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:

Can I ask how every one is disposing of their sharps bins?

None of my local pharmacies will take it, my doctors won't take it as they didn't prescribe it and our local dump doesn't have a medical waste facility so I can't take it there.

I'm just sat here with a collection of sharps bins that nobody will take from me from my ozempic days and now my mounjaro

@Jimmyneutronsforehead try this to see what local service might be available https://www.gov.uk/request-clinical-waste-collection

I think it’s poor that where you’ve tried won’t take it but I guess it’s a cost to them. Do you have any friends in areas with a local service, maybe ask them to request it!

I think I’m insanely lucky here in that my local pharmacy takes them. If anyone is near south west London I can furnish you with the details.

I haven't filled my sharps bin yet but, thinking ahead, tried to find out what I could do with it when the ti comes. Like yiu, have found nowhere willing to take it - even for a fee which I would be happy to pay. My local council have a clinical waste scheme but say I can only use it if the medication is prescribed by my GP and registered with them by the surgery.

There was a recent post on a local group by someone who had moved into a house where a sharps bin had been left behind and she had spent several months unsuccessfully trying to dispose of it. No-one could suggest anything. Was wondering about a trip to London to take it to a needle exchange!.

I do feel prescribers should accept and dispose of sharps bins.

Ordered from med express yesterday well aware I would probably have a long wait given all the delays (was worried delivery may end up next weekend but would hit that hurdle when it came) ...just had an email to say prescription has been authorised! So surprised ! Obviously still got dispatch and delivery to come but looks like they may be starting to get through the backlog of authorising prescriptions

I'm in the same position or will be when my bin is full. My local council will only collect if GP fills in a form - I can't justify taking up an appt to discuss this and not sure they'd do it anyway as didn't prescribe it. I'm guessing pharmacies will have to step up as more and more people take it privately but there's a cost to them (I used to work in a vets and we used to charge customers to dispose of theirs). Mine will probably end up in the loft, filed under 'To be dealt with later'.

My local authority will take sharps bins but only when I have two! So I need a sharps bin to add to mine.

I’m assuming if you wandered down to your local hospital and left it somewhere it would get put in a sharps bin

@Buffypaws im thinking the same if I get desperate. If the sharps bin is locked then it’s safe so I may well have to leave it somewhere like gp surgery!

Weigh day for me I’ve now lost 10% of my starting weight & just done my measurements and it’s 3.5inches off B/W & H so 10.5” in total which is amazing for me. This drug is really targeting the fat holding zones on my body. I’ve been exercising through out & focusing on 3 meals plus upped protein and fasted 14-16hrs a day. Im in my 50s so to get these results is just incredible after trying to lose the same 2-4lbs over and over for the last two years! Doing exactly what I was doing as before but this time I’m losing 2-3bs a week just shows how insulin resistance my body had become in menopause. Ooh and last night the tin of tuna I ate in a veg stir fry had 30g of protein for very low calories now I get why gym folk love tuna.

I'm back from holiday and have used the opportunity to move my injection day to Sunday (there was earlier chats regarding doing this, to keep supression higher Mon to Fri), so thought I'd give it a go.

Despite going AI, I've managed to remain the same weight as before I left which I'm delighted by. I was naturally more active re swimming and ate lots of salad and grilled meat or fish. I did avoid too many cocktails as they are very sugary, kept to white wine and soda.

SW 13.12
TW 10.10

Here's to a great week folks!

Morning all! @montysma1 wow, you look fab. Congrats. I know that feeling well of putting clothes on and going oh. Ok. Now this is too big or just fits.

I went on a charity shop wander after a massage yesterday morning. I bought a SHORT SKIRT! The last short skirt I wore was about, ooh, 24 years ago in sixth form. Short as in above knee.

A 10. A size 10. 🥳🥺I no longer look at them and think oh gosh that’s so tiny. My head is now beginning to catch up with my body.

Maintenance land is going well. Expanding what I’m eating and my body comes back to my new point. Even been having bread etc and ok, I gain the next day and it goes back down.

I feel free. Free from my previous body with its aches and pains and free from my head telling me no matter what else I do it means nothing as I’m fat. Yes, that’s a me thing. But I truly believed it.

My local authority collects sharps bins, they have an online form to fill out.
I've had a look and there's no mention of any note required from GP so I'm hoping it's straightforward when I do need mine collecting.

That's great. Wish that was the same for my LA.

Juniper offers free next day delivery. Wondering what people's experiences have been with them?

Got my first pen from ME, wasn't impressed by the time it took and the comments here are making me reluctant to purchase second pen from them.

Oh :/ went on Juniper website and they want my bank details to take payment before they decide to prescribe. If they decide they won't prescribe me they'll refund me. I'm not happy with having £189 taken out of my account for them to then not prescribe and wait days for a refund, not worth the faff!!

Sorry last question...if you have to use the pens within 30 days how can Zava send you a pack of pens for two and three months?

NSV - as of today I no longer have a pile of “currently too small” clothes. I never thought I’d get here!

SW 14st 2
CW 11st 1
GW 10st 10

@OnInstagramAsFitFabForties i think all providers take the money in advance. And the 30 days starts after first use.

@FlappyFish
A short skirt! Well done!

I still automatically reach for L and XL in shops!
And can't get my head round buying trousers with zips instead of elastic leggings!

I can't comprehend how much bigger I was. I remember looking at these denims and thinking they must be abnormally small and thats why they wouldn't go past my legs. Now I discover that they are just normal trousers😂

@montysma1 i do too! Can’t quite understand a size 14 fits well now. I guess I’ve spent such a short time actually being a size 14 it’s not easy to accept!

@FlappyFish I welled up when I read your post. Not just about the size 10 but about your brain catching up with what your eyes are seeing. So many people who lose weight can’t see/accept it themselves, they still see the old them. I’m over the moon for you, what a triumph.

OnInstagram: the 30 days only starts when you take your first dose, otherwise it can live happily in your fridge until the expiry date

@FlappyFish what a lovely, inspiring post. I hope one day I can be like you.

All this talk of short skirts and trousers with zips is very exciting. I can't wait to throw out my stretchy waisted jeggings and feel good in something again.

Just started my next 5mg pen and did an extra 15 clicks to get 6.25mg. I was regretting ordering another 5mg so I will step up and then go to 7.5mg.

I'm eyeing up a big yellow sharps bin outside a tattoo studio...no idea if it's got some special lock or something but I may pop in and ask them when the time comes