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:

Has anyone found similar:

• almost immediate effect after first dose 2.5mg
• sustained effects until second dose 2.5mg
• then just stops 5 days after second dose?!

I'm curious more than anything. I know the half life of the second dose is up now but I didn't get this return of appetite 5 days after my first dose. Just momentum and excitement perhaps to explain the initial continuation after dose 1?!

Sitting here having picked through the snack cupboard...

@Ivytheterrible I think I shall be following you😁 (still got 3 + bonus doses in my pen and don't know what I want to order next at the mo!)

Can I ask if they've said anything about maintenance?

INTERESTING.

It’s going to show her up when someone says something in front of you both, isn’t it.

I have met up with a couple of friends who have done physical, almost comical double takes when they’ve seen me. And then said nothing. These are women who I’ve known forever. We talk about weight loss etc.

Weird isn’t it.

That’s amazing, well done. How long has it taken you to loose 4.5 stone?

@ItsAlrightDarling eating less is probably true though, I’m definitely eating less (but focused on the right things!)

I think she’d just pretend she hadn’t heard them to be honest!

I think I remember you mentioning her before - totally unable to recognise any progress etc?

I feel the same - I am on a 7.5 pen but sharing out the bonus dose to give myself 10mg each week. I still have food noise and still feel able to eat well. I’m worried about reaching 15mg too!

Yep my father is the same. Quick enough to comment on any weight gain I have, but I've lost 38lbs and he hasn't said a thing. Deep down I think it's jealousy of another person's success.

I believe mumsnet are adding their own affiliate links/code so it's for that reason rather than keeping threads on point. Least it is in style and beauty

@freemyboobs I’m in week 6 now (first week on full 5mg) and so far EVERY week has been different! 😂

@ItsAlrightDarling I think we share a mother...

@IReallyNeedThisToWork 😂reassuring!

Started to panic that I might be very susceptible to it but also very quickly become tolerant and I would be doomed to go the way of all diets- early success and then bleurgh!

This is what im thinking! Had dinner about an hour ago so thinking i’ll give it a couple of hours to settle before taking it.

I emailed them re maintenance and citing the MedExpress update and they said:

“Our policy is simply to prescribe until a healthy BMI that the patient and prescriber are both happy with. As long as it’s not being abused.”

It’s quite vague! But I have a lot of weight to lose so have a long way to go to get to this point.

Congratulations 🙌🏼 I also started on 26/5
and today I am 2 stone lighter … from 14st2-12st2 just can’t get my head around it ! My husband was laying new stones down and got the scales out and said hold this bag of stones … I was like omg that’s heavy ! He said that’s 2st to show you how far you have come as I found it hard to believe I have lots the 2st but feeling how bloody heavy that bag was made me realise what I was carrying around !

@Squishymrs nothing like a good visual to make you realise how much you have lost!

Just took my first injection and now heading to bed to sleep it off.

@Louboo3 thank you ☺️

5 months. I'm on my 22nd week this week.

For the first 3 months I lost a stone per month, sometimes a bit more. The rest has taken a little longer.

I was aiming for 5st originally but I've realised that still won't get me to a healthy bmi.

Difficult to know what to say exactly isn't it. I don't want to lie but I also don't feel I want to tell anyone who asks all about MJ.

Just wanted to share that I've reached a healthy BMI! I haven't been in this bracket for 12 years and I'm so happy.

It's been 18 weeks of Mounjaro and I'm aiming for another half stone or so to go.

18weeks versus decades of struggling with disordered eating and food noise. Unbelievable.

Have a great weekend all!

@GordanoBenito that's brilliant! Well done!!👏👏👏👏👏

Well done to everyone on all the brilliant losses! 👏🏻👏🏻

@GordanoBenito that’s brilliant and So so vindicating that we’ve all beaten ourselves up for years being crap around food control but it’s actually a hormonal imbalance that is at the route of fat gain not us all being lazy! Just seeing my belly fat melt off my waist over the last 6wks whilst I’m doing all the things I’ve tried for years and not losing much has been eye opening to me.

MJ day is Friday evening for me with weigh day on the Saturday.

Six weeks in and I’m 20 pounds down. Current weight 11st 11lbs.

I don’t have any bad side effects other than the tiredness/dizziness. I’m not sure its calorie driven either as I can feel this way even after I’ve eaten dinner. I find it subsides if I actually move more, so ploughing through the lethargy and going for a walk makes me feel better.

Over the moon to be able to get my beautiful soft denim flared jeans on and buttoned up. I bought them (and kept them anyway) when they wouldn’t fasten up. I can now take the labels off and put them on. Yeh!!

Week 8 weigh in!

SW: 86.9kg
GW1: 70kg
GW2: 64kg

2.5mg
Wk1: 82.4kg (-4.5kg)
Wk2: 80.5kg (-1.9kg)
Wk3: 79.9kg (-0.6kg)
Wk4: 78.6kg (-1.3kg)
Wk5: 77.6kg (-1kg)
Wk6: 77.6kg (-)

3.75mg
Wk7: 76.3kg (-1.3kg)
Wk8: 75.7kg (-0.6kg)

11.2kg lost total or 24lbs x

Well done to everyone on their amazing losses! I like sharing my weekly weigh ins as it definitely shows my weight loss isn’t linear 😀