It's arrived... what next

[Brownsoles]

Hello!
My moujarno has arrived from Boots. I've put it in the fridge. I don't want to start for two weeks till I'm back from holiday. Do you know if that's ok and what temperature I should store it.
I even put the needles in the fridge!
i have no idea what to do and I'm hoping there are instructions in the box.
I've got two stone to loose but have high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Nervous to begin!

First, open the box and read the two leaflets inside. You will also see an expiry date printed on the pen itself. That's how long it will keep for in the fridge before you start to use it. It's normally several months away.

It's always worth checking the pen itself, check it's the right dose (2.5mg is the starting dose) and check that the fluid in the clear glass vial part is clear.

Again, I cannot emphasise enough, read the leaflets.

Keep it in the door so it doesn’t get frozen at the back of the fridge. No need for needles to be in there!

Very easy to do, have a look on youtube.

Also, did Boots supply you with swabs and a sharps bin?

Sharp box but no swabs

Thank you for answering

The instructions for how to use the pen will say to wipe the end of the pen with a swab before attaching the needle. You can buy swabs from Amazon or from pharmacies, I got some 70% alcohol wipes in individual packets.

@Brownsoles Don't store it in the door at all. Advice specifically tells you not to keep it in the door as this is where the fridge temperature fluctuates most.

Bottom shelf or in the crisper is preferred. Keep it in it's box.

Check all the packaging to make sure you haven't missed the swabs, most suppliers send them in the bag/box with the needles. You can order them anyway and since you will likely use two swabs per injection, one for the site and one on the pen, you would be better doing that anyway.

If you aren't starting for 2 weeks, you will get a reminder to order your next needle before you take your 2nd dose, which given some of the reported delays will work in your favour. This prescription date will also be relevant if you go to another supplier.

This! I don't mean this to sound like a telling off OP but it's prescription medication that will have been sent with extensive instructions. That's where to start rather than asking internet randoms.
As much as there is some amazing support and advice on here, there is also a lot of potentially dangerous nonsense, so make sure you know what you should be doing from the people who actually know.
Once you're solid on the instructions there is a wealth of support on these threads though. I'd recommend joining a March starters thread when there is one - that community of people starting at the same time as you is a huge help.

Where does it say this please? I’ve been using MJ since September and always kept the pens in the door of the fridge. I’ve seen anything about this. Thanks,

Mine are in the fridge door too. My leaflet said only that they need to be below 23 degrees I think. It's been two years I can't remember lol. They don't even need to be refrigerated once open so it seems odd the door would be an issue.m

All it says in the instructions (in both leaflets) is "Store in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C)" so if you think the door of your fridge would be warmer than 8 degrees C then I suppose that would indicate putting it on a shelf.

Door shelves are the least cool part of a fridge and subject to the most frequent fluctuations in temperature.

Thanks. I’ve never swabbed myself either!

Thanks.

The swab is for the pen, not for you.

https://www.joinvoy.com/blog/how-to-store-mounjaro

https://www.oxfordonlinepharmacy.co.uk/blog/how-to-store-mounjaro-in-the-fridge

Just the first two results from Google.

You should always swab the skin around an injection site.

That's from the pharmacies, it's not the instructions from the manufacturer. They are giving practical advice, and even the door shelf of a fridge will be less than 8 degrees unless there's something wrong with your fridge.

And you don't need to swab your skin. It's not in the instructions, and there's no evidence that it reduces infections or skin issues. Of course you can if you like but it's not required.

Which I do too, but the reason the swab is provided is to swab the rubber part of the pen before the needle pierces it.

You are piercing your skin and injecting into it. Using a swab to clean and numb the area is common sense.

It's not necessary nor is it "common sense" if your skin is normally clean. As I've already said there's no evidence that swabbing skin has any impact on infection risk. Furthermore it is not in the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the injection pen.

There's actually some evidence that alcohol swabs increase the sensation of pain rather than have any kind of numbing effect. If I wanted to numb the skin there are topical creams for that, which would be effective.

You can swab as much as you like, I won't. Neither of us is doing the wrong thing.

None of that is relevant to the OP who is simply nervous about starting to take Mounjaro.

@Brownsoles sorry about the slight derailing of your thread.

Never heard that from the pharmacies I have used. Milk needs to be stored below 4 degrees, Mounjaro below 8 degrees. If your milk is not going off your Mounjaro will be fine in the door.

I wouldn't put it on the shelves as dh/ds would end up pushing it to the back where it would be at risk of freezing! It is nice and safely contained in the door. Never noticed any drop in effectiveness.

@Brownsoles just wondering if there was a specific reason why you've gone with Boots as a supplier? They are currently the most expensive provider at more than twice the price of the cheapest pharmacy on the comparison lists eg https://monj.co.uk/discount-mounjaro-price-list/

It's very easy to change for a subsequent order.

Oh my goodness. I had no idea!

Ah, hopefully the comparison site will give you some cheaper options for ordering your next pen!

Thanks, I realise that. One of the other posters mentioned using two swabs, 9ne for the pen, one for the jab site, and I was intending to imply that there is no need to swab the site on your body.