The 30 day limit

[ThatSchoolOfficeLady]

I'm curious to hear from anyone who has used a mounjaro pen after 30 days, especially if you returned it to the fridge after each use. How long after did you use it? Did it have any negative effects on you? Did it still work?

Before someone chips in, yes I know this is just anecdotal, not scientific evidence. Yes I'm not seeking medical advice and yes I'm not going to follow the advice of online strangers.

I've used one or two of mine for longer than 30 days - I can report no negative side effects or noticeable effects of any kind.

I split my pens over 60 days , keep in the fridge and use an alcohol wipe each time.
no issues at all - works well .
I have been doing this for 6 months

Thank you @JanetSnakeholeMacklin @olympicsrock I suspect the anti bacterial ingredient is effective for much longer than 30 days, especially if the pen is refrigerated.

It would make the pens so much more cost effective, as low dose is working well for me so I'm considering splitting higher doses and breaking the limit.

I'm curious to how this works with your provider, don't they get suspicious if you're only ordering every 2 months and want you to go back on a lower dose?

Yes that what I was thinking. I would love to order a higher dose pen and make it last 2 months. But couldn’t the provider try and make you go back down to 2.5mg to start again?

@Wednesdaysdrag I don't see how they could monitor it as there are folk on these boards who move from supplier to supplier to maximise their discounts. I'm not going to do that, but I'm not sure how my pharmacy would know I hadn't?

I guess ome people still order regularly to not be pushed back to lower doses but keep the extra pens in their fridge. I noticed this in quite a few posts on mumsnet.com

@Lola3034 yes. My last pen was dated November 2025. My provider sends me a reorder reminder way faster than I need it.

Because if there is a gap. They ask for evidence you bought elsewhere. So I’m also not sure how people do it, unless they start again with a different supplier each time. All the main ones keep on it.

I use mine every nine days and get the fifth dose as well. That makes it about six weeks. No problems.

They just ask for the dose of the last pen, and the last date you took it. So it would be possible to do that, and just order again I suppose.

@ThatCoralShark I guess I'll just stockpile then. I have 2 in the fridge and they are coming with very long use by dates, so that should work.

I'm making sure I am being really careful with doing this, buying extra wipes and needles etc and keeping the pens in the fridge. I'm surprised no-one has been along to tell us off about it yet to be honest.

Last time I ordered from a pharmacy which stocks sets of 3 pens of the same strength, and got a 25% off offer.

So next time I could do that and get the higher strength ones, hopefully also get the offers hen that could keep me going for 6 months

For me this is a long term situation so I need to think about how to afford that really.

I think I'd worry that I'd end up with a stockpile, would need stop ordering for 6 months or so while I used them up - then be stuck without a supplier, especially if I'm under BMI 30 by then and not be able to continue on maintenance. I'd love to try without it for a bit but mentally I am prepared that I'll probably need a maintenace dose to keep the weight off.

I've already got a bit of a stockpile from using the bonus dose & ordering too early as there was a discount, etc!

This is a crazy suggestion. My mind totally boggles that people could be stupid enough to do this.

I guess they are all adults who can take reasonable risks. All medication carries risk, people will choose whether to take that risk or not!

@UnrealRita It's for adults to risk assess and make their own decisions. Being overweight also carries health risks. Do you drink or smoke or take part in high risk sports? I don't do any of those things, but I don't presume to take decisions for people who do, or label them as 'stupid'

@UnrealRita I think it's pretty obvious why, this is an expensive medication, and it doesn't become poisonous on day 31. It's really important people are aware of the limits set out by the manufacturer, as well as how to safely inject, dosing rules and so on. But people will make their own choices.

I don't think people are stupid, any more than someone's stupid to eat bacon a day over use by date. I think they just have different approach to risk! And yes, it's on them to deal with the consequences, good or bad.

I think people also stockpile because once you reach the goal weight there isn't many pharmacies that do maintenance. If they do, they charge you just to keep you on their books. If you fall of the wagon and weight starts creeping up again, no one will prescribe unless you reach BMI of 30 again and no one wants to wait for the things to go that bad again.
I have a very long road journey ahead of me just to get to healthy BMI but will definitely think of keeping 1-2 low dose pens as a back up plan.

My last order was delivered end of October and I am being pestered again to order a next one so it is possible to stockpile if you have the funds to do so.
I will wait a bit longer 😅 ie after pay day🤣 for obvious reason 😉.

I accidentally used one for much longer than 30 days as I was away for a month and forgot to take it with me. It seemed fine

How do you get extra needles?

Everyone must decide on their own risks, I assess and take my own too, but I do feel uncomfortable with threads that encourage others to do it - as some will/have acted based solely on these threads. It reminds me of kids encouraging their peers to smoke, drink, take drugs (ironically) or any other risky behaviour with no mature knowledge of the consequences.