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:

Ordered from MedExpress for first time. They emailed to say they're experiencing huge demand and it was take longer than usual to process. The prescription hasn't even been approved yet. I wanted to ask as a first timer - if injection arrives and it's not cold, does that mean you can't use it? Thank you.

I'm not sure why the prescribers keep trying to get people to go up a dose every 4 weeks when the guidance says you can stay on each dose for at least 4 weeks! So definitely go by how you are feeling and move up and down at your own pace.

This is exactly what I was like on 5mg. I’ve gone back down to 2.5mg temporarily, partly because I had a week off while on holiday and partly because I couldn’t really eat at all for the 3 weeks on 5mg and I thought that can’t be particularly healthy long term. I will try and go back up to 5mg in a couple of weeks.

Moving to a new supplier is when there is a bit extra scrutiny on your numbers as you aren't a new user but are new to them.

If MedExpress are experiencing high demand due to the success of their maintenance email and price matching they may have implemented a few rules to filter out some of the orders so they focus on the customers who will be around for awhile and show them loyalty (cos we all left as soon as they stopped the discounts last time!). I expect any other supplier would take you as a customer no problems.

@Choux another one for you.
So 12.5mg, took one dose. How many doses do I now have left if I am doing the 7.5 (36 clicks. ) x

@Choux very much so yeah. I think I'll stick to zava for a bit until I get closer to bmi30 then do my last bit with cloud for maintenance as when I emailed them they said they were happy to take people on for maintenance.
Then again I guess it could all change soon enough with new guidance and so on. It feels like we're all very much in limbo with where things can head.

I am reposting a couple of points from the first post in this thread as they seem pretty relevant for some of the 'super responders' posting this afternoon:

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.

I have no idea what it's like to be a super responder as I am slow and steady and still eating three meals most days on 12.5mg. I can see it's tempting to just increase the dose and lose more, faster. But think of Mounjaro like ibuprofen - the box says you can have up to 4 doses a day of ibuprofen but when you've got a headache you take a dose and then see what happens. You only take another dose 6 hrs later if it hasn't dulled the pain. If the pen you are on is dulling your appetite enough you can stay on that dose until that changes.

Hunger is normal even on Mounjaro. We need to be able to learn better eating habits while on it so we can continue to eat better once we are off it.

And point 16 from the post:

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.

If you now do 7.5mg each week including the bonus dose you will get 8 doses out of the pen. This will obviously take you over the 30 day use of a pen guideline so doing the last few doses would be at your discretion. See the pic.

Maybe I should move point 16 as it seems a good follow for the previous ones you posted.

@Choux I might be a super responder. I've been on MJ for 14 weeks, massive loss in first week then averaging 2-3lb a week. I've been on 2.5mg throughout and now I'm nearing my goal there is no point going up. I'm keto but still feel I've had good suppression especially on the odd occasion I over do things I have MJ reminding me not to over indulge and I'm still off alcohol.

You are amazing. Thank you so very very much. :)

Hi everyone, we do not allow promo codes or discounts on the main boards so please do not post them on here as they will get deleted and this thread will most likely end up being moved to the Promotions and discounts board if this continues.
We suggest you PM promo codes to those who ask for them in order to avoid this.
MNHQ

Also crazy that more cost effective to keep on 12.5mg but dose at 7.5mg.. But with the over 30 day thing... I will stick to just this one then dropping back down. They just approved my 7.5mg and will be here tomorrow.

Omg @PipMumsnet thank you. I've lost count of how many posts I've reported and it does my head in that some people only come here to post codes! There are hundreds of threads just for codes on the weight loss drugs board and they make it impossible to actually have a discussion on anything!

I didn't know there was a board for promo codes - I wouldn't have known about any of the codes I used (Voy, 2xmedexpress, and ZAVA) if not for these threads!

I've added my code on to the bottom of my updates in the hope someone would kindly use them as I've done for others and it doesn't bother me as the savings are significant.

I imagine people will be saying to hope over to the promo threads to check out my code or PM me

I can't get my head around losing that much on 2.5mg. The day after my first 2.5mg injection I had really good suppression and wondered why they made the higher doses as 2.5mg did everything I wanted it to. But my body seems to get used to it really quickly so I need to move up after each pen. 12.5mg is really good at the moment but if I acclimatize to this I'll be on 15mg and then there is nowhere to go!

Oh and I've never had a single sulphur burp or bout of diarrhea or nausea. A bit of tiredness when I started on 10mg and very strong suppression the first week of 7.5mg is as bad as it's got.

Oh wow ok. I will add this to our pinned messages!

I ordered from Med Express on Wednesday and it's still awaiting authorisation. All other orders have been authorised within hours and dispatched quickly. I suppose it's holiday season and prescribers will be in short supply. I'm a bit worried as I'm on the cusp of having a healthy BMI that might be the reason for the delay but we will see.

This will be my final order, I've lost 2 and a half stone on MJ since March which has brought me down from slightly obese to healthy, size 14 to a 10/12. I think I'm ready to end my journey to be honest and go it alone. I haven't heard anything about maintenance doses which is a shame, I was hoping something would have happened about that when I started.

Ditto, I ordered Wednesday too. My prescription hasn't been authorised yet either when every other time it has been within 24 hours. Med Express will support maintenance it was on an earlier page, its all developing now. I'd suggest you email for their advice but it might be a few days until you get a response! Like you I'm nearing the end so this might well be my last order or maybe one more...!

I have had the most awful sulphur burps this week since upping to 12.5mg. The nausea as well has been horrible. Only had this feeling once before when I went from 5 to 7.5mg and then it only lasted 2 days. This has been 5 now.

I ordered Tuesday and only got authorised 1 hour ago.

@InspectorGidget I think most of us have shared codes in the middle of a conversation or when someone has specifically asked for one. It's the constant pushing and multiple messages by the same poster on every single thread that causes a problem I believe.