Moving up to Mounjaro 5mg from 2.5mg is an exciting new step in your weight loss journey. It’s the first increase from your starting dose, and it may help you see greater appetite control and weight loss.
Although doubling your dose may sound a bit daunting, it’s simply the next step of your treatment, rather than a big change.
In this piece, we explain how to adjust to the new dose, what this means for your dosing, and what to expect after you move up.
Three key takeaways
You may see greater weight loss on 5mg than on 2.5mg.
Starting to implement diet changes and gently increasing your activity levels can help you build toward a long-term lifestyle plan that suits you, but be prepared to adjust to a new relationship with food and hunger.
Moving up to 5mg can cause side effects, but these usually get better quickly. You can relieve side effects and take the medication the exact same way you did at 2.5mg.
When’s the best time to increase to 5mg?
“Your body needs to get used to your new 5mg dose. This means you may encounter the same Mounjaro side effects you experienced when you first started your journey, potentially alongside some new ones. Upping your dose can also make any existing side effects more noticeable.
“To give yourself time to adjust, you may want to reduce your social calendar around the time you’re going to start your new dose. This could also mean booking some time off work, or working from home if you’re able, to make sure you can look after yourself.
“Of course, not everyone is going to experience the same level of side effects. And if you tolerated 2.5mg well, it may be the case you’ll be fine on 5mg. But it’s still worth keeping in mind before you book up your calendar around your new dose.”
It can take between a few days and a few weeks for your body to adjust to your new dose, and for any side effects to ease.
Clinicians generally wait four weeks to see how you’re doing on a new dose. If you feel good after four weeks and are seeing improved weight loss, they may suggest increasing your dose further, from 5mg to 7.5 mg. However, everyone adjusts differently.
Remember that 5mg is the first dose after your starting dose. You might hear your clinician call it the first ‘maintenance dose’, meaning some people stay on it to maintain weight loss.
Some people notice changes from the starting dose, while others need a higher dose to see any difference. But you’ll know you’ve adjusted if you’re seeing reduced food noise and weight loss without side effects.
What to do before you increase your dose
Stocking up on healthy foods, making sure you’ve got the remedies you need, and keeping your new dose in mind as you make plans can all help your transition to 5mg go more smoothly.
Stock up on the right foods
To make sure you’re getting the nutrition you need, you might want to stock up on the following foods ahead of time:
Lean proteins: chicken, eggs, fish, tofu, beans, and pulses can help you feel full for longer and support muscle health during weight loss.
Wholegrains: brown rice, oats, and wholemeal options like breads, pastas, and cereals can help you keep blood sugar steady while providing energy that lasts you throughout the day.
Prepared veggies: pre-chopping vegetables or making some salads ahead of time can help you add nutrients to dishes without having to think too hard about it.
Low-fat dairy: low or non-fat yoghurt and cottage cheese can act as an extra protein source and a useful snack option.
Refill your medicine cabinet
Since you may’ve already experienced some of the side effects of Mounjaro, you’ll have a better idea of what remedies work for you. For example, if ginger tea soothes your nausea, top up your supplies before you start your new dose.
Planning your social life
You don’t have to cancel all your plans when you start your new dose. But you may benefit from allowing your body to adjust and not overdoing it in those first few days.
If you do plan to go out, your tolerance to alcohol might also change, especially early on. To avoid feeling too unwell, drink alcohol slowly or reduce your intake, and listen to how your body feels.
How to use your 5mg pen
If you’re used to using the 2.5mg pen, good news: the 5 mg pen works in exactly the same way. You don’t need to change how you prepare or inject the dose.
Just make sure you’re using the new, higher-dose pens when you inject every week. You can store and dispose of them the same way. That means pens in your normal rubbish, and used needles in a dedicated sharps bin.
What to expect from Mounjaro 5mg
Relationship to food
As the first maintenance dose, you might find that Mounjaro 5mg not only impacts how much you eat on a daily basis, but also your feelings about food. You’re more likely to notice that:
your experience of hunger is different
your cravings reduce
the foods that used to make you feel good no longer do
However, this doesn’t mean you should eat as little as you can. This might feel tempting, and it can be a struggle to eat what you need if your experience of hunger changes. We recommend eating slowly, paying attention to your hunger cues, and stopping eating when you feel full.
As your relationship with food changes, you should try and make sure that you’re:
eating until you feel satisfied and full
giving your body the nutrients it needs
building long-term healthy habits
Expected weight loss
How much weight you’ll lose on 5mg depends on your starting weight, how your body works, and how you respond to the drug.
Your GP or pharmacist will adjust your dose accordingly to help you meet your weight management goals.
Temporary side effects
After the starter dose, you should more clearly understand Mounjaro’s temporary side effects and how it makes your body feel. If you briefly felt sick after starting on 2.5mg, you might feel the same on 5mg. However, you may also experience new side effects you didn’t encounter on 2.5mg due to the higher dose.
Fortunately, while side effects are pretty common, they’re usually mild and manageable. And whatever methods you used to soothe side effects on 2.5mg Mounjaro should work on 5mg.
If you can’t find relief, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
6 tips for managing 5mg
Managing a higher dose may mean reviewing your routine, keeping what works, and adjusting what doesn’t. You need to give yourself enough time to adjust and track how you feel so you can get ahead of side effects.
1. Stick to your current routine (if it’s working)
Your starter dose isn’t just to get you used to the medicine itself, but also to the routine of taking it.
So, if you’ve found a good time of the week to take your injection and mealtimes that leave you feeling full between portions, keep it going.
If not, now’s your time to try some adjustments that work better for your new dose.
2. Look through your diet plan
A change in dose may make you feel differently about food. Now that you’re taking a maintenance dose, take a closer look at portion control, stocking your cupboards with nutritious, filling foods, and meal planning to make your weight loss diet as stress-free as possible.
This can help you build healthy, balanced eating habits over the long term.
3. Find a level of movement that works for you
Part of a new, balanced lifestyle includes some physical activity. But what that looks like is different for everyone. You should build your movement routine around activities you enjoy and increase the amount and intensity slowly. That’s the best way to make it stick over time.
You might also find that on some days, eating less than you did on the starter dose has left you with less energy for movement – and that’s fine. Take the stairs instead of the lift at work or take a walk around the block after dinner. It all adds up!
4. Give yourself time and space to adjust
The goal of your weight management treatment is to help you develop long-term strategies around your relationship with food. Expecting overnight results can mean you feel disappointed and overwhelmed.
It can take time for you to notice physical changes, get used to how your new lifestyle feels, and adapt to 5mg’s effect on your hunger levels. Adjust your expectations and instead focus on feeling better and having more energy.
5. Track how you feel, not what you weigh
Losing body weight isn’t the only goal, and yours may not change much depending on how you respond to Mounjaro 5mg. Instead of just logging your weight, keep a journal or diary to track your energy levels, changes in daily movement, and key achievements.
6. Speak to your GP, dietitian, or pharmacist if you’re struggling
Weight loss can be a challenge, and you don’t have to get through it alone. If you’re not seeing the results you expect, are struggling to organise your food cupboard, or don’t seem to be getting over side effects, give your prescriber a call. They can adjust your dose or talk through your options.
When to increase to Mounjaro 7.5mg
A doctor may suggest moving up to Mounjaro 7.5mg after you’ve spent four weeks on 5mg – but the choice rests entirely in your hands.
If you’re losing weight at a comfortable rate and are happy with how your body feels on 5mg, you don’t need to increase your dose.
Signs you might be ready to increase your dose
You can work with your doctor to increase to 7.5mg if 5mg isn’t working for you and you’re tolerating it well. A dose increase might benefit you if the following apply:
You’ve started seeing your appetite increase.
You’re craving certain foods again.
Your weight loss progress has stalled.
You don’t feel any different after four weeks on the current dose.
Can you decrease back to 2.5mg?
If the side effects are too severe at 5mg, you can request a reduction to 2.5mg.Some [JM2] people find that this dose is enough for reaching their weight goals and never need to move up, especially if being on 5mg doesn’t feel good.
Everyone’s body is different, and your prescriber can tailor your dose, diet plan, and lifestyle recommendations to fit what works for you.
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