Unwell all the time on 5mg mounjaro

[Followthesunshine]

I was on 2.5mg for 2 months but did start to feel it wasn't as effective in the last couple of weeks so I moved up to 5mg.

I've now had 3 injections of 5mg. I feel so unwell all the time on 5mg. Nausea, headaches, heartburn, generally not wanting to do anything. I feel this way whether I eat or not, and it doesn't change no matter what type of food I eat. I am eating between 1000-1300 calories per day. I couldn't manage any more than that and given my height (5 ft 2) I don't lose weight if I eat more than 1300 calories, whether I am on mounjaro or not.

Over the last 3 months I have lost 25lbs so its working and I still have another 14lbs to lose - i am really happy with the weight loss but I don't want to keep feeling like this.

My starting weight was 12 st 2lb.

I have seen a couple of suggestions online of moving to 3.75mg once per week or moving to 2.5mg but taking it every 4 days or so.

Has anyone else felt like this on 5mg? If so what did you do?

I’d reduce the dose if I were you, you really don’t want to feel unwell on MJ.
The jump from 2.5 to 5 is the biggest adjustment so doesn’t work for everyone.
I’d reduce to 3.75 by click counting and see if you feel better, if not go back to 2.5 and make sure you eat really good quality food, eat enough calories and protein and drink lots of water.
Pepto Bismal is the best thing to take for any indigestion/nausea type issues, it smells horrible but if you hold your nose it actually tastes ok, slightly minty, it really does work and I’ve found it the most effective all round help.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look at getting some pepto bismol

I explained the severe heartburn and reflux to my GP when I started 5mg, I asked for omeprazole and was prescribed it, and it helps massively. I also take a peppermint oil capsule at opposite end of the day to the omeprazole. My nausea and reflux have improved considerably. I also ensure I drink LOTS of water and use a hydration fizzer once a day. My symptoms are much better. I always get very tired day after jab and that just seems unavoidable so I manage that with high protein and rest as I can.

Yes I felt the same on 5mg at first. I dropped to 3.75mg. 45 clicks of a 5mg pen. Felt much better and stayed on this for 2 months before moving up to 5mg with no issues. I stayed on 5mg until I reach target and then moved down again for maintenance. I think some people are so much more sensitive to dose. Lucky really considering the price.

Drop down as others have suggested. I do think for those who are shorter, and smaller the jumps are too big.

I’d try 2.5mg from the pen twice a week and see how you tolerate that.

I find I’m really sensitive to increases in dose. I’m currently on 3.33mg (40 clicks) each week and it’s working well for me.
3.5mg (42 clicks) and I feel yuck.

The flip side is the weight loss is slow compared to some others, but then I’m in my (very early) sixties so I think it will be slower. Hopefully if it comes off slow it will stay off.

I just started mounjaro 2.5 3 weeks ago, had my 3rd dose tonight. Also, am a type 2 diabetic, who takes umpteen other pills every night for other conditions, and am registered disabled.
The side effects I'm getting are feeling nauseous, more achey and more hot/cold sweats than normal. Also my vertigo has been triggered again since starting mounjaro, not majorly, it's still tolerable, until I lie down. My question is, After being on 2.5 for a month, will they put me on 5, or keep me on 2.5 for another month? He did explain some stuff, but not everything, or at least I can't remember much of what he said. I'm 53 years old, and 4ft 8in, if this makes any difference.

At that stage I took 2.5mg on Sunday evening and 1.25mg on Thursday morning.

When I wanted to go up to 5mg, I increased to 2.5mg on Thursday morning.

@DollyPartonsLeftnip if you are being prescribed Mounjaro on the NHS by a GP or similar for Type 2 diabetes control, then the attitude to dose increases is going to be different than for those who are prescribed it solely for weight loss. My understanding (I am not a HCP) is that the aim for controlling T2 diabetes is to keep to the lowest dose that controls your blood sugars, and any weight loss is a welcome side effect but not the main goal. But that is definitely a conversation that you need to have with your prescriber and it will take into account your diabetes symptoms, your other medication and your current side effects.

I’m on it for diabetes. The protocol is 2.5mg for 4 weeks, then move to 5mg. You then stay on 5mg indefinitely, regular HbA1C testing (3 monthly in my case) and dosage is only increased if the Mounjaro is not producing a significant enough reduction in blood sugar. At which point you would be increased to 7.5mg for 4 weeks then 10mg and would then hold on 10mg indefinitely again. The NHS in my experience stick rigidly to the prescribing guidelines which state that the 2.5/7.5/12.5 doses are purely for the purpose of transitioning between the 5/10/15mg doses which are the doses tested in the clinical studies.

It’s been absolutely amazing for my sugar levels. I was on insulin morning and night and full dose of metformin and couldn’t keep my levels in the normal zone. Went onto Mounjaro last September and within 6 weeks I was off the insulin completely and down to 1x metformin a day. A few weeks later I dropped the metformin too. I stuck on 5mg for 20weeks before moving up and have been on 10mg ever since. I’m now healthy weight, down from morbidly obese and maintaining.

Thankyou @InfoSecInTheCity . That really helps. I'm actually hoping that the clinical pharmacist keeps me on the 2.5 for another month, because I am absolutely worried about the nausea levels rising with the 5 dose. But I suppose I won't know until I try. 🤔💛