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:

Hi, all! So my update. On MJ since beginning of April, loss so far is 1st 10 lbs, so only 4lbs off of a 2st loss. 9 lbs to first goal of BMI 27.5.
I have not stalled but WL now slow, 1lb a week. I am on 5mg which is working well so far.
I have now moved to my second tier jeans, which are starting to be too baggy, and I have no third tier. Most of my clothes are now too baggy, and I don’t want to continue rocking the Annie Hall look, but I will have to do something at some point. The trouble is, I like a lot of my clothes, and reluctant to give them up.
while jeans, etc now massively loose, I am still in same bras, which are now more comfortable to wear. MJ definitely results in a different mode of fat loss - not complaining!
For stallers, maybe change something? A bit more excercise, fewer carbs (or more) less/more protein? For sure, watch the booze!
Good luck all, on both SVs & NSVs!

Can anyone suggest any collegen powder or something similar to help with skin, particularly around the neck? I’m sure I’ve seen people mention it but can’t find the post now there’s so many! Thanks!

My MedExpress order from last Wednesday finally arrived, cold. Phew. I’ve been sent another sharps box, I have 3 spare now as still using the first one. What do I do with them? Do you think a pharmacy would take them?

I emailed MedExpress a few days ago to ask whether they would honour a price match if I were to request one. I received a generic looking response today but the gist of it is that I need to send them evidence of the lower price elsewhere and once I've done that they'll put a credit on my account.

So I've sent them the details for the care pharmacy and hoping they'll honour it at 159.99. If so, I'm going to stick with them for maintenance. Fingers crossed.

I do hope you're OK, Buffy ♥️

I use myprotein clear collagen powder. I also buy their collagen gummies which have marine collagen. I don't know if it helps because I still have neck crinkles but will keep going with it anyway ! I have a referral code if you want to try it?

@ThirdStorm I've been wondering about the sharps bin issue too. In my area the council will collect under the clinical waste scheme but only if they receive a form from your GP who must also be the prescriber. If it comes through a hospital, you return to them.
No pharmacies will take them and there are no needle exchanges locally.
I saw a post on a local FB site recently in which the poster had found a full sharps box when she moved in and had been trying to get rid of it for several months going in circles with the council. In the end she just stuck it in her loft! Others responding had ended up bagging them up and putting them in general waste in desperation!

Just tried to reply to you about Myprotein and my reply got sensored as I mentioned Myprotein ref... Think it's a flagged word now! Damn!

I said, I use myprotein for collagen powder and collagen gummies. The gummies have marine collagen in them which are good for skin apparently.

Test...

Is everything okay???

@Fromthesidelines thanks, my council will take mine when it’s full. I was talking about the 3 empty ones I now have. Seems silly to chuck them away but I won’t need them.

Ok.. I seem to have been sensored! Was trying to message @GlueNoGlue about collagen options but it won't let me!

That's odd, we've chatted about collagen lots on these threads!

Maybe it didn't like me talking about my. Protein.... How weird!

I think it's an attempt to stop people giving out certain offer. Co... Des.... Which I didn't . . I said I can pm one if you need it. But must have picked up a word I used and sensored me!

I'll try again! @GlueNoGlue my protein. Do some good clear collagen powders that taste good. Also I get collagen gummies from there too.

Lol it sensored me again! I didn't even say anything related to offers this time!

My guess is that MN want to explore affiliate codes from the suppliers directly and monetise the threads themselves.

Perhaps a cynical view...

Very strange! So we cant even suggest options for supplements anymore!

Wonder if it's talking about collagen g u m m i e s ...

Vital Proteins collagen peptides. I get it from Costco, worth taking out the £15 online membership because the prices are very good there even for delivered items.

I am a very low carber, so protein intake isn't an issue for me but they also sell protein drinks and all that stuff. I am taking the collagen for skin & nails, although I have no belief that it will sort saggy skin.

I invested in some magnesium citrate as recommended by someone, somewhere, but just realised I've had steadily worsening squits since I started them last week. I was thinking it was MJ but just looked it up and it's a known SE so gonna stop using. Just info for anyone else who's suffering similarly

apart from the first couple of days on 2.5 I got no appetite suppression on 2.5 or 5, most people posting here do find those doses effective but on the mounjaro Reddits a lot don’t get results till 7.5 or even higher. I’m on 7.5 now and finally finding I get full a lot faster but yes I could push through & eat more if I wanted really wanted to and I can eat any type of food and drink alcohol with no side effects at all. And then you’ve got people who had loads of suppression on the lower doses finding the higher ones less effective, it’s an absolute mystery to me how it varies so much but I’ve just accepted my journey is going to be different (and longer!) and that’s fine as long as I get there.

Hi @Moanranger - well done on your progress so far!!

Just a suggestion re your jeans and other favourite clothes - try searching for them in your new size on Vinted (I have recently done just this, albeit in larger sizes - I will definitely be doing it for smaller sizes as my weight goes down!)

@Buffypaws def do self care. Sounds obvious but put fresh sheets in the bed. Shower every day and eat one meal a day. No matter how small. You. Can absolutely do this xxx

I got some collagen protein drinks from Costco, about £13 for 12 bottles and they were really nice! There was about 10g in a bottle and 50cal so not the highest, but it genuinely just tasted like flavoured water so I’ll definitely be buying more on my next Costco run! I checked Amazon but they are more expensive on Amazon.