If you had some - but not dreadful - side-effects at 2.5mg on Mounjaro

[OldKnees]

… did you go up to 5mg for month 2, or did you stay on 2.5 for a bit longer? And if you did go up to 5, how bad was it?
I can’t decide whether to order 2.5 or 5 for my second pen. I haven’t felt awful on 2.5, just a bit queasy a lot of the time. Am just worried it’ll be twice as bad if I double the dose!

I felt pretty retched for the first couple of weeks (nauseous) and queasy on and off for the third. At which point I needed to order my next pen! I decided to order 5mg as could always take a half dose if was still not happy and gave me some wiggle room.
In the end by of my fifth dose I was feeling mostly fine. I decided to bridge using 3.75mg (please don’t take this as advice it’s a very personal decision to count clicks which some are of course against). That said 3.75mg worked amazingly for me: felt well, good suppression, good steady weight loss. I stayed at that for the whole second pen. Am now comfortably on 5mg with minimal side effects.

I would order the 5 as for those low doses there is little if no price difference between 2.5 & 5.
You could then count the clicks on 5 to make it 2.5 or even 3.75. It would give you a lot more options. If you get a 2.5 pen you are stuck on that dose and suppression could wane more quickly than you would like as you go through the month.

Thank you both - it seems it does make more sense to order the 5, even if I end up counting the clicks and going for a lower dose.
There’s just a puritanical part of me that hates the idea of throwing away a pen if I get to 30 days and haven’t used it all up.

I know it’s controversial but I use up whatever is left in the pen even if it’s past 30 days. I just draw out the remaining fluid with a needle and use it up.

I’m staying on 2.5ml - it’s working and I’m not feeling sick etc. I do know it might not be ‘good value’ but for the sake of £30 I’d rather be comfortable.

I had great results with 2.5mg but saw many suddenly find it stops working, so I ordered 5mg for my 2nd (and 3rd pen). I've still not managed to get to 5mg so yes I had to waste some medication, but better that than pay for a 2.5mg pen that potentially would be completely ineffective. I use 3.75mg each week and like knowing if it loses effect, I can always inject early if needs be since there's plenty in my pen.

You don't have to throw away after the 30 days as long a in the fridge - I'm on maintenance now and eeked out my 10mg pen for as long as needed;

"When refrigerated at 2 °C – 8 °C, Mounjaro pens can last until the expiry date on the pen label. If you're storing your pen in a cool dark place outside the refrigerator (under 30 °C), it'll last 30 days from first use"

This is a great reminder and just what I was looking for, thank you. So on that basis, it's possible to buy a 5ml pen and use it for 8 x 2.5ml doses - or am I going too far?

@85reasons - yes, I've been doing the same with my 10mg pen - 7.5 was too much for me but had already ordered the 10, so halved the dose.
It's only if you take a out of fridge you should ideally use within 30 days. It may not be as effective.

Thanks @MuthaHubbard - so much cheaper in this case!

I was fine on 2.5. I read lots of horror stories about the jump to 5 and was scared to death when doing the first 5 dose but I didn't have any significant side effects with that either - I seem to have had heartburn all the way through.

My side effects happened on 7.5 and even they have not been too bad.

I read that once opened, the pen only is meant to be used for 30 days, in fridge or not ?

I’m on my second 5mg pen and have my third waiting in the fridge. I have counted clicks on the first two pens having 4 mg for 5 weeks. As I have no spare needles I will probably do 4 doses of 5 mg next month. Not sure I’ll ever move up to 7.5 mg as I find the suppression enough and I have to use some will power too.

I've just done my bonus dose of 2.5 and will be staying on 2.5 for my next pen. I had pretty awful side effects the first week but it's gotten better each week and my suppression is still really high, I'm losing weight, so I don't see the point of increasing just yet.

What source is this from pls

Not being one of those people but I don’t think the manufacturer advice is that re 30 days. The info says dispose of after 30 days after opening. Obviously it’s for everyone to decide what they do with that!

To answer your question OP, I too went to 3.75 then onto 5 and it’s been fine (good in fact).

3.75mg fan here too (I'm on week 23 and still on 3.75!!) ... did people notice a big difference between 3.75 and 5mg?

@AubreysMonkey I completely dramatised 5 when I finally did it (!) but other than a bit of very minor nausea the next day it’s been really good. Suppressed nicely

From the manufacturer: the pen must not be used more than 30 days after the first use.

@Wingingit11

If I don't lose this week I may 'risk' going up to 5mg!! 😆

I stayed on 2.5mg for my second pen. It wasn't so much because of the side effects, although I do feel quite nauseous sometimes, but that suppression is so strong I am really struggling to eat some days so I figured it made sense to stay on the lower dose a while longer as it's obviously working.

Although in that it also says the pen is not to be used after the four weekly doses and clearly a huge number of people on this forum use it a fifth time...

I have stayed on 2.5 for my second month. I had some constipation at first and some fatigue and nausea but that settled after the second week. I've got good suppression and steady loss. I didn't see the point in taking more when I don't need it but will review again depending on how the second lot goes