Anyone thinking of stopping injections while not at goal?

[blacklippy]

I am thinking of stopping mounjaro (after 3 months of use) for a month to see how I get on without it. My reasons for this are

1. I am still on 2.5mg and am comfortably eating in a deficit and losing weight at a steady rate of about 8 to 10lbs a month. I don't want to drop my calories down to less than 1800 a day and prefer to lose more slowly while still being able to eat a decent amount of food. I have cut calories drastically before and while I lost weight I did go on to regain it all, lost muscle mass etc and I just prefer to lose more slowly while eating more this time.
2. I feel like the mounjaro did help me get a handle on my eating habits but the tendency to binge on crap did creep back in and I think I know now that it is not eating properly, being thirsty, stress that triggers these i.e. emotional triggers and I don't think the mounjaro actually stopped that I learned to be more mindful of it myself, noom also helped.
3. Cost it I am not really using the med to cut my calories to 1200 a day then am I really getting much benefit from it? While I can afford the medication now I can't afford it long term i.e. more than a year so as I don't want to lose the weight fast and I need to learn to do it and keep it up on my own in a sustainable way then why not just start now?
4. Side effects: Dry mouth which I know is very bad for your teeth and oral health, some worsening of constipation and some issues with other medication I take i.e. it can take much longer for my medication for migraine to get into my system resulting in some very bad episodes.

I can afford the mounjaro for now and so I could go back on if I felt like my eating went back to out of control and I started gaining weight again or binging then I could buy it again although I don't know if there is any draw backs to stopping and then restarting.

I a thinking of not taking it for a month and seeing how it goes, I feel like i have made daily exercise and healthier eating a habit and logging my calories a habit and these all feel sustainable for me now.

I still have about 50lbs to go has anyone stopped the mounjaro etc while still with a lot of weight to lose? Have you done this?

can't comment from personal experience but I was listening to a podcast (DOAC) with an American naturopathicdr who was talking about all of the incredible effects of micro dosing ozempic. One of the things that she was recommending was to have 'breaks' from taking it as a method of allowing the receptors to re-sensitise. I will see if I can find the link.

I think if you stop as an experiment, it's not like you need to build up far again, so might be worth a try.

I did see one thread about someone stopping have and their hunger being really strong afterwards...but i guess we all have to find out what like after MJ will be.

@GeorgiePorge Thanks for this, yeah I think I do need a kind of break if you find the podcast to post it here!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=XDcESvzX58Y&feature=shared

if the link doesn't work it was Tyna More 'The Ozempic Expert:Ozempic transforms your gut'.

It doesn't really sound like MJ has helped or that you need, so I can't see what harm there is in a break? You can restart any time and it will either confirm what you think or make you realise that you need it after all - would be good for you to know!

I started it feeling that for me it was short term, a jump start to my weight loss that would help increase my motivation for a month or two. I've been on it a month so far and bloody love it - I've more energy, less brain fog, my anxiety is gone (it was crippling!)

I suspect these positive effects are down to less sugar /carbs - but I've no intention of stopping MJ anytime soon to find out!

Hi op Ive been on it for 9 weeks now and down 18lbs. I'm on 5mg but the side effects have been bad. I feel I've learnt some things about my own eating behaviour that I can focus on going forward. I can't afford Mounjaro this month unfortunately so have no choice but to stop for a month and see how I get on. I may then restart 2.5 come end of August.

I think it’s a very healthy idea @blacklippy and gives you control and like the injections were a kick start to a healthier you but you are choosing to complete the journey. Good luck with it

Be aware of the official rules about restarting which are the same is the rules about starting. Your BMI would need to be over 30 for any break longer than two weeks and you need to start again at 2.5mg. Otherwise it sounds like a good idea to see how you get on without it. Don’t take drugs you don’t need.

@RunningAndSinging unless I somehow drop 50lbs in the next few weeks I’ll be ok to restart mounjaro if required! I am also ok with starting back on 2.5 as that was where I was anyway.

Thanks everyone I have not taken a shot this week and so far so good but I know it will take time to see how I get on without it. I think now I have broken that habit of drinking loads of cola and am counting my calories and being active everyday I should be ok but we will see I am keeping an open mind on it all.

@Gloooooop Sure but I think I can do that without the mounjaro so all I can do is try and see how it goes. If I start piling weight back on then I will restart.

I am thinking of stopping just as soon as I get to a healthy bmi to see of I can maintain my weight. Let us know how you get on.

Thank you for this. She doesn't immediately inspire trust in me in that interview (or as far as I could get with it) but her posts/pods on taking the lowest possible dose and not increasing just because the schedule prompts you to make a lot of sense.

Plus her reminders to focus on protein, not eat junk, do muscle-building workouts and consider HRT if appropriate all seem sensible.

www.drtyna.com/ozempicuncovered

I'm not you, but I had to stop for three months due to finances and I gained a stone. I have lost it now, took me two months so I won't be doing that again. I was ravenous, you could hear my stomach rumbling from the next room.

@Doggymummar did you lose the weight through going back onto Mj again or just yourself

@CeruleanDive yes I think there is a fair bit you can take with a pinch of salt. it's about 2hr long podcast...I listen to them whislt driving so can zone in and out...I did like what she was saying around wider potential benefits of ozempic and the bodies inflammatory responses.

full disclosure though I've done no further research on her so for all I know she could be sponsored by Novo Nordisk...😏

I don't think sponsored by Novo Nordisk, @GeorgiePorge, as she's all about using compounded (ie off brand). She possibly makes money via links with compounding pharmacies in the USA though.

Her own videos are much briefer and calmer, including one on avoiding problems...

www.drtyna.com/ozempicuncovered

I did this, I lasted a month then had to go back on it. The food noise was overwhelming and I could feel my clothes getting tighter.

I was on wegovy before I stopped and now I'm 3 week in on Mounjuro. Only 2.5 so not at the right dose yet but it's a relief to have the good noises removed. I'm taking it as a lesson to really stick in and eat healthy food while I'm back on it.

If you've dropped below a BMI of 30, you won't be able to buy it again anyway. At least that's my understanding.

@KeepinOn Nowhere near a BMI of 30 so that isn't a worry for me. If after a month I'm binge eating or gaining I can go back on. So far (no shot for about 2 weeks now its fine but obviously the medication is still in my system though. But my digestion is better already and the dry mouth is getting better.

Not sure if anyone is interested but I am off the injection about 3 weeks now and no surge in appetite. Weight loss on the scale did stall a bit but I got smaller during the stall and now fit into size 18 jeans, also my muscle mass went up after stopping, which may explain the stall. I have still lost about 5lbs as well over all.

Constipation has gone now and my digestive system seems to be working normally so taking my other medication is now easier. Obviously still early days but I am happy with how things are going, again if I find my eating getting bad I still have plenty of time to go back on the injections.

@blacklippy that is brilliant profess off mj. I took my last dose on Friday. I can't afford it at the moment unfortunately so I started the Gym and hoping my new habits will stay with me

I’ve been off it three weeks for medical reasons and I’ve eaten an obscene amount today. I’ve had two days like this since coming off it. Worrying.

@StrawberriesandMango Thanks! Obviously it will be different for everyone but I think for some people at least a GLP-1 medication for a shorter period might be enough to break certain habits with food and eating, I'm hoping it was for me!

@Dressinggowntime Sorry to hear you had to stop when you didn't want to. Is there anything that could have triggered the eating? I find I get like that if I am not eating regularly enough i.e. I skipped a meal or delayed eating for too long because I was busy then I am just grabbing for anything! Also right before my period I also get ravenous but if I plan for this I can kind of head it off! Also don't forget to give yourself lots of grace for days you do eat more, its a marathon not a sprint as they say!

I think it’s the kids being off school and stressing me out. I’m out of my routine because we’ve been eating out a lot.

Can I ask if you had bad side effects? You might be able to tolerate a dose below 2.5mg?