Latest news with #clinicalpharmacist
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The golden dose of Mounjaro that helps you shift the MOST weight – and why it's OK to still be hungry on the jab
EXPERTS have revealed the golden dose of Mounjaro that helps shift the most weight - and it's not the highest one. Weight loss jab users tend to start on lower doses and gradually increase them as their body adjusts, to a maximum of 15mg. 1 Many assume that anything under the maximum won't be "enough" to produce results. But analysis of patients taking the jab found that most - 86 per cent - lost significant amounts of weight at 10mg or lower. In fact, some of the best outcomes were seen at doses of 7.5mg, rather than the maximum 15mg. Patients on this dose - just 5mg above the starter amount of 2.5mg - had the highest average weight loss. Kiran Jones, clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, said: 'This study reinforces that healthy, sustainable weight loss is possible without excessive pressure or maximal dosing." The analysis is based on anonymised data from 100 patients who were prescribed Mounjaro with Oxford Online Pharmacy. The data was collected in April 2025 and patients who were at various points in their treatment rather than all starting at the same time, as would happen for a study in a clinical setting. Researchers collected information such as patients' current dose, their starting body mass index (BMI) and the percentage of body weight lost. All the patients included in the audit got started on the recommended starting dose of 2.5mg. "Starting low helps the body adjust gradually to the medication and minimises early side effects," the report authors explained. I went on fat jabs but the hair loss was unbelievable so I quit - I'd rather be chubby with hair than skinny and bald Just over half - 51- of the patients were taking 5mg of Mounjaro at the time. Meanwhile, eight people were on 7.5mg, 27 people were on 10mg, one on 12.5mg and 13 on 15mg. Patients in the analysis lost up to 39kg. "Our audit showed that healthy, sustainable weight loss occurred at all Mounjaro dose levels," the report authors said. "There was a general trend of greater weight loss at higher doses, mirroring what has been found in clinical trials. "However, in our audit, the upward dose-dependent trend was not perfectly linear." This means that people on the highest doses didn't necessarily lose the most weight. The 7.5mg group had the highest average weight loss, followed by 15mg. What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss. "At first glance, this might suggest that 7.5mg is more effective than the highest dose," researchers explained. "However, while some patients on 7.5mg achieved greater weight loss than those on higher doses, others lost far less. "This variability highlights the highly individual response to Mounjaro. Outcomes are shaped not just by dose, but by lifestyle, health status, adherence, and other personal factors." Researchers noted that that smaller group sizes for some dosage amounts - just eight patients on 7.5mg and 13 on 15mg - make the results sensitive to outliers. This means that if someone lost much more weight than others in the same group, this could be skewing the averages worked out by the report authors. "A larger dataset would help smooth these fluctuations and better reflect true trends," they said. "Still, the fact that peak average weight loss occurred at a lower dose is meaningful. "It reinforces that the maximum dose isn't required to see meaningful results." The BMI patients started at did seem to influence weight loss results. Those with a BMI over 40 when they started taking the jabs were more likely to shed over 20 per cent of their body weight. "Patients with higher BMIs who achieved greater weight loss were more likely to be on higher doses of 10mg or more, but this was not always the case," the researchers said. "Some patients achieved significant results at moderate doses like 5mg or 7.5mg, reinforcing that dose alone doesn't determine success and that response to Mounjaro is highly individual." The study authors noted that they couldn't draw conclusions about how quickly patients were able to shed pounds on Mounjaro, as they didn't collect data on overall treatment duration, starting date, or how quickly people upped their dose. They also advised caution in interpreting the results, especially for the higher dose groups that had fewer people in them. Is it normal to be hungry on the jabs? A common misconception among jab users is that they shouldn't feel any hunger at all while taking them. This can lead to unnecessary concerns about whether their current dose is working, especially when they're taking lower doses. One of the ways GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro work is by calming hunger signals in the brain, helping patients feel satisfied with smaller portions. But they do not and should not eliminate hunger altogether. "Hunger is the body's way of signalling it needs fuel, and even patients on higher doses like 12.5mg or 15mg should feel hunger at times," the report authors noted. Kiran added: 'People think these medicines switch off hunger completely, but that's not how they work. "Being able to eat is normal. Success looks different for everyone, and often, the biggest wins are quiet ones: more energy, less breathlessness, and better sleep. 'Becoming healthier without extreme diets or private clinics is a powerful example of what good, regulated care can achieve. Patients need safety, not pressure.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Smartphone Monitoring Cuts BP Post-ED Discharge
In a study, patients who received a team-based intervention involving education and mobile health support in the emergency department (ED) had greater reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 6 months than those who received standard discharge care. METHODOLOGY: A randomized clinical trial enrolled 574 adult patients (mean age, 51.1 years) with elevated BP (between 140/90 mm Hg and 180/110 mm Hg) who visited an urban academic ED between February 2019 and March 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either standard discharge instructions and a primary care referral (n = 285) or a multicomponent education and empowerment intervention (E2; n = 289), which included a brief consultation with a clinical pharmacist and a smartphone-connected BP monitor with behavior change text reminders. The primary outcome was a mean change in SBP at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in SBP at 3 months and changes in diastolic BP (DBP) at both 3 and 6 months. TAKEAWAY: At 6 months, patients who received the E2 intervention had a greater reduction in SBP than those who received usual care (mean difference, 4.9 mm Hg; P = .02). = .02). The between-group differences in SBP at 3 months (4.2 mm Hg) and DBP at 6 months (2.3 mm Hg) were not statistically significant. At 6 months, 42.9% of participants in the E2 group and 36.9% in the usual care group achieved BP levels ≤ 140/90 mm Hg, but this difference was not significant ( P = .22). IN PRACTICE: "Results of the TOUCHED randomized clinical trial suggest that a multicomponent Education and Empowerment (E2) intervention initiated in the ED may present a viable and effective strategy for reducing SBP in patients with elevated BP who are discharged from the ED," the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Heather Prendergast, MD, MPH, MS, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago. It was published online on April 23, 2025, in JAMA Cardiology . LIMITATIONS: Recruitment and follow-up occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have reduced participation and introduced selection bias. The single-center design limited generalizability. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes were not assessed. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Several authors reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health and/or National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute during the conduct of the study.
