Mounjaro, Insulin & Weight Loss

[Catlady19]

Hello all, has anyone tried Mounjaro yet? How many units did you get up to? Did you lose much weight? How were your blood sugars? Did you manage to reduce insulin units?

I have been on it 8 weeks and have lost 10lbs - I started on 2.5 and am now on the second pen of 5mg. Dr says I could go up again next time. Tbh would have liked to have lost a bit more as my appetite is dramatically reduced and I am definitely not eating anywhere near as much as I was (especially carbs). On the other hand, my bloods have been much, much better and are more generally coming up between 4-6 mml, which is great. I have managed to reduce my daily Lantus shots to 40 units from 70.

Looking for anyone else with a success story with this and how long you have been on it.
Thanks

 

[Taighnamona]

Hello all, has anyone tried Mounjaro yet? How many units did you get up to? Did you lose much weight? How were your blood sugars? Did you manage to reduce insulin units?

I have been on it 8 weeks and have lost 10lbs - I started on 2.5 and am now on the second pen of 5mg. Dr says I could go up again next time. Tbh would have liked to have lost a bit more as my appetite is dramatically reduced and I am definitely not eating anywhere near as much as I was (especially carbs). On the other hand, my bloods have been much, much better and are more generally coming up between 4-6 mml, which is great. I have managed to reduce my daily Lantus shots to 40 units from 70.

Looking for anyone else with a success story with this and how long you have been on it.
Thanks

I’m following as waiting on assessment to start taking this. Did you experience any side effects.

 

[Catlady19]

I’m following as waiting on assessment to start taking this. Did you experience any side effects.

Not really. I occasionally get a dodgy tummy (need to visit the wc quite quickly) but had that before anyway and another condition that doesn't help this! I get full much quicker than I used to so often cant finish what I have selected to eat. Occasionally feel a little nauseous, bit like morning sickness and have gone off tea and coffee a bit, so drinking lots of mint tea!

On the whole and so far, definitely worth it.

 

[Louise12216]

Hi, I am on Mounjaro now and insulin. My insulin needs have gone down which is great, I have high insulin resistance which meant I was taking a lot but since starting the Mounjaro the amount for both basal and bolus has reduced quite significantly. My Endo consultant put me on it because I had bad side effects from Daplaflozin which also had the positive effect of reducing my need for as much insulin, but I could not stand the side effect. My estimated HBa1c on my libre has gone from 55 to 50 - my annual blood test is being done this Friday so hopefully it will be close to this. The only thing is that I have not found it has affected my weight much since starting maybe 5lbs since mid August and I have a lot to lose! I am on 5mg and have got my next dose at 7.5mg so hoping that means even less insulin needed and a start to lose weight as well. I have had very little side effects so far - just ensure you drink lots, I loved my Pepsi Max but since going on Mounjaro I ensure most of my intake is water/ sugar free squash with the Pepsi Max as a treat once a day as they say the carbonated drinks will cause the stomach aches.

 

[Catlady19]

Hi, I am on Mounjaro now and insulin. My insulin needs have gone down which is great, I have high insulin resistance which meant I was taking a lot but since starting the Mounjaro the amount for both basal and bolus has reduced quite significantly. My Endo consultant put me on it because I had bad side effects from Daplaflozin which also had the positive effect of reducing my need for as much insulin, but I could not stand the side effect. My estimated HBa1c on my libre has gone from 55 to 50 - my annual blood test is being done this Friday so hopefully it will be close to this. The only thing is that I have not found it has affected my weight much since starting maybe 5lbs since mid August and I have a lot to lose! I am on 5mg and have got my next dose at 7.5mg so hoping that means even less insulin needed and a start to lose weight as well. I have had very little side effects so far - just ensure you drink lots, I loved my Pepsi Max but since going on Mounjaro I ensure most of my intake is water/ sugar free squash with the Pepsi Max as a treat once a day as they say the carbonated drinks will cause the stomach aches.

Well done, keep it up. I found the weight loss was slow at first. I have also gone off Diet Coke (makes me feel bloated) but also tea and coffee too a bit. I am currently enjoying mint tea quite a bit! :***:

 

[Louise12216]

Well done, keep it up. I found the weight loss was slow at first. I have also gone off Diet Coke (makes me feel bloated) but also tea and coffee too a bit. I am currently enjoying mint tea quite a bit! :***:

That’s interesting about the weight loss all you hear / read about is how much people have lost in a very short space of time. I just thought my body / metabolism was super defective .

 

[Trisha55]

Hello all, has anyone tried Mounjaro yet? How many units did you get up to? Did you lose much weight? How were your blood sugars? Did you manage to reduce insulin units?

I have been on it 8 weeks and have lost 10lbs - I started on 2.5 and am now on the second pen of 5mg. Dr says I could go up again next time. Tbh would have liked to have lost a bit more as my appetite is dramatically reduced and I am definitely not eating anywhere near as much as I was (especially carbs). On the other hand, my bloods have been much, much better and are more generally coming up between 4-6 mml, which is great. I have managed to reduce my

Looking for anyone else with a success story with this and how long you have been on it.
Thanks

I’ve been on it for over a year. I wanted to take the lowest dose so 2.5 the entire time. I started at 200 lbs. now down to 115 lbs and at my goal weight. Some medicines can slow down your loss like sleeping meds or any medicine that affects your brain. I had to stop taking them to succeed the way I did. My only advice is to not be in a rush and definitely don’t jump up to a larger dose quicker than 3 months on a lower dose. Slow and steady won the race. It’s healthier for you at a lower dosage. Sometimes it’s the meds you’re on that prevent you from losing weight. Any meds you’ve on that are telling your brain to do something will interfere with your weight loss medication. It’s like your brain needs only one medication to give it orders. Everything else gets in the way. My weight loss Dr wouldn’t even put me on monjuno (spelling) until I stopped the other medication like sleeping pills I was taking. Best of luck on your journey.

 

[lovinglife]

I’ve been on it for over a year. I wanted to take the lowest dose so 2.5 the entire time. I started at 200 lbs. now down to 115 lbs and at my goal weight. Some medicines can slow down your loss like sleeping meds or any medicine that affects your brain. I had to stop taking them to succeed the way I did. My only advice is to not be in a rush and definitely don’t jump up to a larger dose quicker than 3 months on a lower dose. Slow and steady won the race. It’s healthier for you at a lower dosage. Sometimes it’s the meds you’re on that prevent you from losing weight. Any meds you’ve on that are telling your brain to do something will interfere with your weight loss medication. It’s like your brain needs only one medication to give it orders. Everything else gets in the way. My weight loss Dr wouldn’t even put me on monjuno (spelling) until I stopped the other medication like sleeping pills I was taking. Best of luck on your journey.

Presumably it's still OK to take your prescribed diabetes meds though? Wouldn't be much point in taking the drug if you had to come off drugs that were necessary for other conditions? How do you manage your other conditions now if you’ve stopped taking the meds you were on for them?

 

[Catlady19]

Update: I am now 26 weeks into my Mounjaro journey. I have lost 34 lbs in total (15kg), so a nice steady loss. More importantly my HbA1c has reduced from 80 to 41! My morning bloods are usually around the 5 mark (used to be 9 to 12!). I have now stopped taking the insulin, but still take 1000mg of Metformin and 10mg of Jardiance. I am now on 10mg of Mounjaro.

I feel so much better in myself not having high bloods all the time. Sadly it has not helped my Fibromyalgia pain though

All in all this is a game changer!

 

[lovinglife]

Absolutely fantastic result @Catlady19 - that reduction in your A1c is amazing - well done

 

[Rachox]

That’s lovely news!

 

[Lisa5]

I’ve read the NICE guidelines for this drug for individuals and those who are obese.
Did anyone have difficulty getting it via there GP.
I have requested it, however they wanted a recent HBA1c. The HCA told me if this comes back good you might get it. I have no idea what she meant.
Also do you continue on your diabetic tablet when on Mounjaro?

 

[Catlady19]

I’ve read the NICE guidelines for this drug for individuals and those who are obese.
Did anyone have difficulty getting it via there GP.
I have requested it, however they wanted a recent HBA1c. The HCA told me if this comes back good you might get it. I have no idea what she meant.
Also do you continue on your diabetic tablet when on Mounjaro?

Hiya, I was initially prescribed MJ via the endocrinologist but the doctor just writes the prescriptions now. Generally speaking you need to a high HbA1c for them to prescribe MJ.

I continued all of my medication on MJ but have since stopped taking insulin as I was going too low.

Good luck

 

[Meady74]

Started today, on 2.5ml. If all good, after the first few shots will be upped to 5ml once the 2.5ml pen has been used.

 

[NeeNee87]

I started on Mounjaro 4 weeks ago on the 2.5ml dose. I'm down 8 lbs since I started. Hoping for faster results when I start the 5ml dose next week.

 

[clare56]

I’ve read the NICE guidelines for this drug for individuals and those who are obese.
Did anyone have difficulty getting it via there GP.
I have requested it, however they wanted a recent HBA1c. The HCA told me if this comes back good you might get it. I have no idea what she meant.
Also do you continue on your diabetic tablet when on Mounjaro?

I've been refused it repeatedly by my GP practice, despite apparently being eligible with my Diabetes and weight. In the end, I've paid for a private prescription online, which is v expensive. I was on metformin and dapagliflozin, but after a week, my blood sugar was dropping below 4 and my GP told me to stop taking the dapagliflozin. I had repeatedly asked the online supplier - Juniper - if it was ok to keep taking the dapagliflozin, and they'd said yes. However, I'd rather trust my gp.
I still take the metormin, but as my blood sugar is between 4 and 6 all the time now, I think that may be the next to go.
My GP surgery didn't have the power to authorise mounjaro. It goes to a local Diabetes centre for Brighton and Hove, and I just wasn't top of their list. I gather it's only about 10% of diabetics who will get the drug on prescription.

 

[Josie66]

I got it from my GP last month. He had told me he couldn't prescribe it in primary care but he was wrong. I knew the nice guidelines ( am a midwife) . The practice pharmacist agreed I was eligible for it and the practice nurse who manages my diabetes treatment had it prescribed for me. You really have to be persistent to get it

 

[clare56]

Well done! I'm really annoyed that I've been repeatedly refused. The practice nurse and my local pharmacist told me I should be eligible, but I've had flat out refusals each time I've asked. The pharmacist showed me the NICE guidelines and said I was on the right pathway for it, but it was a toss up between letting my health deteriorate further, as my weight is causing issues, or biting the bullet and using my savings to pay for it.
I have a review with my GP in a month and will definitely fight again to get Mounjaro on prescription. Any tips welcome.
I've also been upping the amount of exercise I do, and have had health membership of a local gym, but just learned that this is now stopping, so I'm feeling thoroughly ****** off with Brighton and Hove health service.

 

[Grandadfatboy]

I started on 2.5ml Mounjaro last Monday, and have 3 more doses in the pen. My diabetes nurse is phoning me tomorrow with my latest HBA1c level (needs to be under 69 for me to have knee surgery), and to see how things are going with the Mounjaro. The nurse checked that there were no conflicts with my many other medications before prescribing the Mounjaro. So far, no side effects, and not doing anything to curb my appetite, but there again it's only been one dose.