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:

@ObsidianTree You are right! I typed that up quickly without checking
The info is as below:

• The starting dose is 2.5 mg once a week for four weeks. After four weeks your doctor will increase your dose to 5 mg once a week.
• Your doctor may increase your dose by 2.5 mg increments to 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg or 15 mg once a week if you need it. In each case your doctor will tell you to stay on a particular dose for at least 4 weeks before going to a higher dose.

so it seems to advise 2.5 to 5 after 4 weeks but the others only if needed. It is surprising how many people are getting an effect from 2.5mg given that the manufacturers seem to regard it as subclinical

@Choux I am the poster whose husband still believes that the Mounjaro in the fridge is for our diabetic cat ( he isn't by the way😅).

So no, he has no suggestions for middle aged women on Mounjaro!

He wouldn't approve, hence the cat!
He is used to dealing with elite athletes.
They aren't normal humans! He just doesn't "get" the rest of us lesser mortals not being able to strict to rigid eating and training regimes.

Thing is, I was ( and sort of am) good at sport, anything enduro.....marathons etc. This controlled my weight, as I have always struggled with just being constantly hungry. Bad joints and inflamation put an end to the haaaaaaard training. Which is how I got fat.

Now gently training but will be never be able to do what I did, hence the need to somehow control the eating. I am super fit though despite it all, resting heart rate 45.

@KrankyKumquat I think we may be v similar. I am 14 weeks in. Have lost 29 pounds (was 30) and I’m at 13:3. Feeling like I’m in a bit of a stall for past 8 days hovering around the same weight. I have been a little snacky but nothing that would count as a gain, more just maintenance cals. It is off putting tho. The drop down into the next stone seems elusive! I am sticking with it tho. Slow & steady can be better for other reasons.

Thanks, I went into Asda today to ask and they have stocks so it looks like I start tomorrow ( I probably wont sleep tonight ) I will pay because my GP is private but its still cheaper than going online

Thanks @ObsidianTree and well done on your own recent entry into the 12s. I'll see you there soon I hope x

@GingerLemonTea
Yes, 13.3.8 for me today so we're matching pound for pound. We're nearly there - definitely steer clear of Tapas as a celebration when you get there!

I've just been away overnight and the dress I packed for this morning doesn't fit me anymore, quite drastically too. I've not weighed myself since my last comment where I was just over 107kg so I'm excited to get on the scales when I get home.

Everyone is doing so well!

3lb off for me this week, 1st 3.4lbs off in 8 weeks.

I have those scales that measure body fat, now I know they aren't very accurate. However, I thought is was really interesting that my subcutaneous fat has only reduced slightly but my visceral fat has reduced significantly. I was at the top of very high and now almost in the standard range.

@montsyma1 oh your poor sick (decoy) cat!

For everyone with fitness watches - you might have an opinion on something I noticed last night. My fitness watch is send me a notification if my heart rate is below 50bpm for 10 minutes and it has never sent a notification.

But when I checked my heart rate data yesterday I seem to regularly record heart rates in the low 40s. This week 4 days out of 7 the range of my heartbeat during the day is from sub 45 to whatever my max rate for the day was. My official resting heart rate is 68-74 per the data so it seems to just record a low blip on same days - assuming it's accurate. It isn't always when I am asleep either it can be at 8am, 5pm or 9pm. Does that happen to others? Should I be worried? I had a medical in December which checked for atrial fibrillation and was fine but why is my watch recording rates of under 45?

@Choux my HR is normally resting mid-50s bit after each injection it drops resting into mid-40s it worried me a bit as it also coincides when I feel cold too. I’m quite cardio fit which explains my usual lower HR. I find if I move around doing housework or gardening it’s fine. But worth asking if your concerned.

I’m after some advice re moving up and a holiday please 😁
I'm currently in my first 'official' week on 5mg (last week was supposed to be a bridging dose of 3.75 but I miscalculated and topped it up to 4.6🤦‍♀️). If I take the bonus out of this one, that will be 6 weeks on 5 mg.

The week I would start on 7.5 would be 5 days into a 2 week holiday.

Would I be better off sticking on 5 as my next pen and effectively doing 11 weeks on it or should I note the billet and move up?

5 is currently working REALLY well for me but I know it's still early days just trying to get a little ahead of myself as I also want to change suppliers and stop Voy sending me a £229 7.5 pen that I don't necessarily want! 🤦‍♀️

I've just seen this post on one of the MJ groups. It's public but I've hidden this ladies face just incase she doesn't want to be identified elsewhere.

How encouraging is this?

I know there's a few others on here worried about loose skin (as am I) and seeing this has definitely given me pause to consider whether surgery is the best option for me. I was adamant it is but only because I thought there's nothing in the world that'll sort out my post babies stomach and saggy arse 😂

@Choux @WheresSummer99 weirdly I am sure that a slightly elevated heart rate is one of the noted side effects of MJ rather than reduced .
I am sure a few folk had experienced it a few thousand threads back!

My only MJ side effect actually is feeling cold but I have never connected it to a low heart rate as mine is generally low.

I think giving it time also works for loose skin. You may find that after a year it's far less slack.

This is very encouraging

I would stick to 5mg as long as possible until it stops working for you. It's different for every one based on this thread, so no need to titrate up if 5mg is working for you.

My resting heart rate just now watching TV chilled out was 44, but on average the last 7 days it’s 57. It definitely dips after the jab. I’m only on 2.5mg as it’s had a really good effect for me and when I took the bonus dose of 3.3mg I waited 10d to inject again because it really impacted me. I think I’m just sensitive it it and quite happy losing 2lbs a week.

I laughed out loud about the diabetic cat cover story, brilliant 😂

Omg please help…. I took my first 10mg yesterday after two months on 7.5mg. Have been tired all day and now have sulphur burps. My husband called them satanic. Any recommendations on how I can get rid of them?

I think they go after a few days! I’ve never had them but some have really struggled.

I agree with this. I started my 3rd pen earlier this week and just moved up to 4mg. I'm thinking of going down slightly because I'm falling behind 1200 calories per day which is not sustainable/healthy. I've lost 39lbs in 12 weeks. I'm delighted with the loss of course. But I think by staying on a low dose it will be easier to manage post-mj (hopefully!). I read a post (a few threads back) that encouraged staying on a low dose (if it worked) amd it made a lot of sense to me

Thanks everyone, especially @ObsidianTree for the posts. Personally, I don't think I'd be so successful without this group 🥰

@IReallyNeedThisToWork I am 1 week ahead of you and presently taking 3.75 which is working for me at the moment. I have no intention of going up to 5 until I feel that 3.75 is starting to be less effective for me and then will stay on 5 as long as it stays effective.
Are you still losing? Do you still get suppression? If so why change?

How do you get a dosage of 3.75?

@Pinkyp22 I am on my second pen 5mg but do 45 clicks of the pen rather than twisting to the end..
An advantage of this is that I should get an additional week out of the pen if I carry on at the same dosage (OK I appreciate that I will stray over the 30 days etc but I keep my pen in the fridge and have considered the risks).

@Pinkyp22 on a 5mg pen, 60 clicks to ‘1’ gives a full 5 mg dose. 30 clicks gives 2.5 mg dose, so 45 clicks gives a 3.75mg dose.