Anonymous wrote:Are there any feds who are getting this covered? If so, which plan do you have? I've been paying out of pocket for Ozempic but about to start a fed job and hoping I can choose one that covers it or Mounjaro.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at all the posts from people frustrated by their weight, I wanted to share my experience with Mounjaro, the lastest in a series of medications initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes (earlier meds include Ozempic and Wegovy).

I am 53 and, as of the beginning of July, I was overweight. Not obese– I didn't look "fat"– but at 5' 2" and just over 150lbs, the curves were gone, my waist was thicker, and I was generally pretty miserable about how I looked. My diet was already healthy and I already got plenty of exercise, so although I was unhappy, I figured it was just normal aging and I had to accept it. Then I had bloodwork done and discovered I was prediabetic– only just, but prediabetic– and my blood pressure was also high. My doctor suggested Mounjaro, which is used off-label for weight loss, pre-diabetes, and high BP. To my surprise, my insurance (Carefirst) covered it completely, so I thought it was worth a try.

3 months later, I am thirty pounds lighter, my HbA1c levels are normal, and BP is normal. I have not been this slender for at least two decades. It's almost unbelievable. I have had to buy new clothes.

Mounjaro is taken as a weekly self-administered injection. Normally they start you at 2.5 mg for a month, then go up in 2.5mg increments each month. I went from 2.5 in July to 5mg in August. In September I went to 7.5 for a week, but the side effects got a lot worse, and i went back to 2.5mg (on which I continued to lose weight!)

Basically, Mounjaro reduces your appetite and, when you eat, makes you feel full faster. It also does various things to your insulin and glycemic response, but what you notice is just... you're not very hungry most of the time. The thought of big, fatty meals makes you feel yucky, and when you eat, even if it's something you like, you're full after just a small portion.

Most common negative side effects: nausea, dry mouth, constipation. Everyone is different, but for me, side effects were minimal at 2.5 (very mild nausea just once, minor dry mouth), noticeable at 5 (somewhat more nausea, dry mouth got annoying, and had to take colace), and really unpleasant at 7.5. (All of the above, but more).

Now I am back at 2.5 and the side effects are minimal again. These meds are new, so no one really knows if they will eventually cause a sort of "metabolic reset" and you can go off them and stay healthy and slim, or if you inevitably revert back when off them. Best guess is that people may need to consider them lifetime drugs, just like blood pressure meds. However: I plan to start alternating weeks with the 2.5mg, one week on, one week off, because I am at a point where I don't want to lose more weight. I just want to stay where I am, which is now right smack in the middle of "normal" on the BMI charts.

Anyway: these meds are not for everyone. Some people can't tolerate the side effects, and some have medical conditions or take other meds incompatible with these. And they are new, so although they appear to be quite safe so far, there are only a few years of data. (Of course, being overweight, prediabetic and hypertensive also carries serious health risks).

But I wanted to share this for those of you who feel completely stuck. This medication works. It really feels almost like magic, and it is transforming how doctors think of obesity. So: google the studies on it; consult your doctor; join one of the Mounjaro facebook groups to get more stories from others. It might be something that will work for you.

Best wishes, everyone, and happy to answer any questions if I can.

I’m on the 15mg dose, it doesn’t work nearly as good for me as Wegovy but it definitely cuts the food noise in my head. This medication seems to just cut cravings completely. Like for everything. I haven’t had any side affects at all. I lost over 100lbs on Wegovy.

As someone who has struggled with their weight for many years, I just hate to hear about all the folks who want to take it just to lose 10lbs, or those with a BMI of 26 and below on it. But I know I have ignore that noise as well.

Why do you hate to hear about a less overweight pre-diabetic taking it? Weird hang up.

I’m talking about the women, men, and very young looking girls specifically, all over TikTok taking Mournjaro to lose 10lbs to control their appetite, treating this medication like it’s nothing. Not reading up on it, ending up in the ER because they skipped doses trying to get to the highest dose for appetite suppression. They are getting it from telehealth providers by straight up lying about their stats. The medication was not studied on that demographic for WEIGHT LOSS. If and when that demographic starts to report adverse effects, it may cause issue for ELI LILY to get FDA approval for Mournjaro for weight loss. Folks, including me are taking this medication off label for weight loss, what you’re describing would be people taking it for it’s FDA approved use, which I could completely understand. I am very hopeful about this medication, will probably need to
take it or something like it for life. I need it to stay on the market and not be ruined by vanity users. Eli Lily has already changed the requirements of the coupon because they are suspecting abuse and have concerns about FDA approval. They are trying to get it fast tracked now.

Our society is so broken. Drug manufacturers pushing the next unnecessary drug. Here’s how you lose weight - eating healthy and exercising. Not popping a drug.

Stay mad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at all the posts from people frustrated by their weight, I wanted to share my experience with Mounjaro, the lastest in a series of medications initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes (earlier meds include Ozempic and Wegovy).

I am 53 and, as of the beginning of July, I was overweight. Not obese– I didn't look "fat"– but at 5' 2" and just over 150lbs, the curves were gone, my waist was thicker, and I was generally pretty miserable about how I looked. My diet was already healthy and I already got plenty of exercise, so although I was unhappy, I figured it was just normal aging and I had to accept it. Then I had bloodwork done and discovered I was prediabetic– only just, but prediabetic– and my blood pressure was also high. My doctor suggested Mounjaro, which is used off-label for weight loss, pre-diabetes, and high BP. To my surprise, my insurance (Carefirst) covered it completely, so I thought it was worth a try.

3 months later, I am thirty pounds lighter, my HbA1c levels are normal, and BP is normal. I have not been this slender for at least two decades. It's almost unbelievable. I have had to buy new clothes.

Mounjaro is taken as a weekly self-administered injection. Normally they start you at 2.5 mg for a month, then go up in 2.5mg increments each month. I went from 2.5 in July to 5mg in August. In September I went to 7.5 for a week, but the side effects got a lot worse, and i went back to 2.5mg (on which I continued to lose weight!)

Basically, Mounjaro reduces your appetite and, when you eat, makes you feel full faster. It also does various things to your insulin and glycemic response, but what you notice is just... you're not very hungry most of the time. The thought of big, fatty meals makes you feel yucky, and when you eat, even if it's something you like, you're full after just a small portion.

Most common negative side effects: nausea, dry mouth, constipation. Everyone is different, but for me, side effects were minimal at 2.5 (very mild nausea just once, minor dry mouth), noticeable at 5 (somewhat more nausea, dry mouth got annoying, and had to take colace), and really unpleasant at 7.5. (All of the above, but more).

Now I am back at 2.5 and the side effects are minimal again. These meds are new, so no one really knows if they will eventually cause a sort of "metabolic reset" and you can go off them and stay healthy and slim, or if you inevitably revert back when off them. Best guess is that people may need to consider them lifetime drugs, just like blood pressure meds. However: I plan to start alternating weeks with the 2.5mg, one week on, one week off, because I am at a point where I don't want to lose more weight. I just want to stay where I am, which is now right smack in the middle of "normal" on the BMI charts.

Anyway: these meds are not for everyone. Some people can't tolerate the side effects, and some have medical conditions or take other meds incompatible with these. And they are new, so although they appear to be quite safe so far, there are only a few years of data. (Of course, being overweight, prediabetic and hypertensive also carries serious health risks).

But I wanted to share this for those of you who feel completely stuck. This medication works. It really feels almost like magic, and it is transforming how doctors think of obesity. So: google the studies on it; consult your doctor; join one of the Mounjaro facebook groups to get more stories from others. It might be something that will work for you.

Best wishes, everyone, and happy to answer any questions if I can.

I’m on the 15mg dose, it doesn’t work nearly as good for me as Wegovy but it definitely cuts the food noise in my head. This medication seems to just cut cravings completely. Like for everything. I haven’t had any side affects at all. I lost over 100lbs on Wegovy.

As someone who has struggled with their weight for many years, I just hate to hear about all the folks who want to take it just to lose 10lbs, or those with a BMI of 26 and below on it. But I know I have ignore that noise as well.

Why do you hate to hear about a less overweight pre-diabetic taking it? Weird hang up.

I’m talking about the women, men, and very young looking girls specifically, all over TikTok taking Mournjaro to lose 10lbs to control their appetite, treating this medication like it’s nothing. Not reading up on it, ending up in the ER because they skipped doses trying to get to the highest dose for appetite suppression. They are getting it from telehealth providers by straight up lying about their stats. The medication was not studied on that demographic for WEIGHT LOSS. If and when that demographic starts to report adverse effects, it may cause issue for ELI LILY to get FDA approval for Mournjaro for weight loss. Folks, including me are taking this medication off label for weight loss, what you’re describing would be people taking it for it’s FDA approved use, which I could completely understand. I am very hopeful about this medication, will probably need to
take it or something like it for life. I need it to stay on the market and not be ruined by vanity users. Eli Lily has already changed the requirements of the coupon because they are suspecting abuse and have concerns about FDA approval. They are trying to get it fast tracked now.

Our society is so broken. Drug manufacturers pushing the next unnecessary drug. Here’s how you lose weight - eating healthy and exercising. Not popping a drug.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is it if the insurance doesn’t cover it?

Like $1000+ a month

Just a note that some insurers don't cover it as a normal drug, but offer a 'special' price. My insurer offers Wegovy for about $700 a month.
You should call and ask.

And somehow 700/month is affordable??! That is seriously how much you pay??!

Eli Lilly offers a coupon that allows you to have it for a flat $25 a month (4 pens). The coupon is on the Lilly site. It requires you to be on a commercial health plan (no government plans) and pharmacies have to bypass your insurance and process the coupon correctly for it to be $25.

https://www.mounjaro.com/savings-resources

So…that’s for 1 or 3 months. How about after that?

The coupon has changed now for new RX’s. Please read the fine print. Only giving $500 off. Too many people abusing.

I think you meant “too many people using.” Using isn’t abusing.

No I meant abusing. They have people going to telemed doctors faking stats getting Mournjaro to lose 10lbs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is it if the insurance doesn’t cover it?

Like $1000+ a month

Just a note that some insurers don't cover it as a normal drug, but offer a 'special' price. My insurer offers Wegovy for about $700 a month.
You should call and ask.

And somehow 700/month is affordable??! That is seriously how much you pay??!

Eli Lilly offers a coupon that allows you to have it for a flat $25 a month (4 pens). The coupon is on the Lilly site. It requires you to be on a commercial health plan (no government plans) and pharmacies have to bypass your insurance and process the coupon correctly for it to be $25.

https://www.mounjaro.com/savings-resources

So…that’s for 1 or 3 months. How about after that?

The coupon has changed now for new RX’s. Please read the fine print. Only giving $500 off. Too many people abusing.

I think you meant “too many people using.” Using isn’t abusing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is it if the insurance doesn’t cover it?

Like $1000+ a month

Just a note that some insurers don't cover it as a normal drug, but offer a 'special' price. My insurer offers Wegovy for about $700 a month.
You should call and ask.

And somehow 700/month is affordable??! That is seriously how much you pay??!

Eli Lilly offers a coupon that allows you to have it for a flat $25 a month (4 pens). The coupon is on the Lilly site. It requires you to be on a commercial health plan (no government plans) and pharmacies have to bypass your insurance and process the coupon correctly for it to be $25.

https://www.mounjaro.com/savings-resources

So…that’s for 1 or 3 months. How about after that?

The coupon has changed now for new RX’s. Please read the fine print. Only giving $500 off. Too many people abusing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is it if the insurance doesn’t cover it?

Like $1000+ a month

Just a note that some insurers don't cover it as a normal drug, but offer a 'special' price. My insurer offers Wegovy for about $700 a month.
You should call and ask.

And somehow 700/month is affordable??! That is seriously how much you pay??!

Eli Lilly offers a coupon that allows you to have it for a flat $25 a month (4 pens). The coupon is on the Lilly site. It requires you to be on a commercial health plan (no government plans) and pharmacies have to bypass your insurance and process the coupon correctly for it to be $25.

https://www.mounjaro.com/savings-resources

So…that’s for 1 or 3 months. How about after that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is it if the insurance doesn’t cover it?

Like $1000+ a month

Just a note that some insurers don't cover it as a normal drug, but offer a 'special' price. My insurer offers Wegovy for about $700 a month.
You should call and ask.

And somehow 700/month is affordable??! That is seriously how much you pay??!

Eli Lilly offers a coupon that allows you to have it for a flat $25 a month (4 pens). The coupon is on the Lilly site. It requires you to be on a commercial health plan (no government plans) and pharmacies have to bypass your insurance and process the coupon correctly for it to be $25.

https://www.mounjaro.com/savings-resources

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is it if the insurance doesn’t cover it?

Like $1000+ a month

Just a note that some insurers don't cover it as a normal drug, but offer a 'special' price. My insurer offers Wegovy for about $700 a month.
You should call and ask.

And somehow 700/month is affordable??! That is seriously how much you pay??!

Eli Lilly offers a coupon that allows you to have it for a flat $25 a month (4 pens). The coupon is on the Lilly site. It requires you to be on a commercial health plan (no government plans) and pharmacies have to bypass your insurance and process the coupon correctly for it to be $25.

https://www.mounjaro.com/savings-resources

Anonymous wrote:I had my first injection on Friday night. I do not feel a difference. Same level of hunger. When does the medicine start to kick in?