Just had message from supplier saying I can jump to 5mg after 2 jabs - any one else done this?

[Ethela]

"Is it time to increase your dose?

If you last ordered 2.5mg of Mounjaro and have taken at least 2 doses without SE or with manageable side effect, you may be ready to move up to 5mg.

If you’re experiencing side effects that are difficult to manage or interfere with your daily routine, it’s usually best to stay on your current dose a little longer before increasing."

I had a great first week down 9lb - but week 2 nothing so far (day 6) - not had any SE. Should I jump up to 5mg now? I could use both my 2.5mg together - or I could do another week of 2.5 and then combine the 4th and 5th (bonus dose).

They are transition doses to get you between 5mg and 10mg, and between 10mg and 15mg.

otherwise the jump up would be too big. The testing/research has all been done on the whole number doses.

It’s definitely not a loading dose, it’s smaller than any other dose. Loading doses are higher.

As allegedly a “clinician” you should know 2.5mg is not a “loading” dose. Getting terminology like that wrong leads to confusion and puts doubt on anything else you say.

The manufacturer have set guidance on usage, please read the info sheets in your pen box. Each pen should be taken for at least 4 weeks before moving up. If you increase any earlier, you risk side effects. My prescription has a label with my name and instructions, which also say to take 1 dose weekly and it is signed by the pharmacist.
As an nhs professional im really concerned as to all the misinformation out there. This is your health so please follow the guidelines given. Contact your prescriber to ask them to clarify the email. No prescriber would go against manufacturer guidance, its unfortunately a badly worded email to inform you to order your next pen, like many have said.

I wouldn't do it. The body needs time to adjust. If people allows it to do so, you'll have less side effects later on.

Just dug through first email from Zava and found this info (their bolding):

"You should never start a higher dose without having been on the dose below it for at least 4 weeks. This is to allow your body to get used to the drug slowly and minimise the risk of severe side effects from occurring."

I think it was a marketing push to order early and the wording is unclear as it was sent out with no other context. I will alert them to this.

The trials were done on people who were on those maintainance doses, the 7.5mg and 12.5mg doses were only used as part of the titration process in the trials so they haven't been formally tested as maintainance doses and so the company can't claim they have evidence for their safety/ efficacy as maintainance doses.

Of course there is nothing to suggest they can't be used, logically they still work/ still have the same safety profile etc.

Trials have to be very strictly controlled. They're very different to real world use where people make up their own dose schedules, extract doses using a syringe, ignore storage requirements etc!

It was a bog standard email letting you know you may move up when you order your next pen. I don’t think you have to alert them to anything. The vast majority of people would know that of you are prescribed a medication you take it as prescribed, which is 2.5mg once weekly x 4.