How long until there will be enough?

[OddBoots]

I am obese and this in combination with complications of neural tube defects I am becoming less mobile so I have been wanting to start injections for a year or more.

I see posts from people with diabetes saying that people are not able to get their prescribed medication when people like me get private prescriptions so I have held off but I have not seen anything to suggest that is improving.

Does anyone know what supply levels are like or are projected to be? I am trying to work out if I should wait or just go for it.

You need to prioritise you and your health, not unknown possible others.

My understanding is that the issues are under control now, and that the issues were more with Ozempic/Wegovy than with Mounjaro.

According to Diabetes UK there is no current shortage of mounjaro and they say that this is usually only prescribed to diabetics on the NHS if other diabetes medication is not available. Your health is important too - including lowering your own risk of obesity related complications, such as diabetes, down the line - and costing the NHS as a consequence.

Thank you, I am going for it.

Good luck!

It's very thoughtful for you to have concerns for others. MJ isn't in short supply in the UK at all, there's plenty to go around - wishing you well on your journey ❤️

Just another thank you and an update.

I started in MJ in September and I am now 27kg lighter - I'm still overweight at a BMI of around 27 but the important part is I am mobile again, I am walking about 5 miles a day and I am in so much less pain.

I feel like I am more productive at work and I have more energy to look after myself and have interests outside of work. I have joined a gym and taken up swimming and weights and I have been cooking up a storm with lots of veggies and protein.

I still have a way to go and the bigger challenge of maintenance but this feels like another chance at life. Thank you again.

Well done, OP. I opened the thread in the hope there’d be enough for the nhs to offer it soon. It’s wrong that you had to pay for this yourself- given the savings your improved health will bring.

sadly that’s not why the nhs isn’t offering it widely, there is no shortage, it is due to nhs budgets, they can’t afford it.

The NHS has spent enough on me, my tethered spinal cord needed neurosurgery on my spine 15 years ago and the site got infected causing meningitis and spinal fluid leak - I needed to spend 7 weeks in the hospital having antibiotics and a lumbar drain then weeks of outpatient physio to help me walk again - I dread to think how much that cost them and I will always be so grateful.

I am happy to pay for this myself (I am saving some of the money on the junk food I was using to self medicate my pain anyway!) - my worry was that I would be causing someone else harm by taking what they need.

No I get that- I was hoping that it will roll out and be cheap as chips and widely accessible- affordable.

I know your post was about not using something needed more by/intended for others.

I opened it wondering about my question.

But I’m glad OP is doing so well.

the drug is cheap as chips. The issue is it’s an injection that needs to be kept cold. It costs a lot to do that, from manufacturing storage, to the supply chain and logistics, that’s what makes the cost very high.

once it’s in pill form it will be much cheaper. But when it’s an injection that needs to be transported across the full supply chain via cold storage, then it becomes a very costly endeavour,

So glad it is working so well for you OP!

What an amazing update. Well done!!

The list price is $1500 in the USA, so I'm very grateful for the price in uk. It's a fantastic investment in my health. Glad it's going well for you op

I’m diabetic and have tablets to replace my injections. I think there are no longer supply issues for diabetics.
Regardless, I see no reason for you to deny yourself a drug which could prove highly beneficial to you.

We're saving ourselves from becoming the diabetics of the future, congratulations on an amazing lifestyle change.

@lunar1 you might be right but your comment makes it sound as if T2 is self inflicted. T2 is more complex than just obesity/exercise as is obesity itself more than just being greedy and lazy.
Evidence is emerging that upf contributes massively to obesity- and therefore some T2 but equally genetics play a part in T2
I have been T2 for 20 years but it was genetics not lifestyle that got me here.
I think genetics play a part in obesity for some people too.
Whilst we are rightly encouraged to take responsibility for our health, some things have been out of our control.
Let’s hope that the combination of better foods and medication helps us all.