Experiences of moving from Mounjaro to tablets for maintenance

[TheBrickCritic]

Hi, have been on MJ since January taking 2.5mg. It is a few weeks since an all inclusive holiday where I gained weight. I missed a dose for the holiday. I was titrating down from 7.5mg (1pen) and had done a pen at 5mg so decided to do 2.5mg on return from holiday. As expected I am struggling with hunger/apetite so have had some of the 2.5 doses slightly early e.g day 5/6. I have had 5x 2.5mg doses over 4 weeks and have nearly lost what I gained.

I have started this thread as I wanted to seek experienced from others who have gone from MJ to the pills as this is my plan once I finish my MJ. What are peoples experiences doing this?

I am wanting to get more stability with the pills for a time in maintenance as thinking it may be a way to make it cheaper or support stopping weight loss medication in the future. Although I can afford it I feel guilty spending family money on it. I have gone from BMI of 30 to 21.5/22.

Whilst I'm certainly not a maintenance yet, this is my plan too and I'm also interested to hear of others who have done this or started down this path for the future.

I’ve also gone from BMI 30 to BMI 22.5 (which has taken me 12 months) and am ready to switch to maintenance, so interested if anyone has experience too as it’s something I’m considering. I’m still taking 5mg every 7 days (my highest was 5mg every 6 days) and I know I need a plan now for what next….

I have also considered the pills, but think I’m going to aim for reducing to as low a dose of MJ as possible for now. Lots of reasons it doesn’t make sense for me -

Mounjaro
Dual GLP1/GIP
I know MJ works for me (currently maintaining at 2mg)
Currently no side effects
If I can get to a 2,5mg pen lasting 7-8 weeks it is <£20 week - I have a provider that supports this plan/ordering schedule
Easy one injection a week then forget about it
I have skipped weeks before with no issues

Wegovy tablets
The fasting restrictions daily will wear thin very quickly
I like not having to remember daily (HBP, PPI) medications now, don’t want to restart that with a new one
Unknown response and what dose will I need - risk I need a higher more expensive dose for the same MJ lower dose GLP1/GIP effect
Possible side effects
Concerns I would lose the MJ anti inflammatory benefits

Foundayo tablets
Similar to Wegovy without the fasting requirements
No long term data

To be cheaper than my MJ plan and to make trying it worthwhile, tablets would have needed to be significantly less than £80 a month for me.

Tables like this (picture) comparing doses glycemic impact, although it does not directly relate to weight maintenance, combined with the missing GIP, it also puts me off trying as it infers higher tablet doses may be required and why pharmacies are suggesting tablets mainly for those who have never used injections before or for those maintaining on low doses of injections.

I am firmly in the, if it’s not broken don't fix it camp, for now at least who knows what will change in future. It will be interesting hearing over the next 6-12 months how those that have changed get on and what benefits they see.

I have the tablets, ordered yesterday and came today! Its not just the cost for me but also about cold chain and storing MJ. My partner thinks I stopped MJ around 2 months ago as I was slimmer and was telling me to stop due to this. I feel the tablets will be more discreet and it feels less extreme injecting and having sharps etc. Although I have no problem injecting myself and love MJ. I will use up my 2 pens of 5mg and then start the pills. I more than happy to come back here and share my experiences.

Hopefully others who have done similar can also share their experiences

I don't know if because I have also been self injecting B12, "just" a vitamin, it has changing my mindset about injections vs tablets.

Self injecting does feel a very alien way to take medication especially in the UK, self injecting in Europe is more common for things like B12 you can buy OTC. But really it is only a very shallow subcutaneous injection, low risk and a very effective way of taking medications - it bypasses the stomach and liver, can give more predictable results, doesn't rely on absorption enhancers (as in wegovy).

The cold chain is a consideration, especially in hot weather it can be worrying if a parcel is late, but the UK also seems overly concerned around this - in Canada (Patient leaflet link) Mounjaro kwik pens are allowed to be out the fridge (below 30 degrees) for up to 30 days before it is in in-use, then the in-use period kicks in.

Have you explained to your partner obesity is a recurring chronic disease and the health risk associated with it? Would he be "telling" you to stop any other medication that you need to keep a disease in remission? If you can, I’d try to be open with him that you’re going to try the tablets, while keeping the same perspective that this is "medication for a chronic disease", rather than something you are taking unnecessarily or simply to lose weight or a willpower/moral failing.

Hope the tablets work for you.

Which provider is willing to support your 7-8 week schedule? This is something I want to try.

I have switched over. I stopped MJ last year at BMI 24 and maintained for about 10 months but then gained weight after a very busy time travelling for work. I ordered a pen and lost most of the weight I gained and then the rest within the first week or so of the tablets. I’m back to BMI 24 again and am liking the tablets for all the reasons you mentioned. Losing weight seems to have slowed down but I think it’s because I always struggle at this weight to get much lower. This weight is where I stalled last year with the injections.

I have also been wondering about this. I’m nearly at target, just a couple of pounds to go, but know I’ll need to stay on some form of medication for life to keep it off. I think tablets would be more convenient, easier to travel with etc. I’m just worried if I swapped to them that they wouldn’t work for me and then I wouldn’t be allowed to go back to MJ.

Can you let me know who your provider is? I always get told off by mine for doing this…

Me too

Hi - which supplier supports the 2mg plan? This us what I do & have ended up stockpiling which will become unsustainable! U’d love to find this common sense!

I think most pharmacys allow 6 to 8 weeks but with a reason. Eg stockpile. I dont think many support less than prescription amounts amounts due to license although thry must realise this is what some users are doing.

From experience and also friends who have been on mj, seems the only way to maintain is to also make sure our mind set has changed on this journey. Having and maintaining a strict routine for a long period of time so changes our eating habits for when we aren’t relying on mj to hide our hunger (if that makes sense). Mj kinda tells our body we are not hungry. Only way i maintained was to be very regimented eating set meals, at set times. Felt hungry before meal time, drank instead of snacking. I tried the moving down steps and didn’t change my mindset. Gained a little, went back on mj to lose it again then stopped without properly going back down the doses. But that time I took responsibility and was strict in my routine. Didn’t gain and actually started losing a lb or 2 without mj till I got to my ultimate goal weight and now maintained. I honestly think that mj is amazing to give that kick start, self confidence back to succeed but in order to maintain you need to change your game plan to maintain and keep it off long term. Does that make sense with out preaching xx

I’ve ordered the tablets after successfully maintaining over a year. My maintenance dose on MJ is 10mg and I enjoy the antiflammatory benefits too.

Only changing as the cost is so much at £259 a month.

I’ve got concerns though, whether it works, whether if it doesn’t will OUSHK let me restart at 10mg or insist on titrating up from 2.5mg again. I hate OUSHK.

Have you ordered the new Foundayo tablets?