What criteria for injections?

[paradisecityx]

Hi all, hope you're well
I'm wanting to lose weight. I have Hashimoto's disease (thyroid disease) and really struggle to keep any weight off. It goes up and down constantly.
I am around 5ft 5/6 - I weigh around 13st 10

I want to be around 11 stone, I have a very physical job - I'm a care assistant so I'm constantly on the move and when I'm at home I'm always doing housework and cleaning etc.
I eat really well, I don't sit eating junk, I don't know why I can't lose weight. I have seen great results with the injections (mounjaro etc) I wondered - does anyone know the 'criteria' to be eligible for these? What side effects do they come with?
I have tried all sorts of fad diets and they never ever work, nor does slimming world.

Thanks. X

I'm currently taking Mounjaro, so that's what I can tell you about. There's also Wegovy, but I don't know much about it.

The criteria is that you have to have a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of over 27 with at least one weight related health issue, or a BMI of 27 or higher and be one of a set of particular ethnicities. If your height and weight are correct then your BMI is over 30.

About 1 in 10 people get mild side effects which are usually gastric, so nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation for example. There are much rarer more severe side effects, gallbladder issues and very rarely pancreatitis. It is the same as any other prescription medicine in terms of possible side effects.

Just to expand on the ethncities bit...

According to the NHS bmi calculator, a bmi of 27.5 is classed as obese for every other ethnicity apart from White. For White ethnicities, a bmi of 30 is classed as obese.

OP I don't know if you'll qualify based on thyroid disease due to possible complications with the medicines. I think this is one of the criteria. I suppose you can go through the consultation and see if you'll be approved.

Don’t know but don’t hold your breath. On the news on the radio this morning that many people qualify but aren’t getting it.

https://news.sky.com/story/thousands-denied-weight-loss-jab-due-to-slow-nhs-rollout-with-some-having-to-wait-two-years-13231948

Privately you should be able to get it if your bmi is over 27

Mine was 27 and I had high blood pressure. It's now 24 and I'm maintaining.

But nhs I wouldn't bother
Unless your morbidly obese.

It's about £150 approx a month.

Look it up on one of the providers like med express or zava. BMI has to be 30 plus, But I do recall a question about thyroid so you may find that counts you out.

@paradisecityx I have seen posts from other people with Hashhimoto's that are taking Mounjaro, if you search you might be able to find their posts. So some prescribers are happy to prescribe in your circumstances.

are you aware that mounjaro can increase the risk of thyroid cancer? I think you’d need a full discussion with a pharmacist to see if you’re eligible

I have thyroid disease. Take thyroxine 200mg daily. I was approved for Mountjaro in May. I started at 13st 11 and am now 11 st 5. It's been slow going (thyroid problems cripple the metabolism and thyroxine just doesn't adequately replace a normal thyroid) but actually very east to stick with as I have had good suppression. Without it I would never of got this far.

The thyroid risk is very specific. It does not relate to the common thyroid conditions such as Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's . In fact the advice leaflet from Ely-Lily (the manufacturer), suggest taking Mountjaro alongside Thyroxine.

The contraindications are for a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia. (MEN)

Thanks so much everyone for your replies.
I hope to see my GP regarding this soon so will let you know the outcome where the thyroid is concerned. Mines poorly controlled therefore feel as though I have 0 metabolism.
X

@changedlife that's great to read! I too am on 200mcg a day but on a weds and Sunday I take 250mg as it's so poorly controlled. Great to see you're doing well on it, how does it make you feel? Xx