Shall I stop? - 5mg worry

[sheffex91]

Hi all,

Have been on MJ for just over a month now. Have lost half a stone and I am not unhappy with the time it's taken but however I am not feeling like I can mentally or physically withstand the side effects.

Started with the usual 2.5mg and had some light side effects, bearable but not amazing. Started on 5mg 2 weeks ago and just do not feel myself. I rotate injections on my thighs and one of my legs feels like it's been, and forgive me if that sounds dramatic, but like it's been severely burnt. It is so sore with no markings/rash and it just feels like I can barely touch it. I did see this may be a possible side effect but still a painful one.

I wake up every day I wake up feeling like I'm going to pass out, I do my absolute best to eat enough during the day, within my calorie guidelines, and I strength train x3 a week and include a cardio session. The biggest thing for me is that I am getting through medium sized bottles of Pepto Bismol every other day and I can't help but think is this normal? I also, and forgive my bluntness, projectile vomit often because of the sheer nausea I am experiencing and that in itself leaves me feeling weak. The heartburn and vomiting combined is stopping me sleeping most nights too which is leaving me feeling quite dazed and confused most days.

My gut feeling is telling me to stop and I know the repercussions of stopping and ultimately I should contact my GP but just wondered whether I could seek some more personal advice on here and see if there are any other similar stories?

Thank you.

That sounds tough. I'd speak to your prescriber but I wouldn't carry on with 5mg with those side effects. You could try dropping down again or switching to Wegovy but it's making you ill at this level and that can't be good for you.

I thought you were supposed to stay on the first dose for atleast for 2 months? You’ve overloaded your body way too much! You need proper clinical assistance with professionals who are regulated to give you that advice. You need to speak with a proper medical practitioner…. Not take cowbow advice and risk your life.

Hi, as far as I was aware you spent 4 weeks on 2.5mg and then moved up to the next door. This was the treatment plan I was on through a registered medicated weight loss programme. Just trying to ask questions is all.

@Beerpink not sure where you’re getting your info, the original directions were 4 weeks on each dose.

OP I would just drop down to 2.5 again with those symptoms. Life is way too short to feel so rough!!

Yup stay on 2.5mg. Many people do their whole journey on it. If you want to stop, I am not sure there are any repercussions? Other than hunger ofc!

I have never heard of such severe side effects. Of course you must stop. I have a very weak stomach, so built up very slowly. 3 months on each allowing a day to assess after each change.

Don’t put yourself through misery. It’s not worth it.

I take MJ in your shoes honestly i wound stop. Immediately. I have taken it over a year and never had ANYTHING close to this.

Your body is very clearly telling you something.

Keep you with the 3x pw workouts eat well and try and up your steps. Accept 1-3lb pm losses and a longer road.

Your health is paramount - I wouldnt risk it.

I would drop down to 2,5 again I’ve been on 2.5 for 12 weeks and I’ve lost slowly and steadily body shape has changed massively when smaller weight loss has happened so don’t be worried it works. I am only just considering moving up to 3.75 . The dosing guidelines were originally in place for diabetics and aren’t really for weight loss purposes ( from my doctor and pharmacist) with weight loss it’s listening to your body . It’s actually more beneficial to move through the doses slowly for weight loss. Good luck OP

I spent 10 weeks on 2.5 and attempted to increase up to 5 . I had awful nausea, diarrhoea and heartburn although no local reaction to the injection site.
I dropped back to 2.5 for a week and am gradually working up again to 5. I'm on 3.75 at present and have been on Mounjaro since the middle of May. I've lost 19lbs which is slower than a lot of people but I'm fine with that.

As well as dropping down to 2.5mg (maybe after taking a week off to clear out some of the excess drug from your system) I'd also think about changing your injection site if you are getting a reaction.

The jump from 2.5 mg to 5 mg is obviously a big one. I did in in stages over quite a long time. I would listen to your body and go back down to 2.5 mg next week. When you think you are ready to go up again try 3.75 mg.

I had that when I did thigh injections, so I gave up on them after two. I’ve just done by 65th dose - 63 of those have been stomach. I still got an injection site rash approx from weeks 10-25 though.

I was on 2.5mg for 6 months, then moved to 3.75 but side effect symptoms were not great so I’m back on 2.5mg now. Slow and steady weight loss.

Op the jump to 5mg was too hard for me too. I started June 2024, did 4 weeks on 2.5mg and it was great. Then increased to 5mg and had terrible tummy pains and diarrhoea. Dropped back to 3.75 which was the same so went back to 2.5mg. Ended up increasing very gradually, literally by 5 clicks a week. Eventually got back to 5mg and was fine. Have stayed on 5mg and it still works very well for me. I was 16 stone in June and went on to maintenance in December at 12 stone but am now 10 stone 9lbs and ticking along nicely.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

If you lost half a stone in a month, there was no need to up your dose as that's 7lbs in 4 weeks which is fast enough losses so was working well. You're getting so ill because the dose is too strong for you.
I would not have injected 5mg the second week if I had light side effects on 2.5mg, let along after being that ill on 1st week of 5mg. I've been all the way upto 15mg, without any of these side effects. Also pesto bismol sounds horrible. You shouldn't be taking it every other day, so that's a worry that you need to.

Are you drinking enough water? With all the side effects and vomiting you are probably very dehydrated. Please drink over 2l per day (incl hot drinks).
As you are exercising, do you really have the energy when you are so ill? Please rest to recuperate and recover and make sure you are eating enough food, especially higher protein with exercising and take vitamins.
Also some side effects are food related, try to limit heavy carbs and greasy, fatty foods. The only time I've been ill in my 11 months journey was when I had a few slices of pizza.

Immediately, I would delay your next injection, extend currently to 10 days to allow the concentration in body to drop down, then if you want to inject again count clicks and do 30 for 2.5mg. Only move up again if suppression goes and you don't have any side effects and move up slowly like do 3.75mg first. You can also contact your provider for advice. Consider moving to wegovy too.

Also the sore legs is allodynia, common side effect, but if its painful when injecting and then to touch you may have hit a nerve, the thigh has a lot more than stomach so try injecting there next time.

I had horrendous side effects when I went up to 5mg after 4 weeks on 2.5mg @sheffex91

I stopped for a week and then went back to 2.5mg by taking 30 clicks out of my 5mg pen.

I then stayed on 2.5mg for a few more months before going up to 3.75mg for a few months.

I am now on 5mg and apart from occasional constipation it is working well.

I have been on it for nearly 8 months and have lost almost 5 stone.

I am taking it slowly and am happy losing a lb or two a week.

That's helpful to know. Thank you.

Could I ask, and sorry to sound dumb, but how do you take 30 clicks out of the pen? I have 2 weeks worth of 5mg left and rather than just go cold turkey and stop, could you tell me how this is done if you don't mind?

Not a dumb question at all.

You put the needle on as normal but instead of turning the dial all the way you count the clicks.

There are 60 clicks for each dose so count each click and stop at 30 so you just use half - 2.5mg out of a 5mg pen.

If you want to do 3.75mg it is 45 clicks.

I went up to 5 before your body was acclimatised to 2.5

I’ve been on 2.5 for 3 months
stayed on that dose until I stopped losing weight
then went up to 5

dont go up a dose because the company suggests you do -

go up a dose if u NEED to !

I am so sorry to hear about side effects.

I was on 2.5 mg for 4 weeks then 3.75 for 2 weeks then 4 mg for 2 weeks and just done a 4.5 mg injection. All because so many people seem to struggle with jump from 2.5 mg to 5 mg.

Hoping I tolerate 4.5 mg. Injected 2 hours ago but not sure when/if side effects will kick in.

OP its taken me two months to go from 2.5mg to 3.5mg going up a very small dose at a time. So for example, 2.67mg, then 2.75mg and so on.

The reason I moved so slowly is I moved from 2.5 to 3.33mg and I was really poorly.

Maybe go back down to 2.5 and work your way very slowly to 5mg?

Thank you so so much. Truly appreciate all answers and feedback given.