Munjaro prescribed by GP for Medical Reasons

[zacsGranny]

Hi.
I struggle to find the correct thread for me, which is why I'm starting a new thread.
I started Mounjaro on 26.9.25.
Dose is 2.5mg rising to 5mg after a month.
It is prescribed by my GP / Diabetes Centre as I have multiple medical issues including T2 and a Brain Tumour. This affects my balance so puts strain on my joints and affects my mobility. Hence the weight gain. My Neurologist suggested Mounjaro to try and break the cycle and improve my mobility.
My starting weight was 97.8 Kg and after a week and my second injection yesterday, I was 95.2, so a 2.6 Kg weight loss.
I seem to have lost interest in food and I'm only eating twice a day.
Last week I ran a cake stall and wasn't tempted to eat anything.
My blood sugars are erratic, but I'm testing daily and if they drop too low, I've been told to lower my dose of diabetes medication.
My HbA1c was 61, so I need to get this down.
Is anyone in a similar situation please? It seems that most people are buying the injections purely for weight loss as I can't find a thread for people being prescribed for medical issues.
Any advice appreciated.

Both my parents are on it for diabetes. DM hasn't had any side effects nor a reduction in appetite. It could be water for her. DF had reduced appetite and nausea/heartburn.

I take it for T2 and weight loss. Have been on it since April, first privately and then switched to NHS via my diabetes nurse. Weight loss has been slow but steady. I am almost 2 stone down. My blood sugars have gone down from 90 to 50. I am on 12.5mg at the moment and will start to go down the doses again soon.

I find it interesting that people react so differently to these jabs.
I'm hoping my weight loss will be slow and steady and that my appetite is less.
My DH is on it for T2 and because he had a stroke. His appetite is certainly less and minimum side effects.
Has you DM seen any benefits?

Glad you managed to get this on NHS, and you are being medically supervised.
Two stone and lower blood sugars is great progress. Well done.
Do you find your appetite is decreased?

Her HbA1c came down well. She had it stopped for a while and although she didn't see a huge weight increase, the rise in her HbA1c was significant.

My appetite is definitely less, but not radically so. I am still often hungry, but find i don't quite eat the same volume that I used to eat. And definitely can't eat too late at night.

Many of us have medical conditions - with a BMI of 27,2 I had high cholestrol too. But I appreciate that you have several health concerns.
I am a physio and once I hear balance concerns my ears pop up. People become less active when they fear falling. I lost some muscle mass on MJ so absolutely do some exercise. Your local health centre might have a strength and balance class, or a knee class you could do.

In the meantime at home, just do lots of sit to stand from a kitchen chair. When you are stronger you could stand in front of a chair - lower your bum to just touch the chair and stand up.

You do not want to lose any muscle!

@JudgingJudy thanks for that. I did see a specialist Physio for a while. and also went to some classes to learn exercises.
Can barely walk these days because of knee and hip pain, so hoping that losing some weight will help.
I have an ENT appointment in a couple of weeks to try and find out why my balance is getting worse as scans show no change in the tumour.
As you rightly say, fear of falling added to joint pain really makes exercise difficult, but I will do all I can.

Google seated exercise - words like quads and balance. if you are walking less, you get into a downward spiral. The MJ should help, and the weight loss. But do what you can to preserve muscle.
decreased walking -> decreased strength-> decreased confidence.

Best of luck with it - you are taking pro active steps for your health. 👊

Hi, I get perscibed mounjaro on the nhs. My endocrinologist says it is for both insulin resistance and weight loss. I have been taking it since July.

The biggest difference for me is the amount of insulin I currently take. It has reduced drastically (80% plus). I do the same amount of exercise I did last year, my appetite has reduced. I'm back to how I used to eat before type 1 diabetes.

I was warned about the effect on insulin sensitivity but I wear closed-loop insulin pump system. Which is something I would highly recommend to those who need them.

I feel lighter and more energised. It is simpler to move and more time saving doing task. My mood has also improved a lot. Is this because I eat less carbohydrate or is because I weight less or because of mounjaro or does mounjaro improve my other illness? I don't know.

I get it privately but I was prediabetic and had high BP for years. I didn't know about prediabetes until I changed GP in May and it came up on the app. They never told me and I had really high plasma glucose 5.5 top of range in June 2022 and HBA1C of 45 in sept 2023 amd was never treated or tested again.
Last few years I had lots of symptoms like getting dizzy, fainting, hands shaking and mood swings if I didn't eat regularly amd constantly craved carbs.
I went to GP in Nov 2023 as also exhausted and they told me to take iron!

Anyway I have been on mounjaro for a year exactly Wednesday gone and lost 3st 7lbs exactly from 13st 1lbs bmi 32.4 to 9st 8lbs bmi 23.7. I did find weight loss slow even though I tracked all my food and was super strict, I was losing 1lb a week and I noticed that when I got to 10mg all my blood sugar symptoms went, then losing weight was less effort. I did find higher protein lower carb better for losses and less bloating.
Im short and most of my weight was on my tummy and that's reduced from 93cm to 78cm! My BP also dropped within weeks from 145/92 to 97/73, I was getting dizzy starting off so eating regularly, little and often, amd drinking lots of water is important. My BP is more normal now 107/78 last I checked 2 months ago.
I haven't had any blood tests done yet ut will do soon hopefully.
Good luck!

I think many buy it for health reasons op. Albeit different ones to uou. I had very high blood pressure, which they were struggling to control with medication and also sleep apnea, my gp recommended mounjaro, although could not prescribe, I have lost six and a half stone, my bmi is now 20, and my blood pressure is very healthy, I am no longer medicated for it, and my sleep apnea has gone, meaning I sleep solidly each night,

I had high cortisol, likely due to a number of factors, menopause, lack of sleep, stressful job, obesity, which in turn gave me insulin resistance,meaning I was in a vicious circle that I couldn’t get out of on my own. The drug has now resolved this and I am staying in a 5mg maintenance dose.

My dad was prescribed it for his T2. Two years on, he’s lost 45kg, been discharged by the kidney nurse, hasn’t had a recurrence of gout in over 18 months. No longer takes blood pressure medication or anything other than one pill for his heart (statin I think? I can’t remember; he’s had two stents). He takes 10mg every two weeks and that keeps his diabetes in check and allows him to maintain his weight.

His success on Mounjaro is what motivated me to go on it, I’m down 31kg since Jan!

Thanks to everyone who has replied and told their stories. It's good to hear from people with medical issues rather than purely weight loss.

What is evident to me, is that it seems to be a bit of a postcode lottery, as to who is prescribed Mounjaro on the NHS. Also health care provided by GP's varies a lot. I was with the same GP for 35 years until we moved 3 years ago, and I can see a huge difference.
One thing I've learnt is that you have to stand up for yourself and rattle some cages to make yourself heard. In my case, I wanted what I think of as 'joined up healthcare' where different specialists and your GP actually talk to each other. I'm so tired of trailing around different departments at the hospital and waiting weeks or months for test or scan results.

Well done everyone who has taken this step and Mounjaro is making a difference. I really hope I will soon be saying the same!

The truth is most people who are obese have health issues, often they just don’t know it, as the nhs doesn’t offer comprehensive testing, it’s a ticking time bomb inside us and our organs, our joints, our skeleton etc.

Obesity is the biggest killer we have, so as much as some take the drugs for appearance, many many more of us take it primarily for health reasons. Appearance improvements is simply the cherry on top.

I was T2 diabetic and also had/have a brain tumour (removed but awaiting tests to see if it is growing again). I’ve been on mounjaro for about 15 months and have lost almost four stone, albeit slow and steady, and reversed my diabetes.
I do feel I have more energy physically which is probably due to the weight loss but I still get very tired mentally which I think is neuro fatigue. I have memory and concentration problems anyway due to the tumour damage and so much effort goes into everyday things like keeping on top of finances, general life admin like renewing insurance, work etc.
I was worried I’d lose Mounjaro on the NHS due to no longer being diabetic but apparently you’re considered in remission rather than cured of diabetes so still qualify as I couldn’t afford to pay, would have to stop it and then unfortunately would quickly bang the weight back on and become diabetic again.

I am not using MJ for health issues but relate to your exercise problems. I have fibromyalgia. Have you tried exercise in the water? I walk (and squat/lunge/stretch) in the pool- no fear of falling over.

I'm on MJ because I am insulin resistant, plus I'm in remission from breast cancer, and have a skull base (not brain, but bone) tumor that's inoperable. My breast oncologist sent me to an endocrinologist, and the rest of my medical team basically applauded him...

I started MJ last November. Lost about 32 kg (5 stone) and am a healthy weight now. I'm even exercising regularly, and I love it.

Your experience so far sounds about right. The really strong suppression will wear off a bit over time, so my advice is to make the most of it and use it as a tool to change eating habits etc. Also, be a bit careful with dose increases as the side effects often hit after a few weeks. You can increase more slowly by going up a few clicks each week if you have to.

Good luck!