Woman reveals three things everyone should know before using Mounjaro

With more than half a million people in the UK currently taking GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro, it doesn't look like weight loss jabs will be going anywhere any time soon.

So, as more and more people rely on the hormone mimicking medication to help control their appetite and metabolism, the more information we can get about the reality of taking these products, the better.

One Mounjaro user, who has been sharing her weight loss journey on TikTok, has shared several things she wishes she knew before starting on the injections four months ago.

Sara-Jane, who posts from the handle @thatsarajane, first said that while Mounjaro will likely suppress your appetite, it shouldn't leave you feeling like you can't eat anything at all.

"You're not meant to feel starving but you're also not meant to feel empty.

"If you cannot eat anything without gagging, that is not it working well, that is it working wrong," she explained.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications like Mounjaro work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.

They also slow down digestion which leaves users feeling fuller for longer. So, while appetite suppression is normal, anyone who is struggling to eat at all might be using a higher dose than necessary and should speak to their doctor about appropriate dosage.

Mounjaro is rapidly increasing in popularity (Getty Stock Images)

Sara-Jane went on to say that by the end of the week following on from each injection, 'it can feel like you have nothing left in your system and that is completely normal.'

"It doesn't mean you need to rush up a dose super fast, and it doesn't mean you need to have a knee-jerk reaction," she continued. "Some hunger is normal anyway, but these situations are perfect for testing your own willpower. "

Appetite suppression will always be at its highest on days one to three after injecting Mounjaro and by days six to seven, hunger levels will be a lot closer to how they are without any medication at all, but they will reduce down again once another dose has been taken.

Lastly, Sara-Jane went on to advice that anyone who is new to Mounjaro may experience a bit of 'food grief.'

Mounjaro users can experience food grief (Getty Stock Images)

"When you have had any habit for a long time and then you give it up, it can leave you feeling a little bit empty and strange," she explained. "It can be difficult to sit with, but once you do get through it, you will find you will replace that habit with more healthy, more productive things."

A lot of people eat because they're seeking a dopamine hit, so when GLP-1 medication reduces appetite, it can also reduce the satisfaction and joy that comes from eating.

Mounjaro manufacturers Eli Lilly told LADbible: "Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional, and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by registered pharmacies or providers.

"We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional to discuss any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."