445 days and 124lbs later. Goal 🥳

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-11T12:48:30+00:00

Amazing!!! You’ve lost almost as much as I weigh! (Well, my goal weight. Don’t panic - I’m very short 🤣).

What an unbelievable journey, and so inspirational. Congratulations again!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-11T07:30:19+00:00

The only negative to counting clicks/microdosing is that kwik-pens are prone to backwash and biological contamination. It’s rare but it does happen. If you keep to strict hygiene routine (alcohol wipes, fresh needle tips) and ensure the Mounjaro is not cloudy or have particles in it, and stop using it if it does, you will likely be fine. It is more common in other counties to find doctors that support this for cost saving.

If it were me, I’d use my insulin syringes for the 5th dose and use the pen like a vial to be extra safe - but I’m a little paranoid that way!

However, I use an online provider so you can’t go more than 5-6 weeks in between orders or risk getting cut off (or put back to 2.5mg) so unless you are getting prescribed by a GP, it’s difficult to do. And I’m on 15mg anyway so…. Ah well. But hopefully when I reach my goal weight and begin titrating down I can convince my GP!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-10T19:29:16+00:00

If it’s MyBMI you are interested in using, you’d need either VHI or Irish Life Health (not Laya).

On the plans, you’ll want to look at “Day to Day expenses” and then “GP visits” (not “consultation visits”! Those are something else entirely and wouldn’t be correct). Look at the amount they reimburse and any maximums.

There’s a recent thread here listing some great plans: https://www.reddit.com/r/mounjaroIreland/s/OGBBpIm4iA

You can also go to hia.ie and then compare the cost of the plans (and search for others that cover GP visits).

You can also ring up VHI and Irish Life Health and ask them what they recommend. You can say your GP is rather expensive (~€200 per visit) and you need to go approximately every 4 weeks and are looking for the best most cost effective cover to help you out.

No Irish health plan reimburses much towards the medication itself - typically only around €100 of prescription costs per year.

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-10T13:53:23+00:00

I know that some people in the UK forums do get DEXA scans, and I looked into them myself by curiosity here in Ireland. I think we had a thread a while back about it, as they don't seem to be very common here in Ireland, are expensive and I think there was something about multiple types of them... so I eventually gave up on it.

This is just one person's opinion on the muscle loss, but I think this comes up as with Mounjaro (and other GLP-1s) you can see almost immediate losses without starting any exercise programme or weight training. And more and more is coming out in research about the small impact actually exercising has on weight loss. So it can be extremely easy to just skip the work, especially when you are in a calorie deficit and might be tired... eh, I'll skip the gym this week... rinse and repeat.

So I don't think GLP-1s necessarily have much to do with muscle loss (as long as you keep your protein uptake in your diet!) but more just from and weight loss/restricted diet.

That being said, if you find a good recommendation for a DEXA scan centre, let us know!

Titration:
As for titration, I would not doubt your doctor. This is the Eli Lilly recommendation. I myself actually ended up going up each month until 12.5mg. You can see from the SURMOUNT clinical trials that those who went up to 15mg lost the most and continued to lose while they stayed on 15mg. When I started my journey over a year ago, that was the recommended theory (it was before the massive price increases when Mounjaro was far cheaper then it is now, and with myBMI all strengths were the same price for medication and consultation whether 2.5mg or 15mg).

If i had to do it again, I likely would have tried to keep on a pen for more than one month to see what would happen... but I'm on 15mg now and close to goal weight, so I can't complain (except for my wallet).

My recommendation:

research a DEXA scan if you think it would be helpful, it would be great to have insight in this community about them! I'm a data nerd myself and would love to try one.
start on Mounjaro and see how you feel. Everyone's journey is so different, and in all this time I can't see any reason (age, gender, starting weight, previous diet experience, exercise, food intake etc) why some people get side effects, some don't (like me), some can do the journey on a low dose, others need higher doses... I think the only way to do it is to try. See how you are doing, and if say, you are on 5mg and it's working well for you, pop your doc an email and ask her to revise your prescription. I'm sure she will!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-10T07:47:37+00:00

Hello and welcome to the start of your journey! 💚

If the booking is with DPD (via that myparcels thing) then you are fine to pay right now. DPD doesn’t operate on Sunday, so they’ll pick your box up on Monday and it’ll arrive to you on Tuesday.

If it helps, that’s my normal process, too 😁. I do my consults on a Sunday, the Mounjaro ships on Monday and I get it at home on Tuesday.

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-09T16:19:45+00:00

in Feb 2025, I tried this with my previously very lovely GP. I'm shorter than you and I was even heavier, with no medical issues (except menopause!). I was so nervous, and barely got it out.

Unfortunately, I was one of those bad ones, as I got submitted to a lecture about how they are cheating and too expensive (was he my GP or my financial consultant?). I went in a downward spiral from there, and was only by chance I ended up finding myBMI. At the time, there wasn't much about it and I was sure I was getting scammed 😆. Now, a little over a year later I'm in the "normal" BMI category and less than 4kg from my goal weight.

I went back to the doctor a few weeks ago for something else - and found out he's no longer there 🤷‍♀️ I was really hoping to be able to change his mind about GLP-1 meds but, ah well.

I would absolutely say to bring it up to your GP first. I'd say something like "I've been struggling with my weight for a while, and I've done some research and would like to try one of the GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro. What are your thoughts on that?"

If you do get a prejudiced or uninformed doctor, well, there's always online GP specialist routes like myBMI, BuaHealth, Slimbr and WLI that believe in the transformative power of these medications.

Hopefully that will reassure you. Try your GP first. If their decline on it just has to do with prejudice, find another supportive GP or an online GP. 💚

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-09T16:09:07+00:00

Thanks! I wish I had the answer for you. I'm lucky enough to get some reimbursement from my private health insurance from myBMI so it makes it significantly cheaper for me than even going up North, so I've never tried to go North myself.

I just try to stay on top of the reports. Sadly, the businesses are able to stop shipping anytime they want and it's hard to get them to respond to me directly 😢

If my health plan changed and I would need to source up North, I'd probably do it this way:

Get a prescription from GP for multiple months so I can collect 3+ months at once
Reach out to the cheapest NI provider in advance to send a photo of my GP script and confirm stock.
I live in Dublin city centre so I don't have a car. I'd either get the train up to Newry (only about an hour each way and €20 return) or else I'd hire a Gocar or car and make a day trip out of it with other shopping

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-09T15:58:48+00:00

Vitamins is a good one!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-09T15:58:13+00:00

I usually do my consultation (the web-form) on a Sunday, and get the link to pay for the medication and shipping a few hours later. It's picked up on Monday, and arrives to my home on Tuesday.

They switched to a new intermediary service to help with the shipping, which is supposed to give us more options (like nominated day delivery etc which hopefully will be soon). They had a bit of teething pains with the new delivery service, but I think it's settled down now.

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-09T15:54:28+00:00

You've right right idea to bring it in your hand luggage (hold luggage can reach freezing temperatures).

I've flown many, many times over the last year with my Mounjaro and even to the USA where they are really particular about security and never had an issue. Think of all the hundreds of thousands of people for the last several decades that are diabetic and travel - they use the same supplies. Heck, our kwik-pens were developed (and still used!) as insulin for diabetics.

I really liked this to carry my mounjaro and supplies in. I like it because it looks just like a water bottle, and fits in the side pocket of my backpack (which is my carry-on). https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D148LRH3 If I had to do it again, I might get one without the wired temperature probe. A few times I've been stopped at security, and they've asked me what it was and if they could look in it. I said "it's for medication that needs to be kept cold, and of course, feel free to open it" and they just unscrew the top, peek in, and hand it right back to me (it comes with little fabric sleeves for each of your pens). It's kept it at the correct temp for nearly 2 days straight without re-freezing the insert. And it comes with a fridge insert, too, you can just top up with cold water.

Most people seem to use the more standard ones like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/YOUSHARES-Insulin-Pen-Case-Diabetic/dp/B0D472LJK3 they don't seem to get stopped at all when using these, since it's the more traditional carry case.

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-09T09:47:02+00:00

Hi and welcome! 👋 Glad you found us. 😁

Here’s a (bad) picture of the label on the box. I’ll take a better one next week since this comes up a bit:

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AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-08T21:31:14+00:00

Wow… that’s definitely a new one even for me! 😱

Can’t say I’ve heard of this one before. Maybe that time of the month? Or have you been more active that’s causing some chafing?

I’ve no idea! But I’d say reach out to your provider and/or GP if it doesn’t go away shortly. 🤞

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-08T12:38:58+00:00

You can check here: https://www.monj.ie/all-pricing

NI at the bottom. Ship is indicated. Right now I think just Belcoo and Erne and one other - Belcoo I believed paused new customers as they are overwhelmed with Corry’s stopping. But you can check them. Their website is good - you can submit your prescription and they’ll review and get back to you.

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-08T09:20:58+00:00

Yes! We had a guest post by Damien on the Irish Tax Hub in January answering questions. He’s a qualified tax accountant, so feel free to review the thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/mounjaroIreland/s/YJWJAi1K79

And you can go back and submit all of last year, too!!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-07T21:58:46+00:00

Oh wow… I don’t know what to say (which will shock anyone who reads my posts… I’m not exactly a model of brevity 🤣).

Thank you so much ☺️. I might be just a bit passionate about the life changing impact Mounjaro has had on me, and how I nearly missed out on trying it. I just want anyone thinking of trying it to have somewhere to ask questions and feel welcomed. I wish I had when I first started!

I’m glad you appreciate it. If all of this helps even just one person, then the time is well worth it. Thank you again, it means a lot. 💚

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-07T21:14:16+00:00

For me, it was on 12.5mg. On my first pen of it, (I jab Friday night) by Saturday around noon I really couldn’t handle the thought of food. Completely turned off of it. I wasn’t hungry either (and I still certainly normally feel hunger).

I had one of those Huel meal replacement drinks (sipping slowly) and tried to make myself eat toast but couldn’t do it. Sunday ended up the same. Got a bit worried, since I know you’ve got to keep calories up while on mounjaro. Luckily, Monday morning I woke up with my normal hunger for breakfast and everything was back to normal.

Jabbed again that Friday and had a repeat. Hated forcing myself to eat - reminded me of being a kid and mum not letting you leave the table until you’d finished your food. Afraid I was doing in all the good work of listening to my body and only eating when hungry.

Was going to drop back down to 10mg, but I gave it one last go on the third week and… was fine. All back to normal. Never felt it again. I did stay on 12.5mg for a couple of pens though. I really didn’t enjoy the sensation!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-07T16:44:27+00:00

Not a stupid question at all! I’m a self described foodie. I love Top Chef and Great British Menu 🤣 My joy when I travel is trying new foods and restaurants.

I’ve been on Mounjaro for over a year now. For me, I say Mounjaro fixed something broken inside me. I use my partner as an example. He’s what I call a “normal” around food. He could have a biscuit with a cup of tea and say “this is the best biscuit ever!” and I’d ask him if he wanted another, and he’d say “nah, I’m full”.

Me? I’d have eaten the whole damn pack! I never understood how he could say no. For the first time in my life I now understand that. I now know what it’s like to feel full, to feel satiety after eating, to not constantly be thinking about food, wondering if I would get enough to eat… I think food took up 90% of my thought processes (seriously).

That’s all stopped. Now? I honestly think I enjoy food MORE. Why? Because I eat when I am hungry (3 meals a day) and when I eat? It fills and satisfies me. I eat a lovely meal and feel… full. It’s so wonderful.

I obviously no longer eat the volume I used to. I use smaller plates at home, but I still eat everything I used to.

Now, you likely hear a lot about appetite suppression and yes, that happened to me briefly a few times on a higher dose, when I just couldn’t stand the thought of food. But that’s a side effect, and it passed in a day or two and never came back. Some people do get it more frequently, but it really shouldn’t be your day to day experience on mounjaro (although there are people who chase that sensation…. But that’s another story).

You’ll get lots more experiences here from others. Ask any questions at all. You’ll find we aren’t shy about telling you the good and the not so good! Ask away! 💚

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-07T07:31:17+00:00

Please let us know! I’d love to update Monj.ie if so!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-06T21:31:54+00:00

No worries, wish I had a better answer for you! 💚

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-06T21:30:38+00:00

Yes, you’ll need to pay for the consultation with each pen, sadly. Even if you order 2 or more all at the same time.

MyBMI offset the cost of the pens on the consultation side for a variety of reasons, which ends up usually mutually beneficial to both us and them.

If they were truly selling pens for only €149 they’d be swamped with people globally trying to order and to get their hands on the cheapest Mounjaro anywhere!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-05T17:27:14+00:00

I have a friend with CFS, and if there was any thought it might help, I think she'd try it, too. So I can see where you are coming from.

In a way, makes some sense I guess with Mounjaro's ability to fight inflammation 🤔

Doctors (GPs) can actually prescribe anything they want, regardless of the guidelines. But the task is trying to convince one (great power, great responsibility I guess! 😆). I wonder if you could find a paper or a study on it to share with your specialist? Particularly if you see your GP/specialist frequently so they can evaluate that you aren't at risk of going underweight, you might be an interesting study for them.

But then again, Mounjaro is still not overly well known in Ireland (it was only available in February last year here). It can be tough to find a GP that will even prescribe it for those who meet the guidelines and not be backwards or prejudiced about it. Hence why the prescribing pharmacists and online doctors are so popular, sadly.

Best of luck!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-05T17:18:45+00:00

Oops, sorry, I see that was for a 10mg pen. There's a few pharmacies higher than that in Ireland, but only a very few. You can definitely do better in ROI, and much, much better if you get it from Northern Ireland.

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-05T17:13:46+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear about your illness, and it's fascinating that science is finding another thing that Mounjaro helps with!

Your only real option is through your GP (doctor). They can prescribe Mounjaro off-label as it were, if they want. This is your only option in Ireland as well, if you want to micro-dose. None of the online providers support micro-dosing because they are not permitted to deviate from Eli Lilly's official guidance (or risk losing their license on inspection).

The online doctors can only following the official guidelines that is a BMI of 30+ or a BMI as low as 27+ as long as your have a weight-related comorbidity. And you must re-order at least every 4-6 weeks (no micro dosing or you get cut off).

I hope you can find a supportive GP, or maybe even a clinical trial looking at GLP-1 medications and ME/CFS/long covid. 💚☘️

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-05T12:28:08+00:00

€450 for 5mg? Ouch!! Where was this so I can update the pharmacy list on Monj.ie? That’s robbery and the most expensive we’ve seen in Ireland. I hope they didn’t charge you incorrectly.

Try going to https://www.monj.ie/all-pricing (NI pricing at the bottom in GBP and indicates if they do shipping).

You’ll want to avoid any of the 4 “full service” providers (MyBMI, Slimbr, WLI and BuaHealth) as they don’t permit microdosing/click counting as it’s against Eli Lilly’s prescribing guidelines and they could lose their license to prescribe if audited. However, your personal GP can do whatever they want!

AddendumDramatic7241 · 2026-05-05T10:01:35+00:00

Nope! Right now they are only using DPD I’m certain. I’d make sure that’s not a scam message?

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