So many Munjaro questions - anyone around?

[oldbird76]

Hi All

I started towards end of June at 16st 2lb

I did three weeks at 2.5mg. I couldn't get the pen to work on the fourth week so injected 5mg instead. On that day I was 15st 2 and thrilled!

Two weeks later and I'm 15st 1 - so progress has really tailed off. I'm fine with this - I lost so much so quickly that perhaps my body needs to readjust - but has this happened to anyone else?

Also (sorry) side effects have been a killer for about 36/48 hours after injecting. It's sort of like being pregnant or having Covid - headache/nausea/diarrhoea/ knackered.

On the plus side my PCOS has miraculously abated. I'm 48 and usually bleed every two weeks - but I've had nothing at all since I started munjaro. And my skin is great. And I feel really well - apart from that day or so after injecting.

Anyway - any tips or experiences. I haven't told any friends or family and it's weird not sharing this.

I lost a stone in the first month but a lot slower after that. I've just finished 7.5mg (using bonus dose so 15 weeks) and I'm 2 stone down.

Can you stop for a week if you have say, a holiday that you don’t want to be feeling rough for and not able to eat/drink? Then restart once home?
Asking for a ‘friend’ …,

I started on Fri, my current side effects are the nausea/exhaustion I felt in early pregnancy, so I'm hoping mine also goes after 48 hours!

I've just finished 8 weeks and I'm 17 lbs down. Haven't lost anything in the last week, though I was losing about 1 kg per week prior to that which I was happy with (but very confused why I wasn't losing more, given how little I was eating). One massive advantage for me is that because it stops me thinking about food, it also stops me thinking of this lack of weightloss as an issue! I just think, "Oh well, it'll drop off soon" - something I wouldn't have been able to think before.

I'm going up to 7.5 mg and wonder how people have found that.

6 weeks x 2.5mg

Remember the injection doesn't make you lose weight it is the reduction of calories from not eating as much that makes you lose weight.

So like any other diet you will have a big initial loss, then weeks that you don't lose, or you even gain. It is the long term picture you need to focus on and losing slowly and steadily is healthier for you.

Week 4 I lost 0lbs and week 5 just 1lb. But I have been here before with other diets, it needs to be given time. Your body is adjusting to the reduction in calories over the last few weeks and trying to work out what to do, keep going with the reduced calories and it will work itself out.

Have you joined the facebook groups on MJ, they are quite helpful too, one of them has a prescriber on it that answers some questions (you don't need to be their customer). They advocate staying on the lowest dose possible that is allowing you to control your food intake which feels more logical to me. Part of their reasoning was if you are on a long journey and race up the doses where do you then go when you hit maximum dose and it isn't working anymore. They also mentioned on one of their live Q&As it can be helpful for PCOS.

Thanks
I had no idea about staying on lower doses if they are working - I found charts that go up every four weeks. That's really interesting as was dreading going up - might stay put for another month.

I started on my 1st dose on Thursday lunchtime & side effects kicked in by evening nausea & headaches. Since then I have felt very tired & really have to force myself to eat. Really haven't felt 100% and have no appetite at all but as I haven't told anyone about the injections I can't share how I am feeling. Also my sleep of a night time is very strange as I seem to sleep & then wake up every 1.5hrs! Anyone else suffered from this? I am focusing on drinking water as recommended but then need the toilet every half an hour. The things we do to make ourselves happy😁

I was also wondering this. I did 2.5mg and in 4 weeks I lost 17lbs. I am nearly two weeks into my second month (I stayed on 2.5) and I have lost just 1lb.

Feels a little disheartening, not sure if I should have gone up a dose?

I have six stone to lose so really want to get going!

I have just gone up to 7.5 for this week, in my first 4 weeks I lost 9kg (I have many many kg to lose), in my second when on the 5.0 dose I only lost 2 and didn't really have any side effects, it was a bit like it wasn't working, I questioned this and my coach send me a typical loss tracker which shows big losses, then a period of stagnation before another good loss, I am hoping that this is the path I am taking. I am also looking at a long term view to be reviewed after 6 months and have many positive points that are not just weight related. Not having any food noise is great, I am sleeping better, and actually feeling like exercising AND doing it.

Hi Jellybelly

I was in same boat - but every week got easier (until you choose to go up a level). Now I have ibuprofen ready on injection day and know that I will need to go to bed really early for first two days.

Plus side - have much more energy rest of time

Fingers crossed it's just a levelling out before we drop again.

How are you finding water intake? Am basically turning into a fish

It's completely normal to stall after losing a lot in the first few weeks. So try not to dwell on it. Soon enough the weight will start going off again.

I definitely found the first few months the side effects were worse than they are now. Aches, headaches, dehydrated. Then nausea, diarrhea, exhaustion! Currently I feel more settled on my dose and the side effects have subsisted. If I go up a dose too early then I could get some extreme side effects, but as long as I don't push it, I am generally fine.

I also second the not moving up until you are completely ready to. If you are losing on your currently dose and still having a bit of side effects, best or stay on it until it's really not working anymore for you. I know prescribers say move up every 4 weeks, but they should say that you can stay on each dose from 5mg for at least 4 weeks.

Good luck 😊

You can. I took a week off when on holiday. As long as you start back on a lower dose when starting up again, you should be ok.

I am terrible with drinking as I tend to only drink when eating which I am doing a lot less of! I'm getting headaches though so defo need to up the water intake.

I'm doing the London marathon next year and want the weight gone by then otherwise my poor knees...

I read about this and the internet docs said it's best not to let it leave your system as you may go through the 'getting used to it' state again with more side effects. I'm on holiday right now and due to take it again halfway through. I am going to leave it 8 or 9 days between doses and just take a half dose. I was given extra needles in my pack which will make this easier.

Think I read somewhere it is ok to miss one week, but if you miss two you should go back to zero, do not pass go, do not collect......... if you miss two weeks you need to start back on 2.5mg to allow it to gently build up again. Exactly what "two weeks" means in days between injections I am not sure about, might be worth asking your prescriber. But if your pen is open the discard after 30 days stays and you might have to bin medication.

If you decide to take your pen with you there are insulin travel carriers you can buy on Amazon that keep them cool.

I haven't had to skip a dose/buy a carrier yet, but took a mental note of something I will need to think about at some point when others were discussing it.

@Chardonnay73 I wouldn't skip a week. The whole point is to get your body accustomed to the levels of drug in your system. Also, you can go on holiday and enjoy the food, just eat less of it, that's all. One of the amazing things about Mounjaro is that I really don't feel like I'm on a restrictive diet. I can have a little taste of something and then stop, rather than it trigger an overeating session.

Those who have had nausea and diarrhoea, I’ve had this for two and a half weeks now and been back and forth to the GP trying to work out if it’s a bug or an extreme reaction to Mounjaro.
The one day I had six bouts of very watery diarrhoea by early afternoon. I’ve also been sick a few times.
A sample came back negative when tested. I stil think it’s more likely to be a bug as my DD has also had it (and the cats have it now too, poor things).
I’d moved up to 5 a week or two before the d&v started. I skipped a dose on the advice of the GP and they’ve said to now wait a couple of weeks before resuming. I won’t resume until I’m better though.
I’ve only lost about 9lbs even with the d&v.
Has anyone had similar?

Hi Papergirl

I had a similar experience the first Sundays (my injection dat) I took 5mg. I was up five or six times - watery and grim.

Last Sunday I took Imodium as soon as I felt a rumble and got a bit more sleep. Fingers crossed for tonight

I spoke to another GP who thought it was viral gastroenteritis.
Did you get a better night, @oldbird76

Lots better. It might have been a virus but i definitely thought it was the injection - just because of the timing.

Sunday's injection (3rd of 5mg) was fine - a few burps on Monday and I went to bed early, but all good.

Weighed this morning and am 14st 13 - so 17lbs gone in 5 weeks. Feeling more positive today - I think seeing the scales start with a new figure is always a boost.

17lbs in five weeks is amazing. Well done!

Hello all

Does the pen need to be in fridge all the time?

The instructions say unused pens can be stored in the fridge (2 to 8 degrees) until the expiration date on the pen.

Once you start using it, you can store it in the fridge or at room temperature as long as that's not over 30 degrees. After 30 days, regardless, it should be discarded.

Thank you