Prescribed Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes - weight loss bonus side effect?

[oneeggisunoeuf]

I've just seen my GP as the medication I was prescribed for my type 2 diabetes had awful side effects, and she has prescribed Mounjaro. I knew this was a possibility, and although it is primarily for the diabetes, (GP said she is prescribing it a LOT for that), I can't deny that I'm looking forward to it for the weight loss effect. I have three stones to lose, already lost one, and am experiencing a plateau.

Has anyone else been prescribed it as a diabetes treatment and experienced weight loss too? I'm excited and a bit nervous about all of this, but reassured by the fact my GP was enthusiastic about it, and said it delivers well on both the diabetes and weight loss aspects.

I know someone who was prescribed it for weight loss as she was diabetic. . It worked well for her.

slightly off topic but looking for advice please.
i have T2 diabetes but not medicated
ive tried on line to get Mounjaro with 3 well known companies all of whom have refused to prescribe. The NHS isn’t prescribing it yet! A bit confused. Any advice?

I was prescribed mounjaro back in August last year for T2 diabetes. My HBAC1 was 67. High blood pressure and cholesterol, weighing 21 stone. I'm now 4 stone lighter, blood pressure and cholesterol normal and HBAC1 now 36. I feel like a different person and realise now just how awful I was feeling before. I have completely changed my diet and mounjaro has helped make this achievable.

I was prescribed ozempic for diabetes and it brought my HBa1c down and I lost weight easily.

@alseb I have T2 diabetes and was prescribed online by medexpress. I am also overweight bmi 27-28 so maybe that was why.

I am also on metformin max dose but I was still having high blood sugar levels. The mounjaro brought this down to normal within days. I hadn't realised that I could have got mounjaro on prescription from my GP. That would obviously be a lot cheaper. Did your GP offer it to you or did you have to ask? Are you part of a pilot / trial ? Or is this normal prescribing?

Those using Monjaro, did you have side effects? I have heard of hair loss and all sorts of other side effects.

Also my GP has categorically said that they cannot prescribe weightless injections. It has to be done by a diabetes clinic. Since I have been on the waiting list over a year, I am wondering how so many people seem to be prescribed it.

Try Oushk, many of the bigger companies don't want to take on people who need extra monitoring but Oushk take a more individual approach. Join their Facebook page for a new customer discount code.

The only person I know who has been prescribed Ozempic for their T2 diabetes is part of a trial. Which is why I assumed I would have to go down the private option for mounjaro. At least private is quicker. I'm currently having to wait over a month for a GP pharmacist appointment for a repeat prescription of HRT.

I have been prescribed semaglutide tablets for my t2 diabetes. They are slowly bringing down my bloods and weight. GP had to have the go ahead from my local diabetes centre to prescribe. Feeling very nauseous on them but overtime it subsides.

My dad was prescribed it for his T2 diabetes and honestly, it has been life changing. He has come so far as a result of being on it and is no longer taking any meds except his MJ!

his success is why I am now on it, though I use it specifically for weight loss.

@BigBagOfElbows @Tradersinsnow It's wonderful that you have got you hba1c to normal and lost weight. Will you have to take it for life? I ask as my friend with type 2 had weight loss surgery last year. She now has a normal hba1c and is thrilled of course, it changed her life but it has left her with dumping syndrome and she will take supplements forever because of absorption. Sometimes she wishes she had gone for Mounjaro instead.
I guess I am asking whether you have been advised to take it forever (as it was prescribed by a gp) or whether once you are back to normal levels you are left on your own.

Boots sell it online! My GP recommended I get it from them, and you also get points for it.

What is dumping syndrome?

I was originally prescribed it by the Diabetes nurse. They then left the practice and my review after my blood test 3 months later was done by a GP. He told me to stop taking it and go back on my previous medication now my numbers were good. I did not agree with this so saw a different GP and he actually raved about Mounjaro and increased my dose! He said he was able to prescribe for weight loss. I think as long as he stays at the practice I'll be on it as long as I need to be. I imagine I'll need it forever and I'm OK with this. If I have to eventually buy it privately I WILL find the money somehow.
I've had minimal side effects. A little constipated sometimes and feeling the cold but that's it.

Why would you need it indefinitely? Surely you lose the weight and then eat normally for life?

They do but they are very expensive and don't like to faff about with customers with a complex history so often reject people that smaller online pharmacies would accept.

Sometimes losing the weight can put t2 diabetes into remission, but not always. In that case, even when you are a healthy weight your body doesn't produce enough insulin without medication.

I live in Wales and have been prescribed Mounjaro for T2 diabetes since last September.

I'd been on liraglutide for years but it became unavailable in autumn 2023 and the diabetes clinic were only able to replace it with insulin. They said they'd prescribe Mounjaro when it became available but weren't sure when that would be.

In January 2024 I paid for a private prescription of Wegovy (semaglutide, the next generation after liraglutide) so that I could stop using the insulin. In June I was able to switch to a private prescription of Mounjaro.

At my appointment in September last year the diabetes consultant said he was only allowed to prescribe up to 5 mg for diabetes. He said although he would like to be able to prescribe up to the full 15 mg for his obese patients he is not allowed to do so, because he does not have the required speciality, and the local obesity clinic, who would theoretically be allowed to prescribe the higher doses is still geared towards bariatric surgery.

He approved my continuing with the private prescription so long as the combined total didn't exceed 15 mg. I've been taking 12.5 mg for a while, 7.5 from Voy and 5 from the NHS, two separate pens, but that doesn't bother me - the insulin had to be measured against the carbohydrates in each meal so that was 4 or 5 jabs every single day. Doing 2 injections at the same time on the same day, but only once a week is a lot less bother, and doesn't require constant carb and insulin unit calculations.

Health is devolved so it's possible the rules are different in other parts of the UK. I'm sure I read someone who said their GP had prescribed mounjaro for diabetes and they were on 10 mg, but it's possible they weren't in the UK. Which further complicates an already complicated situation.

Just affected my periods, made me cold and gave accu-chek readings in the 4’s and 5’s. Weird craving for mustard.
Any hair loss on my fine hair barnet remained down to the under active thyroid.

Great things about it it got rid of a skin tag, less aches and pains but the medics can also say that is HRT for you. It also helped the reduction of one medication.

Interestingly on Wegovy I now get readings slightly higher but still greens.
My Wegovy craving is now bran flakes.

Slow loss on both but I’d rather that as I read something other day if you lose masses of weight continuously you can come down with a refeeding syndrome.

As for other question - largely post code lottery. I have two friends in the next town, one claims it is life saving medication for their PRE diabetes and the other who claims they are offered it having no problems in past saying dieting is for losers and has a past of diabetic complications which hospitalised them.
Both are males without UAT.

check with Diabetes UK... its not advised if you have any form of diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Do everything you can to avoid it developing.

The condition is exacerbated if your blood sugar levels change dramatically..... so make sure you've had your diabetic eye test first and ask their advice.

I've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and BMI was 36, so I just decided to go on Mounjaro myself. I was rejected by Boots and Superdrug due to diabetes. I got accepted by Voy but probably because I didn't tell them I had diabetes, and they let you opt out of informing your GP (back in January anyway). I feel a bit guilty being deceptive but was desperate tbh as I'd tried so many other ways to lose weight and get blood sugar under control.

Why would they not let you have it for diabetes? That’s what it’s designed for!

No idea, but that was the reason given by both.

@amigagal I was accepted by Pharmacy2u with T2 Diabetes. As my BMI is under 30, I don't think they would have prescribed it for me otherwise.
My GP surgery were notified.