Mounjaro and insect bites

[AugustMounjaroTeam]

Has anyone else on MJ found that they get bitten much less often, and react to it far less?

I am currently away with friends, and I always used to be ‘the one that gets bitten’ and ended up an itching mess of red lumps. This holiday has reminded me that last year I noticed that I didn’t really have any issues and had wondered if it was a bonus side effect.

Three of us away this weekend - the two that are on MJ are fine, the one who isn’t is really suffering.🤔

I’m the exact opposite , I’m in Greece as we speak and have never been bit before but this year I’m turning into a feast for the buggers x

Hmm, interesting. I'm also someone who's always been mosquito crack, and whose immune system reacts with itchy, lumpy gusto. And I'm also in Greece currently and while I've had a few bites (3-4 versus the usual infinity) the level of reaction is lower. It would fit with the anti-inflammatory profile.

I got absolutely bitten to bits during that heatwave. I can’t remember having so many bites for decades. I looked like I had chicken pox! But I am
probably not the person to ask - I don’t seem to get many of the effects of MJ that other people do.

I am allergic to mozzie bites and sadly have been bitten just as much while on the jabs as not. Can recommend a hairdryer blasted at the itchy bites - the heat stops the itch for a blessed few hours.

I also got lots of bites during the recent heatwave. Which is par for the course for me

BUT … rhey were smaller than usual and less itchy. Maybe that was the MJ helping? Or maybe they were just midge bites rather than mozzie bites

Nope im
on 15mg and still get bitten

I’ve been on MJ for about 10 months and still getting just as bitten as before. ☹️

I’m on Wegovy, I’m usually the one who escapes big bites but this year they seem to love me! Can back from Florida a couple of weeks ago and got bitten a lot more than usual (mind you, given that I only usually get one or 2, this was only up to about 8 bites in total!😬)

No difference for me either, in the amount of bites or the reaction

I'm not a clinician.

Could it be that your food habits have changed since being on WLI and the biters aren't attracted to your new aroma?

Not the same as I've not been abroad, but I've noticed my hayfever is much better this year so far. A slight irritation but no antihistamines needed, which is unusual.

I’m in the UK. I developed some itchy spots a couple of weeks ago during the hot weather. Not mosquito bites-although they do love me on holiday!
I’d just gone up to 15mg and did have a welt on the injection site for the first time. Neither the GP or the prescribing pharmacist could diagnose what caused these spots. They went within a week. But now I’m being advised to stop MJ as a precaution 😡 Anyone else had a similar reaction?

Did you take antihistamines or did they settle down on their own? Was it a different brand of needle tips this time?

I'm not sure I'd stop MJ based on a single instance of what sounds like hives. The other benefits of MJ would make me want to find a solution or the reason behind the spots.

I personally would certainly at least try another dose (perhaps click counting back down to 10 or 12.5mg) with antihistamines on hand, but be on alert for tongue swelling, shortness of breath, etc.

Who advised you to stop, your GP or the prescriber? If it was your GP who saw you in person and had good reason to suspect the MJ, of course follow the medical advice, but if it was simply a knee-jerk response, I'd think about it carefully.

I did have horrific injection site reactions from about Month 2 to 7, but they eventually stopped and I've been on MJ for almost 2 years now. I've also (pre-MJ) had random hives a number of times without ever knowing the cause.

I’ve noticed it. I normally get eaten alive and end up on antibiotics every year without fail for an infected insect bite. Last year, on MJ, nothing. Not a single bite, and I’m a camper/festival goer!

Thanks for your response and advice. It resolved on its own, no anti histamines.

I did use a different brand of needle for the 15mg, as the pen was from an online supplier. All previous pens and needles (from 2.5-12.5mg) had been from my local pharmacy with no reactions/side effects at all.

I think it’s simple hives, as you say. Like you, I’ve also had skin reactions, urticaria, over the years and never known the cause. It does seem like the heat + MJ = rash and the prescriber had a knee jerk reaction that the two are linked whereas I think they may be coincidental. Their default position is obviously caution rather than a deep dive into the cause.

The GP referred me back to the prescriber who has told me to stop. I’m trying to find out if I can go on a lower dose. My next 15mg dose is due today and the itchy spots have gone and the site reaction has faded within 7 days of my last dose . I’m considering leaving it another week and going back on the 15mg but will use the needles from the pharmacy as they haven’t caused me an issue.

Also it’s cooler weather now so that might help. If I get the same reaction to the next 15mg, at least I will know that it’s that dose that’s a problem for me. I can have antihistamines on standby, as you have advised, incase the reaction is more severe.

I’m interested to know what advice you were given when you had the horrific site reactions? Did you stop, go down a size or persevere? No one has seen me about this so it is very much a paper exercise and sometimes I think you know your own body better than the medical professionals that are just doling out text book advice to cover themselves

I don’t want to stop as I’ve lost 2.5 stone in 5 months and have 1.5 still to go . I think this is a just a blip. I’m happy to put up with the mild annoyance of a few itchy spots for being able being continue to my goal. WDYT? WWYD? Thanks 🙏

I usually end up badly bitten and have to spray liberally before even going in my own garden. Two years of MJ has made a huge difference to both the number and severity of bites. I had a holiday in Greece recently and wasn’t bitten once. I’ve never connected the two but if it’s another positive side effect, I’ll take it.

Sounds like a mixed response, but I’m definitely not alone in the benefit.