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:

And a weird one today. Took a friends child out after school and bumped into another friend who said "you've lost loads of weight, how much?". I told her "2.5 stone" and the 10 year old child said "and she's losing loads of money too"! I didn't probe further but the only way a 10 year old would say that is if repeating what an adult said!!!

I can more afford my Mounjaro and still have a good dispodable income (sorry not meant to be a brag). I haven't pleaded poverty to the parent so don't know why they would hook on to that!?! They are slim from a few years of PT sessions so not a jealous thing!

Was just going to say the same thing about being lbs as in £s

Evening all!

The heat will definitely cause water retention. Currently slumped on the sofa with Death in Paradise just starting.

Maybe, re:pounds but this kid is not my kid and I avoid discussing WL in front of any children! My own child is a right ear wigger though so may have said something I guess!

My theory is that fatigue replaces feelings of hunger. My usual eating pattern is typically 300kcal total morning/afternoon, with the balance, around 800 or so in the evening. I can have a lot of fatigue before dinner, but once I have eaten, it passes.
The general advice is to eat enough, plenty of protein, and get sufficient sleep. Due to hunger suppression, you may not be eating enough. This shouldn’t be a starvation diet, eat your TDEE minus 500 or so kcals

Crumbs I lost you all when the other thread ended!

NSV today - a neighbour I don’t see v often told me I looked ‘rather trim’ - decided I love him.

So after gaining a kg overnight from 79.2 to 80.15 this morning, I've just weighed again and I'm 79.1! 4.5 kg lost in just over 3 weeks

I spent the whole day outside yesterday, running around and playing games, then in the evening had a gin and an Indian (chicken tikka with some veg - no sauce) and have gained 2.5lbs overnight! I look like a giant puffball.
So glad it isn't going to be 30°C today... Looking forward to a nice woosh of all this retained water in the morning! (I must have drank about 5L of water yesterday, but barely went to the loo at all!)

Long time lurker here! Such a helpful thread 🙂 Can I please ask you experienced MJ users a question?
I have lost 2 stone on 2.5. I haven't increased. Have about a stone more to lose. After the next month or 2, I would like to try to do 2.5 every ten days for the next 2 months then stop. Mainly for cost reasons! 😢
But the opened pen should be discarded after 30 days? Does anyone have any advice? 🙂

Zava really do seem to have taken on more than they can cope with. I reordered on Monday and was approved Tuesday morning. Order history says despatched at lunchtime on Tuesday with Royal Mail still saying that they are expecting it. Given their packaging is not the best, I'm worried about what state otvwill be in if and when I get it. Also, I ordered when I did as I could pretty much be in any day last week. This is not true for next week.

Given the need to be in and sign, I'm thinking I need to change suppliers to one with morecpredictable delivery times, despite still having a discount code to use. Any suggestions?

Congratulations on your loss and for being so close to goal!
I think that your approach would be OK for 4 doses as the fourth would be on day 30. The bonus dose would be the problem as that would take you to 40 days and increased risk of infection.
I think in the US they gave single use pens so are able to follow that kind of maintenance schedule.

I ordered at the same time as you, and had the same thing with Royal Mail saying they were expecting it. Then had the Royal Mail email yesterday morning to say it was coming before 6pm and it arrived at 12. I could see from the tracking it had taken under 24hrs to get here. So it might arrive today 🤞🏻

It arrived cold with the ice pack still half frozen and the weather had been super hot overnight too on weds.

A lot of retailers systems create their delivery labels on order confirmation but don't send the item until a few days later. I work with retailers and this is common practice.

Hope that helps and hope your delivery arrives today.

I have been following these threads for a long time.
Have lost 10kg in 8 weeks so far.
Feeling so much better for it - able to do things without my knees hurting is one advantage.
I remain worried about coming off it and continuing the life style changes required to keep the weight off - but I am hoping that as my diet has changed ( crave healthier food now) that this will stick.
Thankyou for the supportive thread.

Week 7 weigh in!

SW: 86.9kg
GW1: 70kg

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)

10.6kg lost total or 23lbs x

Last week was my birthday so I weighed a day early and it was a maintain. I’m seeing loads of posts with people being disbondent that they’ve ‘only’ lost a 1lb or maintained… it’s easy to get caught up but our bodies aren’t calculators, they will plateau occasionally and that’s so normal.

Happy weekends all!

I think if royal mail say they are waiting to receive it, then I don't think it's left Zava yet. I think Zava must generate the postage labels but don't actually pack it until they have a bulk of packaged to send, or only send to royal mail once or twice a week.

But still not good it's Saturday and it's not left Zava yet! Maybe they only send once a week now! Still quite bad though. I don't blame you for wanting to move. I guess they have too many customers now.

Not sure if anyone has used a pen over 30 says and what the effects might be. It's not something we know much about apart from speculation.

Yes I think the weather is having an effect on weight for sure. I have been up a few lbs most of this week. Weigh day today and I am still up an lb on last weekend for no particular reason!

Well done for the losses today. Welcome to the newbies ☺️

Great name!!! Good luck and don't be a dick like me and get impatient and do too much too soon.

Thank you, I was getting impatient as I felt the 2.5 wasn't doing anything 🥹 lesson learned, think I'll do less than 5 next week. I missed out on enjoying the sun yesterday. Fuming!

I was on 2.5 for 4 weeks and wasted the bonus dose. I had ordered the 5mg but didn't feel ready to double the dose so went to 3.33 for 6 weeks and then took a 4ml bonus dose the following week. It was 45 days from when I first opened the pen. I don't feel any difference from any of the previous weeks. I still have good suppression and no food noise and also losing between 2-3lbs per week.
I know it's not recommended to use the pen after 30 days. I start my next pen on Tuesday and plan to use it 6 times which will take me to 35 days.

I really love these threads! I dont post often but find it helpful to keep connected and find motivation in the collective successes of this group.

I’m now down 12kg in 7 weeks - initial whoosh of 5kg which I couldn’t believe and then averaging 1kg a week. I’ve realised I like tracking in kg as it feels like you’re always changing numbers - rather than focusing on the stone number not changing.

SW 85.4kg
CW 73.20kg
IGW 70kg
GW…60/65kg

NSV is that I am definitely now feeling it in clothes. My wardrobe has suddenly opened up as so many clothes that I wouldn’t admit just didn’t fit are now fitting nicely. The combination of MJ and more focused weight training are now definitely coming together well!

Question - has anyone taken their pen and needles on a flight? I’d rather have it in my hand luggage but my husband thinks the needles may get taken.