Anyone planning on staying on injectables forever?

[JollyJunee]

I’ve been on Mounjaro for 7 weeks. Have lost 20lbs.
cannot get over the change in my life. The weight is lower down the list, it’s the ceasing of the endless food chatter, spending so much time thinking/planning/eating, more free time away from shopping for food I didn’t need, not spending so much money on food I didn’t need! It’s brilliant.
But I notice most folk on injectables seem to be worrying about what happens when they reach goal and maintaining without it. I’m planning on staying on it forever. Am I the only one?? I feel like they’ll prise it out of my cold dead hands before I give it up.😂
Money wise I definitely feel it’s worth it, I save more than I spend in it not buying all the food!

Me!! Menopause has meant that even with calorie counting, high protein and lifting heavy 4 x a week, I am unable to get below and obese bmi without it! It's also helped my menopause symptoms much more than hrt ever did! I am praying for a change in guidelines so I can continue to take a low dose every other week so I don't have to have weight loss consume my life anymore (along with the aching joints, sleep apnea, pmt etc)

I've considered this. I'm towards the end of my weight loss journey- started at 12st and am currently 10st 8 (I'm short) so have less than a stone to lose.
I just worry about how to do it - it would either involve using high dose pens for over 30 days (so 2.5 on a 7.5 pen) and / or having to lie to get hold of more pens. I don't like either of those ideas but I'd also happily stay on it long term or at least until I'm post menopause!
Do you have a clever plan???

@CiderJabs I've found a pharmacist who will provide for two years and who seems to understand the need for maintenance for some people as she said she is hoping the guidelines will change. I'll stick with this prescriber I think so I can build a bit of a patient/prescriber relationship with so they know my needs. I'm also going to maybe start stockpiling at some point. Like you, I'm getting close. I'm thinking one more month on 5, go up to 7.5 and then beyond extending the time between jabs to every two weeks very slowly. (I'm not to worried about expiry dates if it's kept in the fridge) I'll then buy 10mg and split them into 5mg and take fortnightly. This is the plan for at least the next two years whilst I'm allowed it!

I'm seeing it as very expensive HRT! I think us women in menopause are acutely aware that eat less, move more is not going to cut it when it comes to our menopausal weight gain.

I completely agree. Menopause is screwing me up!
Which provider do you use?

Do you think though, that say you’re on them 2+ years and you’ve changed your mindset about food and are making better choices, that your body will have naturally still continue to do that if you stop them? After all stomach size will have decreased and hopefully the mindset or food chatter as OP says will have changed?

I have no idea as I’m not on them myself but I do wonder if they are good at resetting the body and would be interesting to know what happens long term.

Some people in the US are being prescribed indefinitely whereas the uk is not allowing that (yet?)- I wonder about new habits / stomach reducing but I also wonder whether after 2 years you would put it back on anyway. Lots to think about!

@Averagelife I don't know. There's set weight theory but researchers suggest your new set weight disappears once you come off the drug but maybe after two years the set weight may change? I think the psychological factors are key and the importance of having time to create new habits. Then there are the physiological factors like hormones! Weight gain and loss are really complex that's for sure! I don't know the answer but it's fascinating and also very hopeful.

I haven’t managed to find a prescriber who will go beyond 2yrs or BMI 23.

I think there will be a maintenance drug at some point.

If I could be on it forever I would. I’m at about 18 months now

I am new to it and looking forward to seeing some changes! It's great that it isn't just an appetite suppressant.

I thinking about this. I have always been able to lose weight before (up to 2 stone) even in my late 40s but since meno my willpower seems to have gone totally. So I know by eating well I could get down to healthy weight (not as low as in my 30s though) but I just can't sustain for more than say 3 weeks. And mojo totally gone. Would be interesting to see what happens long-term with these things, every day I hear about more benefits and not one for taking drugs in general. You are all ahead of me obvs.

I’m only on day 2 but already thinking this actually might be life changing.

It will likely go the way saxenda did and shortages will make it difficult to obtain

Already it is everywhere

How can I get it when I’m BMI 25? I’m happy to pay but don’t want a dodgy provider. But menopause has killed my ability to lose even a pound and I’m fed up!

I am only 7 weeks in but should be goal by autumn, and will try a private GP? If I can get for two year I imagine this will be sorted by then.
It’s as big as penicillin/antibiotics, IMO. Revolutionary. They will sort it. The drug companies won’t want to miss out on £££, guaranteed!

@Northernnature that's me too at 51. I manage 3 weeks. Never any more than that.

I think this drug is extraordinary for weight loss. I've not been this weight for years and I feel so hopeful about all the things I'll now be able to do in my 50s now I'm healthy. I am however, very cautious and wary of what the future holds in terms of guidelines, price, shortages etc or whether it will even continue to work long term. What's really hopeful is all the new glp 1 drugs in the pipeline. I also love seeing people on tik tok go from morbidly obese to healthy and how happy they are! It really is a life saver for so many people.

@inthekitchensink you can't get it - and arguably you don't need it either at that bmi! This is an obesity drug and can be harmful if used irresponsibly. Why would you want to take it in the first place?

I agree. I had the exact same issue 2 years ago with saxenda.

Jeez. Here we go….

A BMi of 25 won't be approved

As long as they risk assess longterm safety then I think it should be available for as long as people want it.
Once people come off it and the food thoughts and cravings come back then unless you are extremely strict the weight will go back on. Once you love food you will always love food, always use it as comfort. These drugs could save the nhs a lot of money longterm.

Do you really think there will be a shortage? What happened to those on Saxenda when this happened? I wonder how many people are currently taking glp 1s in the uk.

We stopped taking it. There was none. End of! Happened to thousands and thousands of us.