Continuing Mounjaro...part 18

[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)

Mumsnet does not allow promo codes. Please do not post any. If you want one, ask and someone will PM you a code or there are now threads on the promo page that have codes for Mounjaro.

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.
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 - 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.

10 - 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

11 - 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!

12 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

13 - 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

14 - 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

15 - 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.

16 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Try and drink at least 2ltrs a day.

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 your 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: Now saying they support maintenance upto 2 years.

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 to 9th thread, get link from thread 10

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

17th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5122095-continuing-mounjaropart-17?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:

I'll join you in the "stuck at 94" club! I've dipped as low as 93.5 and then the next day it's back up above 94. 😪

I took my second 5mg this morning though and now I have some serious suppression going on. I like 5 so far, touch wood no side effects and it only wore off a little bit by yesterday, unlike 2.5 where by day 5 I was climbing the walls for a packet of crisps. That's my nice dinner plans out of the window though. Can't even bring myself to turn the oven on, it's too hot.

MedExpress have finally approved my order

MedExpress got back to me about price matching and they've added £30 credit to my account ready for when I order.

I've got a new 7.5 and a 10mg in the fridge and I'm on the fence which to start on Monday. I haven't enjoyed being on 7.5 all that much to be honest, I've actually had hunger pangs at times despite eating enough (1200cals a day which I can now do easily)

I might do the 10mg to get rid of this last 10lbs then use the 7.5mg in 5 weeks to taper down. I want atleast one more pen which will be for maintenance.

I like the idea of a recipes/high protein meal plan thread btw.

I haven’t done an injection for two weeks because of such serious stomach issues. Waiting to speak to my dr tomorrow to confirm it’s ok to continue.

my scales are definitely playing up as they are having me weigh in at a stone and half more than my last weigh in.

I was wondering if anyone can suggest anything.

I used my bonus dose from my first 2.5 pen today (I usually inject on a Friday so a day early because I have been absolutely starving all day and I knew a binge tonight would be on the cards if Ididnt) I was hoping to get 0.9ml out of it but barely got 0.7ml so it was only slightly over the 2.5mg
I have my next pen in the fridge 5mg, I really wanted to have the 3.75 so I wouldn't be jumping from 2.5-5. Any ideas what I can do? Would I muck up a brand new pen if I took 0.2 out of it?
I didn't like doing the bonus dose with a needle and syringe, just kind if felt scary.
Maybe I should just go for the 5mg next week and stop worrying!

Hi guys newbie here :)
have my 2.5mg dose from VOY and was due to start today

just wanted to check as I’ve just finished 5 days of Antibiotics- any issues with me starting today or do I need a few days to clear my system?

im keen to get going and 1st of the month would be a good time to start :)

thanks so much!

@Everdecreasingcircumferences have you tried dark chocolate for focus? I get 85% cocoa and above and have a square in the afternoon if I'm wabbit or need something nice. Xx

Are you in the FB group @BlackFriYay ?@B@BlackFriYay? I started a meal planning / recipe thread there this afternoon, some good tips in it so far.

@Pinkyp22 I had a lot of stuff on the week I was due to start 5 and didn't want to chance being ill so I counted clicks for the first dose from my 5mg pen. A full dose is 60 clicks so 3.75mg is 45 clicks.
I did like you and had a big 2.5mg the week before, did 3.75 for one dose then up to 5 the week after all the events

I also counted clicks today!

My bonus dose gave me 3.12mg so slightly less than I had hoped, so I was too afraid to jump up to 5mg today 🙈 went with 3.75mg.

We go on holiday very soon so was too afraid to risk the full 5mg. If all is ok this week, I will jump up to 5mg next week!

I am yes, that's great I'll go and take a look now - thank you! 🙂

A question for you all: has anybody else noticed difficulty swallowing certain foods? The past 4 or 5 times I've eaten steak I've really struggled to get it down, needing to swallow multiple times to ease it down slowly.

Its unusual for me as a life long lover of steak which i have atleast once per week. My OH thinks its MJ related as it has come along with the higher doses. I don't recall this happening at the start.

A cursory search on google/reddit along with the word mounjaro brings up a few people who describe something similar, I'm just wondering if it's happening to anybody else here?

I had it once or twice. A weird sensation when swallowing. Like a burning sensation. Someone said it might be acid reflux. Definitely a side effects of the meds

@QueenOfHiraeth @NewLifter
What does counting clicks do to the pen? Does it still jam after the 4 doeses?
I guess it's not a problem you still get the bonus dose you can remove manually?
Im just worried about messing up the pen

@Pinkyp22 I did what you suggested in your post as I got 0.7ml out of my 2.5mg bonus dose. I then blithely drew out 0.2ml of my 5mg to make it up to 3.75 not thinking about the fact that it's equivalent to 0.4 ml of 2.5 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Not much of a bridging dose I have to say!
(I am however, absolutely in love with 5mg!)

I've read somewhere that the pen has a maximum of 250 clicks in it. Not sure if it's been tested/true but if so, you'd need to use a syringe once you've run out of clicks.

I've not personally but seriously thinking about HRT. Interested to hear what others have to say.

I’ve upped my HRT whilst on MJ but was due to increase anyway. I mean, a freaking LOVE my HRT. I’m never coming off it.

Counting clicks is for dose titration.

A pen has 240 clicks. 4 doses @ 60 clicks each.
After that you'll have to do the hard twist or use a syringe.

@MooFroo if you're feeling fine and the antibiotics didn't upset your stomach, there's no reason to delay taking the Mounjaro.

@tunnellights76 hi, I take it, in the bHRT form. Started it 4m ago, been on MJ since Feb (on wegovy/ozempic for 9m before that) am also AuADHD and take the occasional methylphenidate. Am also PCOS/hypothyroid.

Not had any negatives from adding estrogen (or the others: DHEA, progesterone and testosterone). Both sets of meds seem to work effectively and I’ve lost 1.5st since April, when I started. Looking at my chart, my weight loss has doubled in speed (I had plateaued over nov-jan, hence the move to MJ in Feb) but now that I look at the chart the renewed weight loss correlates with bHRT. Not sure that’s the hormone treatment as it may simply be that being less irritable/sleeping better/etc has meant that I’ve stuck to healthier eating and been more active as a result?

it’s certainly not contraindicated, so don’t hold back from starting for that reason. Not sure if this was what you were looking for?

I think there is extra clicks for priming. So 250 sounds about right.

Ah yes of course. I forgot about those extra for priming.

@BlackFriYay i get difficulty swallowing cheese. Never did pre MJ but it’s a thing apparently. Grated cheese is fine but small chunks are not 🤷‍♀️ no advice but letting you know you aren’t alone!

@BlackFriYay for a week or so I really struggled swallowing my daily supplement and psyllium husk capsules. It was absolute 3 weeks into 10mg and just came from nowhere. I'd heave and eyes water and just struggle so badly. I'm ok again now though.