfHiraeth apart from the first couple of days on 2.5 I went for weeks with no appetite suppression at all, no side effects, no weight loss, might as well have been injecting water. I’ve moved up to 7.5 and it seems to have started working finally, I still feel hungry but get full a lot faster and I’m much less inclined to snack or pick.

It is frustrating when you see some of the massive losses others are having and I came close to giving up, in fact if 7.5 hadn’t kicked in somewhat I probably would have. But even though it doesn’t seem to be the case for many on here, reading the MJ Reddits not losing until the much higher doses is pretty common and to be expected.

but 22lbs off is great, I’d be over the moon with that :)