May 2025 Starters Thread 5

[FlorenceNightshade]

I noticed we were almost full (again!) so took the liberty of starting thread 5 now so I don’t get confused on nightshift and can’t find you all!

I’ve had an email from The Care Pharmacy, who are a company I’ve not used but follow on Facebook/their forum. They say they have only just got the news and aren’t sure what they’ll do just yet, but it looks likely that prices will increase. They are looking at options for subscriptions with discounts.

I'm also worried as well, so have bought some new 7.5 pens from various providers today (with new customer offers) just so I can have some safety net for a bit... it's impossible to know what I'll need in 2 months (I might need to stay on the same, might need to order higher...).

But what's most worrying is that this life saving medication is now (even more than before) something only those better off will be able to afford rather than it being widely available to everyone that needs it. So many people were able to turn their life around because of M & so many of us are still in early-ish days of our journey (I still have over 4 stones to go) so it will become more and more difficult as we go up the strength :/

I’ve been toying with coming off for a few weeks now. I’m still about 16lb from my goal but I’m too tired all the time. I also worry about the stats of regaining. This news has made my mind up. I’ve two pens in the fridge and take six doses from each. I’ll wean off in early Autumn and then hopefully go on a retainer with Oushk to keep my options open.

I've panicked a lot today. Not just about me, but I had a huge rant at DP earlier (bless him for listening) about how obesity is a disease that disproportionately affects those living in poverty and that to increase the prices by such a margin is wrenching away a lifeline that was barely affordable in the first place. And what about families that are 'middle class' (I don't know if that is even a thing anymore) but barely scraping by because everything is disgustingly expensive.

And there was ranting about the NHS (sorry), that it will only prescribe if obese with 4 comorbidities rather than, say, prescribing before it gets that bad as a preventative measure to save patients from suffering and save the NHS money in the long term. Why wait til it gets so bad? Why?

And then as the day wore on and I felt more beaten by it as every hour passed, I thought, shit. This could have a terrible impact on mental health.

I just feel wretched about it. Wretched and sick.

Came over here after seeing the worrying news and feel reassured...so thank you for the level heads on this thread.

I'm with Swift Doctor and haven't heard from them yet - I'll update if I do.

Hugs and reassurance losers - we'll stick with each other through whatever happens x

https://swift-doctor.com/

Well that's interesting...Swift Dr have paused orders. I have one dose left in my current pen and now can't order another.

@SussexLass87 i really don’t want to speculate too much BUT I imagine given that the other thread is full of people who claim they have ordered multiple pens from multiple providers today there will have to be an element of perhaps checking last order dates with GPs/previous providers to try and curb stockpiling or even just pausing orders to new/all customers to assess what the demand actually is.

I also assume that no provider is going to want to “blink” first and release their new pricing model before seeing what everyone else is doing.

I personally feel that all of us, patients and providers, have been caught off guard by this announcement so a wee bit of patience will probably be required while they figure out wtf the next steps look like.

Ive Put an order in so will hope for the best & be grateful I could do this (at a stretch) so it will mean I can carry on for a little longer.

thankyou for the responses you guys are all amazing and it’s good that we can understand & empathise with each other regardless of where we on in the weight loss journey.

we’ll see what the next few days bring…

sending supportive hugs to all you amazing people!

Thanks for taking one for the team and checking out the other thread!

I'll try to order as normal and see what happens eh.

Good point about all the pharmacies wanting to be careful.

I imagine they're all going to lose a lot of customers with this change.

Gosh… i came here to talk about how pleased i was my mum’s scales are showing a loss but wow! Im clearly on holidays as i had not heard yet about the price increase!
im due to order my next pen anyway, im defo going to order the next dose up and maybe another if i can.. this is crazy!

also i seem to have developed a contamt sore throat for the past 2-3 weeks.. anyone ese? Dr Google says it may be dry reflux….

@tostaky I’ve had a horrific sore throat this week! I put it down to too much singing at a gig! I did a lateral flow today and I actually have Covid 🙈 Congratulations on your loss 🥳

Well if we pay the new prices we will all lose weight as we won’t be able to afford to eat!

I didn’t want to jump on the bandwagon but I can only just afford the cost as things stand, so I’ve ordered a three pen bundle. Praying that they can fulfill their orders. They’ve taken the money! And I’d already ordered a pen yesterday. That would hopefully get me through to January and I might be able to limp through to the last stone or two from there.

Seriously this is probably going to result in people eking out pens and bending the rules. Possibly with issues arising from it.

So, Swift Dr aren't letting anyone order.
MJ is showing as out of stock in all doses.

Oh poor you!! Hope you're okay?!

Oh no Sussex, I’m sorry. I’m fully expecting there to be shortages with my pharmacy imminently. A fair few seem to be stockpiling.

Thanks @SussexLass87 I’m not too bad just popping the Paracetamol trying to keep the throat pain at bay! No other major symptoms thankfully

Just saw this on another thread- prices announced by Medicine marketplace from 1st sept.
2.5mg - £137
5mg - £178
7.5mg - £215
10mg - £239
12.5mg - £251
15mg - £271

@FlorenceNightshadeoh no, i hope it is not covid as i am staying with my two elderly parents for a week!! They are in good shape for their ages but i dont want to make them ill… they tend to tKe a long time to recover nowadays…
i hope you are coping well with your sorethroat.
@Gingercarthanks for the new price list. I feel this whole thing is going to increase extreme behaviour: stockpiling pens, sharing of pens between partners, using pens for longer by splitting doses, looking for alternatives that have been less researched etc… people will try to maximise their pens. And when i say people i also mean me! i did put an order in for a bundle of three pens last night. It is under review. Im on 2.5 still but ive order 5mg and 7.5mg thinking i will take more smaler doses from the same pen. I really wanted to avoid doing this but i wont be able to jusyify higher prices.. i am already on a budget every month…
However it seems like the higher doses are the ones the most impacted so actually working with a lower dose might be the way to go… on 2.5ml im still losing, it is slow but not too slow: 12kg since mid may (so four months). I have to be sensible but it is easier than without MJ. I dont count calories but if i feel the scales are not moving, i’ll eat smaller meals and they shift. I wanted to go up to 3.75mg but i may try to stick to 2.5mg for a little bit longer then.
i have no idea whether my order will be accepted…. I will place a couple today. I just worry my GP is going to call me “what is the matters with all these injections!!?

@tostaky I'm thinking the same as you.
I know in Europe doctors are encouraging/giving people 15 to use for micro-dosing to help people save money. It feels ridiculous that this is a better alternative than making the drug affordable. It's a scary world 🤐

In a more positive news, i went up to 6.5mg last week (bonus dose from 5mg before going up to 7.5 this week) and I had my biggest loss this week since week 1.

I'm down 3.75lbs this week (1.7kg). This is unheard of me after 2 months of 1lb per week losses. Makes me so happy

I also entered a new stone bracket, my number now starts with 14 (down from 17 on day 1)🎉🎉🎉

I just cannot imagine stopping this medication any time soon. It's like a lifeline for me.

Morning all! Blimmin heck! Missed all this yesterday on the price hikes. What a nightmare. Completely understand people stock piling - it’s future proofing. I’m just part way through a pen and I’ve another unopened pen which I was considering microdosing as might be nearer maintenance and this has pretty much sealed that. I’m not going to order more, I’d genuinely rather those that need it for longer get the stock at the old prices.

My bundle of 3 is still pending review. Ive ordered from two other suppliers thinking that maybe they wont be able to fullfill my order… i used the mounj spreadsheet but the prices have gone up already and the coupons are not working! 😫 i have still have quite a few kilos to lose before i am overweight…

I just looked at the big price increases thread. I can’t believe the glee from anti wli crew, who just had to jump on. What is it that fills people with such hate and venom they need to troll this forum 😩

I had a right tizz yesterday about the price increases but when he heard about it DH (who is a gem and has been funding this odyssey from the start) immediately said I should use some of our savings to buy three pens. I am also expecting a pen to be delivered today, so that should all see me up to Christmas. I’ll start saving money every month to go towards however much more it will cost in the New Year. It’s really difficult news for those who struggle to afford it in the first place. I felt real and actual panic at the thought of having to stop taking MJ.

Yes, it’s horrid on there. It’s giving us all a really good look at how some people view those of us who are overweight. Very upsetting.

What a mess this all is. I have worked out that if I can keep going until November I should be at my goal weight. I think I can manage this as long as I don’t plateau too much. What is going to happen to all the people though that realistically can’t do this?
My weigh in day today and have lost 0.5kg this week, so I really am a plodder. Just over half way to my goal.
I started 19May so 14th jab today, and I have lost 9.1kg since then and have another 8.9 to lose!
I have a 10mg ordered to pick up today so will talk to my pharmacist to see what he suggests going forward. I am going away on Monday and he had agreed I could have 2 pens to take with me so I am hoping he will honour that, but who knows.
I hope you all have a better day today, and we get more news on how this is all going to work re pricing/stocks in the immediate future. I really love though how this group in particularly is so supportive of each of us.
If you want to rant this is as safe as place as any!!!