I've lost 6st stone on Mounjaro - but here are the grim side effects no one tells you about
A woman who shed six stone using injectable weight loss drugs has opened up about the grim side effects no one talks about.
Mia Melville, who hails from the UK, tipped the scales at 18st 3lbs eight months ago, but has since dropped a whopping 6st since she began taking Mounjaro - one of a number of now mainstream weight loss drugs being used to promote weight loss.
The youngster, believed to be of Gen Z age, has shared details of her weight loss journey on TikTok, opening up to viewers about some of the less glamorous side effects of using the drug.
As NHS experts issue stern words of caution to those considering taking weight-loss drugs, people using the drug to aid weight loss are laying bare what it's really like to take them.
Many have reported the debilitating impact of side-effects which include nausea, diarrhea and excessive gas, just to name a few.
Mia began her journey weighing 18st 3lbs and has since shrunk to 12st 3lbs - though she said that she is aiming to shed a further 2st to reach her goal weight.
Taking to the app, Mia showed off her impressive results, first sharing a picture of her before she started the weight-loss drug. In the photo, a shy-looking Mia is seen perched on a sun longer covering her face from the camera.
Then, a transformed Mia appeared in front of the camera, showing off her enviable waistline in a snug fitting black top.
However, the road to weight loss hasn't been rosy nor glamorous, she says.
On TikTok, Mia has revealed she has experienced unsavoury side effects such as egg-tasting ;sulphur burps;, nausea, diarrhea and excessive gas.
Such side-effects are not only cited by Mounjaro users. Several using other popular weight-loss medications such as Wegovy, Saxenda, Ozempic, have also reported gastrointestinal issues like constipation and even in some extreme cases, pancreatitis or kidney damage.
Sulfur burps are a commonly reported side effect of the drug. According to Healthline, sulfur - or eggy smelling - gas is the result of food being in the stomach for longer that it usually would, leaving more time for bacteria to ferment in the gut and go on to produce gases like hydrogen sulfide, which cause the unpleasant smell.
Advising viewers who have recently embarked on their Mounjaro journey, Mia suggested paracetamol and water.
'I feel these helped me literally eliminate the nausea,' she suggested.
Additionally, those who want to skip the unpleasant side effect of sulfur burps, Mia recommended popping peppermint oil capsules.
She said that after 12 weeks of using the drug, she was left dealing with a trio of debilitating side-effects including nausea vomiting and diarrhoea.
Offering her advice to fellow Mounjaro users, she urged other to take their daily vitamins to ensure waist trimmers are getting all the vital nutrients they need - a particularly necessary feat for those who are eating slimmer food portions
Offering her advice to fellow Mounjaro users, she urged people to take their daily vitamins to ensure they are getting all the vital nutrients they need - a particularly necessary feat for those who are eating slimmer food portions.
She also advised them to drink plenty of water and suggested taking the weekly injectable in the evening to 'help with potential side effects'.
Mia also encouraged people using the drug to take their progress so they could see how far they'd come.
'Take notes of your weight and measurements so you can track how far you've come and for self reflection. Also track your side effects to see if you can prevent any that was caused by certain foods,' she wrote on the app.
Despite experiencing some of the unpleasant side effects of the drug, Mia maintained that she will continue using it to reach her goal weight.
She insisted that she doesn't 'restrict' what she eats and still regularly enjoys chowing down on some of her favourite foods, including 'takeaways and chocolate'.
Mia explained that she had always 'tried her best' to eat healthy and so didn't need to make too many changes to her diet when beginning the drug.
'I'm not a picky eater anyway so I love my vegetables,' she explained.
In one video, she shared a list of the foods she munches through in a single day, revealing a diet consisting of two full meals and two snacks.
Journalling the contents of her diet, she showed her having 'bruschetta style bread' topped with tomatoes at 12:30pm, shortly following by a Twister ice lolly at 3pm.
Then for her dinner, the content created tucked into a slice of cheese and onion pie with a portion of baked beans.
For her final bite, Mia enjoyed a second Twister ice lolly at 7:20pm.
'Treat yourself and don't restrict … You may find it harder if you do so. High protein is key,' she said.
People in the comments rushed to praise on her impressive results, with many telling her she looked 'amazing'.
'Wow I need to give this a go,' one wrote.
'You look amazing. Well done I'm just starting my journey,' another commented.
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