Mounjaro advice— want to start but weary

[novanoir]

Hey all. I’ve been looking at starting mounjaro for a while now. I’m on a few medications for minor problems- lansoprazole 30mg (acid reflux), levothyroxine 250mcg (hypothyroidism), amitryptyline 20mg (migraine prevention), cholestyramine 625mg (bile acid malabsorption after gallbladder removal) and cocodamol as being tested for arthritis
I am 30, I weigh 13st 8, my weight fluctuates between 13st and 14st and I hate how I look. It’s mostly carried on my tummy, flabby upper arms.
My problem is probably that I only eat one meal a day, I’m very active however I get exhausted because my thyroid is severely diseased and my bones ache constantly, so the weight is harder for me to shift.
I am a bit of a grazer otherwise.

I’d love to give these a go however I’m worried about side effects (mostly nausea and diarrhoea) and any severe/serious ones.
id be interested to hear people’s thoughts and opinions (I know a lot are on it in here) and do any of you take any of the meds I do and it has no interactions? Do you have to eat a diet whilst using it?
I would speak to my GP however seeing him is virtually impossible.

Tia.

One of the effects of Mounjaro is slower digestive transit, which might affect the absorption of other medication, which is worth being aware of if you are taking several other oral medications. When you apply for Mounjaro online, the online consultation form will ask for what other medications that you take, and then the prescriber will check those for any interactions and advise accordingly.

You have to "eat a diet" when taking Mounjaro. It doesn't get rid of body fat on it's own, the way it works is to affect your appetite and your hunger levels, so that you can more easily maintain a calorie deficit.

Serious side effects are rare. Mild side effects like nausea and diarrhea are common but usually manageable, and can often be improved by considering what you are eating and drinking plenty of water.

All of this assumes that your BMI is in the obese range - 30 or more, or 27 or more if you are one of a list of ethnicities where obese is classified as BMI 27 or higher, or you have a weight related health condition.

Thank you - that was super informative.
I’ve heard side effects worsen as you work your way up to higher doses.

Is the weight loss rapid or does it differ? Finally, can you recommend a good online site to get it from?
many thanks

Do you mean weary or wary? (Or both perhaps!).
And do you mean you’re eating OMAD or grazing?

I got in to a good groove with OMAD but read something that warned about it not being a good long term tactic ☹️. That wobbled me and I stopped (this was pre-MJ) and the weight went back on. I find on the MJ I try to eat three small meals 16:8 in an effort to avoid side effects.

Side effects don't worsen as the doses get higher, but you can encounter side effects when you increase a dose, if that makes sense. I have been taking Mounjaro since July last year, I had some side effects around 6 weeks in, after moving up to the 5mg dose. I had some side effects again on moving to 7.5mg but not long lasting at all. Then I haven't had any side effects at all for months now. I have just moved up to 10mg and no side effects as yet.

Weight loss differs, a lot. Some people, including me, had weight loss from the start, others it takes several weeks and moving up doses to get the weight loss going. Really variable and individual. A few people need the higher doses, and a few it never really works for. The weight loss is not meant to be quick, it is consistent long term weight loss that gets the intended effect.

Have a look at the comparison site https://monj.co.uk for a list of regulated online pharmacies. I personally have used Asda, Zava and Pharmacy2U with no issues, but would likely use any of those on the list if the price was good. Some pharmacies offer more support, and/or a subscription model which some people like but is not something that I would want or need.

Sounds obvious but have you tried eating 3 meals a day. Just eating one meal a day it’s great for energy or reflux.

The thing I’d be worrying about is adding another medication to already stressed kidneys but losing the weight will hopefully mean you can stop some of those

I'm not surprised you're wary because there's so much misinformation and scare-mongering out there.
That said, with your health conditions, I would strongly recommend you consult with your doctor first (but make sure you are really clear that you're not expecting the nhs to fund it).
I have had minimal side effects throughout - a bit of constipation at times, that's all. Am 4lbs off goal now (nearly 3 stone lost).
Weight loss has been slow and steady (which is good) and I've really upped my exercise too.
Good luck.

I just honestly don’t get very hungry. I could give it a go, though!