WWYD? - GP response to Mounjaro

[wanttoimprovemyhealth]

I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and am overweight. Life has been stressful over the past few years and i have let my health slide (all my fault- focusing on other things). I know I need to get a grip.

Since January I have been watching what I eat and am trying to sort out my medication. I am also interested in trying Mounjaro, paying privately (I can't afford to take time off work to attend lots of NHS appointments). As a diabetic I thought I should check with my GP first. Have been trying to get an appointment for weeks- finally got one today and she said she doesn't know anything about Mounjaro, the side effects and as such said I should not try it. She said she would normally advise me to speak to the pharmacist to find out about counter indications etc but they are on maternity leave.

I feel quite deflated my her response. I have read lots of reviews and it seems that it could potentially be very beneficial for someone in my circumstances. Unfortunately there are no other GPs available to speak to in the practice for another opinion and she also runs the other local NHS practice. Just not sure where to go from here. Wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar with their GP and what they did? Thank you.

Mounjaro has not been in short supply and a lot of people assume that issues in the US just apply here and like to trot out that line to make people feel bad. Thankfully now no GLP1 drugs are in short supply according to Diabetes UK.

I'm not talking about Mounjaro in particular, but GLP1s in general. And these were the actual pharmaceutical companies contacting the diabetes teams regarding shortages, I'm not talking about media scandals..

This thread is about Mounjaro. The shortage of semaglutide has been resolved and there are no shortages now. What do you think the OP needs to do in relation to the shortages that you perceive there to be?

This, this is correct. Honestly you’re talking nonsense, the shortages were resolved ages ago and there never has been for mounjaro

OP I am in your situation. Blood Sugar is high despite Metformin, I also have high BP. My. BMI. Is 27,5 so I'm overweigh but not obese.

I saw my GP (at 7pm in the evening so after work) and had a really. Good consultation. He prescribed MJ for me. I did have to have an appointment with my Diabetes nurse (on a Saturday morning) to be shown how to inject. And that was it.

I had a phone call with my diabetes nurse 2 weeks after starting to check how things were going.

No other appointments. It's all been very straightforward. You should check with your surgery again

@AnnaQuayInTheUk No, this is what we are saying ok, you were given GLP1 as your metformin wasn’t helping manage your blood sugars. It’s a next line option in management in diabetes. OP isn’t in this situation from the sounds of things. Her diabetes/sugars are not unstable or rising. She wants to use the medication to lose weight. This isn’t covered under the NHS. It’s only covered for people who are diabetic who need a medication to help manage their blood sugars. You were not prescribed this for weight loss or just because you are diabetic, you need it for your health condition. It was invented for this reason.

@UserHuser thanks for clarifying. I didn't realize the OP's diabetes was stable/under control.

When I had my GP consult, he was very clear that he wasn't prescribing MJ for weigh loss but for management of my diabetes.

This is appalling. Your GP should be across all medication. GLP1 drugs have been on license in the UK for diabetes for many years, and for 3 years for weight loss. (BTW, I think you sound like an ideal candidate for it.) I would speak to the practice manager about this, I honestly can't believe a doctor can be this ignorant. It's possible you may not qualify to get the treatment on the NHS, but she should have at least have been able to talk to you about it's uses, pros & cons etc.

I didn’t go through my GP. I paid privately and I’ve lost 5.5 stone in 10 months. Still got a way to go. The online pharmacy I use have been brilliant. I say go for it on your own if you can afford it x x

Thank you for all your responses- I am very grateful. I have read them all.

I have applied and now been prescribed Mounjaro through MedExpress- I should receive it in the next few days. I filled in their online form and called them as I wasn't asked to provide a complete list of all the medications that I am on (I ticked the box to say I am on medication and also confirmed that I take metformin). They said the prescriber would contact me If there was an issue but I assume there wasn't one as it has been prescribed.

I do now realise that I shouldn't have gone to my GP - my mistake I just haven't done anything like this before and didn't want to do the wrong thing (I also value my GP's opinion). I am very grateful for the advice and experiences that you have shared.

I have a blood pressure monitor and may buy one of the libra glucose monitors pp recommended above. I am hoping to start at the weekend and will join one of the existing threads. I am hoping I will loose weight and my other health conditions will improve (like others have reported). I know I also need to keep trying to eat healthily and exercising. Fingers crossed this works.

Thanks again for all your help and advice. You have been amazing- so very supportive. Thank you.

I use Med Express 👍🏻

I’ve not read the thread but… have you heard of the diabetes remissions programs? By Momenta. It’s a years program, total diet replacement for 12 weeks, the next six weeks you phase food in and products out then the rest of the year you follow a program. I’ve just finished week 7 of the first phase and I’ve lost 16kg.

i really recommend it. The coaching sessions can be in person but mine are online. 15 mins via video call, first few are weekly, the rest fortnightly. I know I’m only at an early stage but the private facebook group is showing amazing results of weight loss but more importantly improvement of bloods and those who have managed to stop needing meds.

Good luck OP! Pleased to hear MedExpress have given you a prescription despite having T2. As I said upthread, Boots refused to give it to me as I have T2 and said I need to do it via my GP. I will try MedExpress too, if I can't get it at my diabetes review in a few weeks time. Hope it works well for you!

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/looking-after-diabetes/treatments/tablets-and-medication/glp-1/mounjaro

These treatments appear to be a revolution and may have other potential uses for other conditions as well.

Thank you. I hope you get it through your GP - fingers crossed.

If not MedExpress were helpful with me. The process was straightforward - I answered their questions and sent in photographs. Am sure other companies are also good.

Good luck with everything- let's hope it all works out well.

@wanttoimprovemyhealth really pleased you got your prescription. I really don't think you did the wrong thing by consulting your GP though so please don't doubt yourself.

I’m prescribed it and ozempic before that to lower my blood sugars as are lots of diabetics. Get referred to a diabetic clinic at local hospital.

Definitely book in to go see a private gp and pay privately for the prescription. It's really worth it.

So I’m similar to you I have Nafld and just on cusp of diabetes . At my health chk I asked about the mounjaro.
they got the pharmacist to ring me back, and both pharmacist and gp said it was worth a try ( obviously paid privately)
face book have a great chat about it which is very helpful.

unfortunately after 2weeks in the 2.5 dose I had the most hideous uncontrollable diarrhoea and ended up bowel incontinence. I had absolutely no appetite and couldn’t even stomach water so I stopped. I was in nappy pads and the stench was unbearable.
I contacted my provider and they agreed I should stop . They suggested I was checked for gallbladder or pancreas issues.

you cannot use these injections with some thyroid, pancreas or gallbladder issues.

for the majority of people it works perfectly and I think it’s an excellent idea.
be very aware of who you buy through and even though it might be more expensive get a company with a help line and medical personnel you can contact.

Im not sure I can recommend but companies like juniper med express pharmacy 2u Boots Lloyds etc are established.

I might try again at sometime.

I cannot believe you were told to eat a high carb diet.

the way for most people to reduce their blood sugar is no rice no pasta no potatoes.

try and substitute these for nice interesting veg instead .

im very surprised

No. It’s not their responsibility. You choose to take it. You could also choose to take supplements. You don’t even have to inform your GP. No it’s not prudent it’s a waste of NHS resources. You ask the prescriber if it’s ok to take it with your other medications. Usually the pharmacist who is carrying out the approval. Just be honest on the form

I am diabetic and have been taking mounjaro since January (self funded). I just paid for it and told my GPafter. Its worked wonders on my sugar levels. I hardly have to take any insulin and have lost nearly 1 and a half stone. The GP has now written to my diabetic clinic to see if it can be prescribed on the NHS. It has worked wonders keeping my sugar levels in range I've attached some data from my libre from December and then a few days ago.

Book an appointment with another GP or ask to see a diabetic consultant.

My consultant is great. I have been GP controlled for nearly 2 decades and only recently found out I may be both type 1 and type 2 so should have stayed seeing a consultant. Anyhow since seeing the consultant my sugar control is way better and he's put me forward to see a nutritionist as well as libre 2, though my GP is fighting that - not sure why cos I keep getting hypos now my HbA1C is at 49.

Good luck. I'm on mountjaro, it's great. Really helps the diabetes and I have zero negative reaction to it.

My husband is using it and it's been transformational. Unlike Ozempic (prescribed via GP) it's a very gradual dosage increase. Full medical history - existing conditions and medications are assessed before prescription by doctors, plus height weight and recent photograph.

The GP doesn't do cardiac bypasses, or hip surgery but they still give advice about them It is poor practice from the GP. They should be keeping up to date with new guidance or at least know where to find information or at least signpost. There is so much information provided to healthcare professionals. And the Pharmacist on mat leave is a poor answer too.
Submit a query to the local hospitals Medicines information service