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:

@3wDavid when that happens to me I try to do something out of the norm like for me that might be a glass of something alcoholic or some extra carbs. Seems to job my body into reacting!

Morning! It sounds like from your post earlier in the week that you’re down 2 stone in 2 months (which is amazing!!) so things are heading in the right direction.

Daily weighing has pros and cons but often doesn’t go in a linear way because our bodies will often hold onto water weight. It’s so hard I know but just weighing once a week may be something to think about?

I had this for almost a month. It finally passed and I'm back to losing regularly again. Maybe have a day eating more - I know it sounds counter intuitive, but it works sometimes! Just keep the faith that lots of us have had this plateaus and they eventually end. (Even if they never feel like they will!)

So I'm on W5 now and went out for dinner last night. Tried to choose wisely, nothing fried etc and didn't finish - but definitely was the biggest and highest fat meal I've had since starting MJ

Bam - horrendous diarrhea 😭

My questions are - how long does it tend to go on for - I went once last night and once this morning so far

Does immodium help or is it better to ride it out? I've been constipated until now so the clear out will be good?

Weigh in day today and I dropped loads this week after being a slow loser for the last two weeks - in your experience, will I gain that back when I'm properly hydrated again?

Thanks!

Thank you all for the advice!!!

Yes, I am an ungrateful little b because I am 2 stone down in 2 months and got used to the steady reliable losses basically daily! Like, I know it’s not realistic to expect that all the time. Yet, I do feel triggered when it’s not the case!

I’m thinking what I can do to get things moving:

a. Do nothing / stay the course and trust things will move down.
b. Pull jab day a day or two early- see if that catapults things
c. Change jab site - I’ve always done tum or thigh, maybe try arm?!
d. Do a higher cal day and see if that makes a difference- but realistically how much higher and how (because I am making myself eat 3 meals a day at the mo).
e. A combination of some of the above?

What sounds the most sensible??

Are you still loosing weight and have appetite suppression on the 7.5mg dose?

@3wDavid not ungrateful at all. I’m sure it’ll pass if you do nothing but I’m sure like me you’d want to do something proactive. I’d go with the refeed and no exercise for a day or two but you know yourself best. Good luck!

@NewLifter i experience that once after a high fat meal (in week 3 or 4) and if I’m honest I’ve avoided too much fat ever since!! I think it was exacerbated by overeating too. I’m week 14 now but still don’t dare tempt it! 🤣

@NewLifter you have my sympathy. I'm currently in bed on holiday recovering from the same experience. I have no immodium but it seems to have stopped now. Hoping to see a drop on the scales when I get home tomorrow too 😂

I saw a post on reddit yesterday that suggest there may be shortages towards the end of the year. I really hope this isn't the case. I want to get my next pen order in but I think I've only dropped 2lbs since my last one. Is this likely to a problem?

Thanks for the replies and the support! Hoping it eases up soon.

Hope you can enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Shortages definitely seems like a possibility, in the lower doses anyway. Problem is people will hear that and stockpile which will make everything worse 😭 it's human nature, I'm sure we all will be tempted to!

I hope supplies hold up, it would he awful to be cut off. I'm going to keep using the bonus dose to make mine last as long as possible.

I was hoping to do my next order from MedExpress but I'm nervous about the reports of warm pens.

MedExpress delivery yesterday for me. As cold as ever 😀

End of week 6 and I’m 11.2lbs down.
5mg has been ok for me so far. No awful side effects. High to medium suppression.
Still can’t bear to think about putting chocolate in my mouth. 😀

When is your next official weigh in? Maybe see what the result is and then maybe having a higher cals day could work?

(you’re not ungrateful at all, we all trick ourselves mentally into thinking we should be achieving all the time, I’m exactly the same 😀)

I really don’t think there will be shortages. Plenty of medication around, it’s just the suppliers are struggling to process the demand! I’m sure it will calm down again. I suspect it’s just consumers moving to other suppliers in their thousands and the companies aren’t resourced to cope. As quick as we move to one supplier, we’ll move to the next for a deal!

The message about shortages came from Eli Lilly unfortunately. Hopefully it won't happen.

Glad to hear MedExpress was cold. Going to try the price match too. Am I right that you contact them after placing your order?

Mine was warm and I complained and they've basically said "suck it up" AND turned down my price-matching request 🙄

What did the post say? Why do they think there will be a shortage?

I suppose as more and more people sign up there could be an issue with stock. Also as people don't want to stop when they reach their goal weight there will be more and more people on it and not stopping. Maybe the lower doses more though as not many are on the higher doses yet.

Oh dear. Was it definitely for UK or could it still be a US problem?

Bastards! So they are still pretty inconsistent then

It was this. Someone on reddit posted it but I can't find that now.

https://www.ukmeds.co.uk/blog/mounjaro-shortage-uk-why-is-there-a-shortage-of-mounjaro

Although the ukmeds link does link to the Australia advice...

My main symptom has also been fatigue with it being worse a day or two after the jab. I have found it gets better gradually [I'm about a month ahead of you]. I have now started 7.5mg because I needed a bit more supression and it is definately dose related for me. I shifted my injection day so I can have a quieter day following the jab and this has also helped.

My fatigue improved if I ate some carbs, generally I’m eating higher protein with veg & fruit. But just eating an extra banana & drinking some magnesium plus being well hydrated has helped plus making myself go for a walk fresh air too.

@Thebaldprimadonna my price match was declined too. “Because I used a credit from the previous order”. So I need to pay full price to get a credit - so seems sensible to ditch MedExpress for a cheaper provider as why would I only want the cheaper price every other order? I think I’ll only need maybe 1 more pen so it doesn’t matter for me.

Yes, I think I am going to move.