MOUJARNO 2.5MG having no effect.

CheekyMember · 2025-10-04T13:57:26+00:00

Hi, I've been on the above dose for a week and it has had no effect on my appetite whatsoever. I'm male, 6' 3" and 19st 9ibs and 73 years old, and was asked to produce evidence of my ID, weight and photographs to satisfy the prescriber I was suitable for treatment. I am also pre diabetic and suffer with Sleep Aponea. Anyway I presume that my BMI was high enough and I have been diagnosed as being Morbidly Obese. I'm concerned that I have been started on too low a dose as I have not felt any change to my appetite, if anything I feel hungrier.. Any advice would be much appreciated as I'm reluctant to spend another not insubstantial amount of money on something that will not work for me. Should I wait a little longer to see if it starts to work or ask for a higher dose next time, 7.5 or 10mg? Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards Lewis

GiveMeWordGames · 04/10/2025 15:02

2.5 is a starting dose mostly intended to get your body used to the medication to minimise the risk of bad gastric side effects. Yes, a lot of people do get suppression and weight loss on it but some really don't and some need to get up to the higher doses to see an effect. The prescriber should really have explained this to you.

You can't jump up the doses the way you prescribe - you'll move up to 5mg after 4 weeks on 2.5, then you'll have the option to move up to 7.5 after 4 weeks on 5mg, etc.

Yellowsubmarine55 · 04/10/2025 15:05

Give it a chance to get into your system, it'll build week on week. It's not meant to kill your appetite entirely and for many suppression never arrives, just use it a a tool to help you stick within your calorie deficit.

If you are feeling satisfied after a meal that's within your calorie allowance then it's working.

You have to stay on the lowest dose for 4 weeks so you can't increase it until you have finished your first pen but I wouldn't rush to move up as once you reach the top you have nowhere to go and the next one is 5 btw .

SilenceInside · 04/10/2025 15:22

Yes, agree with the others. It is far too soon to decide it isn't working for you. You have to take the 2.5mg dose for 4 weeks, the amount in your system builds each week as it isn't fully out of your system by the time you do the next injection. You will only be able to order the 2.5mg again or the next dose up which is the 5mg dose.

Lots of people don't get the full effects straight away, some people need the higher doses before it kicks in. You would only be able to say it wasn't working if you had got up to the top dose of 15mg and been on that for 4 weeks with no effects. The quickest you can move up to 15mg is to do 4 weeks on each of the previous dose levels first.

Original poster

CheekyMember · 04/10/2025 18:20

Thank you all for your advice, it has reassured me that I need to stick with it. I will keep you informed of my progress. Being told that I am pre diabetic has made me determined to lose some weight.
Regards

Lewis

OP posts:

HerNameIsDebbie · 04/10/2025 18:51

You might find it takes you a good few months of going uo a dose every 4 weeks before you hit the suppression you're after, but do stick with it because when it works you'll find it a really great way to improve your health.

MeridaBrave · 04/10/2025 19:57

Everyone starts on that dose. After 4 weeks you can increase. I think it’s too early to say if it’s working.

ShrankLastWinter · 04/10/2025 22:06

Also, it’s important to know that mj doesn’t necessarily stop you getting hungry, but rather allows you to feel full more quickly and to remain full longer. This effect is increased if you eat protein-rich meals and snacks.

Mysticmaiden · 05/10/2025 07:15

I was prediabetic and had high BP for years. I didn't know about prediabetes until I changed GP april this year. I noticed that all doses either didnt work well or did and wore off quickly. 2.5mg lasted 2 weeks suppression and satiety for me, 5mg 5 weeks, 7, 10 and 12.5mg lasted 7 weeks each. 15mg was far too strong for me but I was at bmi 25 by then. I'm now tapering down currently at 10mg.

It wasnt until I first got to 10mg that i had decent suppression and satiety and all my blood sugar symptoms went, then losing weight was less effort. It still wore off after 7 weeks though.

I did find weight loss slow even though I tracked all my food and was super strict, I was losing 1lb a week but I only started off at 13st 1lbs bmi 32.4 and I've noticed in insulin resistance and prediabetes, many report slow weight loss and needing the higher doses.
Unfortunately you can't skip doses, I'd advise to keep moving up until you find one that works for you, don't feel pressured by the "stay on a low dose and dont chase suppression" cult as us prediabetics have different needs, also satiety and suppression went hand in hand for me, when one went the other did.
Stick at it as I'm now 9st 8lbs bmi 23.7 and feel so much healthier, it's like I'm in my 20s again!

Original poster

CheekyMember · 06/10/2025 10:04

CheekyMember · 04/10/2025 18:20

Thank you all for your advice, it has reassured me that I need to stick with it. I will keep you informed of my progress. Being told that I am pre diabetic has made me determined to lose some weight.
Regards

Lewis

Hi Again,

Well I weighed this morning and I have lost 3.5 pounds, which will add up to 14 pounds (1 Stone) in a month if it continues in the same way.

I actually failed to finish my dinner last night, that is a first in about 50 years lol

I have lost this much, and more on a 3 day diet, but it went back on quickly.

I'm going to ask for 7.5mg next month as I'm not seeing any side effects, I don't know if the prescriber will agree to that?

I'm feeling a bit of motivation settling in now so I am greatful for the comments.

My doctor says I need to get down to just under 14 stone, which I think is too much. I was 16 stone when I was 16 years old and fit, playing Rugby twice a week in the military.

Regards

Lewis

OP posts:

GiveMeWordGames · 06/10/2025 10:12

@CheekyMember

I'm going to ask for 7.5mg next month as I'm not seeing any side effects, I don't know if the prescriber will agree to that?

No, they won't. As several pp including me said upthread, there is a prescribing schedule moving up through the doses for a reason. Just because you haven't had side effects yet, doesn't mean you won't. I had the most side effects moving up from 2.5 to 5 because it's doubling the dose, and I'm not alone.

Anyway, they're not allowed to ignore the prescribing guidelines in that way whatever you want to do. 1 stone in a month would make very good initial loss, so there's no reason to go rushing up the doses. Marathon, not a sprint, remember. You're on your way and you're doing well.

Original poster

CheekyMember · 06/10/2025 10:13

Mysticmaiden · 05/10/2025 07:15

I was prediabetic and had high BP for years. I didn't know about prediabetes until I changed GP april this year. I noticed that all doses either didnt work well or did and wore off quickly. 2.5mg lasted 2 weeks suppression and satiety for me, 5mg 5 weeks, 7, 10 and 12.5mg lasted 7 weeks each. 15mg was far too strong for me but I was at bmi 25 by then. I'm now tapering down currently at 10mg.

It wasnt until I first got to 10mg that i had decent suppression and satiety and all my blood sugar symptoms went, then losing weight was less effort. It still wore off after 7 weeks though.

I did find weight loss slow even though I tracked all my food and was super strict, I was losing 1lb a week but I only started off at 13st 1lbs bmi 32.4 and I've noticed in insulin resistance and prediabetes, many report slow weight loss and needing the higher doses.
Unfortunately you can't skip doses, I'd advise to keep moving up until you find one that works for you, don't feel pressured by the "stay on a low dose and dont chase suppression" cult as us prediabetics have different needs, also satiety and suppression went hand in hand for me, when one went the other did.
Stick at it as I'm now 9st 8lbs bmi 23.7 and feel so much healthier, it's like I'm in my 20s again!

Edited

Thanks MysticMaiden,

That was very helpful and I'm buyoed that I have lost 3.5 this week. The pre diabetic warning was a great motivator to me and like yorself it is a health issue you need to avoid.

Regards

Lewis

OP posts:

Original poster

CheekyMember · 06/10/2025 10:16

HerNameIsDebbie · 04/10/2025 18:51

You might find it takes you a good few months of going uo a dose every 4 weeks before you hit the suppression you're after, but do stick with it because when it works you'll find it a really great way to improve your health.

Thanks, I;m determined to stck with it. Its a tad expensive but what price good heath.

Regards

Lewis

OP posts:

Branleuse · 06/10/2025 10:24

You sound quite impatient when you have only just started. You can go up to 5mg next time and then 7.5 the next time, and you may or may not get appetite suppression yet, but it will be having other effects on your metabolism too and other health benefits.
Going up the doses too quickly is likely to make you have gastro side effects or make you feel unwell. Take it slowly and its more likely to be sustainable.

Mysticmaiden · 06/10/2025 15:27

As previous poster stated it increases metabolism, which is why you initially feel hungrier. It also reduces systemic inflammation. Best to go up as set by manufacturers as this has been studied in many trials. You really don't want to end up making yourself ill. A lot of the initial fat lost is visceral so it may not be visible, it will also work on blood sugars.

Original poster

CheekyMember · 06/10/2025 16:02

Branleuse · 06/10/2025 10:24

You sound quite impatient when you have only just started. You can go up to 5mg next time and then 7.5 the next time, and you may or may not get appetite suppression yet, but it will be having other effects on your metabolism too and other health benefits.
Going up the doses too quickly is likely to make you have gastro side effects or make you feel unwell. Take it slowly and its more likely to be sustainable.

I can be impatient, but I am also tenacious and am in this until I reach my goal.
I'm also glad I found this group, the advice and encouragement I've received so far has been really helpful. Now that I've seen some movement in the right direction I feel comfortable moving on to the next stage. Having no negative side effects is also a good sign and I'm looking forward to having to run around in the shower to get wet lol

Regards

Lewis

OP posts:

Original poster

CheekyMember · 06/10/2025 19:52

GiveMeWordGames · 06/10/2025 10:12

@CheekyMember

I'm going to ask for 7.5mg next month as I'm not seeing any side effects, I don't know if the prescriber will agree to that?

No, they won't. As several pp including me said upthread, there is a prescribing schedule moving up through the doses for a reason. Just because you haven't had side effects yet, doesn't mean you won't. I had the most side effects moving up from 2.5 to 5 because it's doubling the dose, and I'm not alone.

Anyway, they're not allowed to ignore the prescribing guidelines in that way whatever you want to do. 1 stone in a month would make very good initial loss, so there's no reason to go rushing up the doses. Marathon, not a sprint, remember. You're on your way and you're doing well.

Edited

Thank you very much, I appreciate the support, it helps a lot and as you say if I can lose a stone in a month I will be happy.

Regards

Lewis

OP posts:

InfoSecInTheCity · 06/10/2025 20:15

You’re doing well, this is a long game so try to relax yourself a bit and settle in for it. I’ve been on MJ for just over a year. I skipped the pre-diabetes diagnoses and went straight for, in A&E with lots of symptoms, blood sugar level 3 times the highest end of normal and a nurse telling me she was surprised I was still conscious.

Since then I’ve lost 135lb, am now at the lower end of normal BMI and I’ve been obese since primary school so that’s a weird place for me to be! I’ve also had normal sugar readings for the last 10 months and my HbA1C result is in the normal range.

Focus on making sure you drink plenty of fluids, eat lots of protein and fibre, keep carbs to whole grains, green veg, nuts and seeds, rather than crisps, pastry, white bread…

GiveMeWordGames · 06/10/2025 21:35

Focus on making sure you drink plenty of fluids

I was just coming back to mention this but @InfoSecInTheCity has got there before me. Drinking lots of fluids is vital to help weight loss and also, if you do get any side effects, stop dehydration. I think it's worth emphasising because you did mention your age and sometimes (based on my experience with both my parents and inlaws anyway) there can be worries about drinking a lot of water.

Original poster

CheekyMember · 07/10/2025 11:22

GiveMeWordGames InfoSecInTheCity,

Thank you both, have noted the comments regarding water. I have not been drining enough water and will change that today.

Regards

Lewis

OP posts: