I went from 18st to 8.5st on Mounjaro, there's a dark side coming off no-one talks about – I've gone back on it 3 times
A WOMAN has shared how she lost a staggering 9.5 stone being on Mounjaro, but said there was a dark side that no one talks about when you come off.
Shannon revealed she went from 18 stone to 8.5 stone on the popular weight loss jab, and she's been on it three times after 'failing' to ditch it.
Advertisement
4
Shannon went from 18 stone to 8.5 stone on weight loss jab Mounjaro
Credit: TikTok/@shanmacxo
4
She now feels more confident, but claims the jab is 'addictive'
Credit: TikTok/@shanmacxo
On her
However, coming off the injections is extremely tough - and she claims she is now an 'addict' of its effects.
She shared how she had come off the weight loss jab three times 'cold turkey' and each time has 'completely failed and got back on it.'
Advertisement
More on Mounjaro
Shannon said she'd been on a maintenance dose of 7.5 and had been injecting herself every week or every other week.
But when it came to stopping, she faced a big obstacle.
Shannon explained: 'The last week or so has been like I have been an addict. My brain has been like, I need it, I need to order it.
'I'm eating far too much. I've got this severe, sickening worry that I'm gonna put weight on, checking the scales all of the time.'
Advertisement
Most read in Fabulous
Exclusive
Shannon said she thinks her issues come from her feeling like she was 'big' her whole life.
She said that she's been really worried about putting on a single pound and caved about bought more of the weight loss jab, although the decision left her "disappointed in myself."
I was depressed and exhausted before Mounjaro - I've lost 4 stone but have had FOUL side effects, including eggy burps
RELIANT FOR LIFE?
And it's not just her who finds the weight loss method 'addictive.'
She explained: 'And friends do the same as well, where they've come off it, lost so much weight, and then they're just like, 'I need— I need it back.''
Advertisement
Due to her reliance on the controversial weight loss jab, she wondered if she will now be reliant on it 'for life'.
She continued: 'Is it a life thing? It's not sustainable financially for life.
'I feel like this isn't talked about enough, and how we are supposed to manage the weight loss after— and the food noise—it's a real struggle."
4
More and more people buying Mounjaro through online pharmacies, without sufficient checks
Credit: Alamy
Advertisement
JAB WARNING
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) - which can have
But access to the weight loss jab through the NHS has gradually been rolled out.
Is it a life thing? It's not sustainable financially for life
Shannon
By activating GIP and GLP-1 receptors, Mounjaro slows down the emptying of the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer and reducing appetite.
This can lead to eating less food overall.
Advertisement
In addition to nasty side effects, those debating whether to begin using
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 patient.info, 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.
The injections are licensed for patients with
They are also available to assist those who are clinically obese (with a
Advertisement
The drugs, which have been widely regarded as 'fat jabs', can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
But increasingly, we are seeing more and more people buying them through online pharmacies, without sufficient checks.
Not only this, but recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed that
4
Mounjaro slows down the emptying of the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer
Credit: Alamy
Advertisement
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Revenue seize hundreds of parcels of illegal weight loss medication
Revenue have seized hundreds of parcels of illegal weight loss and other medical products, including items packaged as Ozempic, in operations over recent weeks. Revenue's Customs Service conducted a number of operations throughout the last few weeks targeting the illicit importation of weight loss and other medical products. These operations were conducted as a result of enhanced risk profiling techniques used by Revenue. In one such operation, assisted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), a total of 85 shipments of illicit medical products were identified. This included items packaged as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. Further detections over the course of the operation resulted in the interception of additional products packaged as Tirzepatide. In a separate operation, conducted over the course of a two-week period, 635 detections were made whilst Revenue officers were examining parcels at premises in Dublin and the Midlands. These parcels contained a range of illicit medical products packaged as Semaglutide, together with substantial volumes of previously unknown Botox-type and tanning products believed to have been sourced via social media. These seizures reflect an emerging trend noted by Revenue officers, particularly those based at the national mail centres and courier hubs, who have seen a significant increase in packages containing mail order prescription-only medical products. The vast majority of packages intercepted contain weight-loss products addressed to private individuals who have purchased these products online. Larger consignments are occasionally detected at ports and airports. As at 31 May 2025, Revenue enforcement teams have seized almost 11,000 individual weight loss products during the course of various ongoing operations. This is a significant increase on the 2,300 individual products seized over the course of 2024. Our work in this space is supported by advanced risk analysis, profiling and the range of assets available to us. Our strategy also involves developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis, and we continue to adopt an agile response to ensure that we deploy our resources optimally to counteract new risk areas as they develop. Consumers are reminded that it is important to take care when purchasing medical products online, as they may not be safe or effective. Consumers should also be cautious as they may suffer a financial loss if goods they purchase are subsequently seized because they are subject to restrictions. A spokesperson for Revenue said investigations in respect of all operations are ongoing.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The overlooked food dubbed a ‘poor man's Ozempic' that ‘mimics' the miracle weight loss jab for just 60p a day
WEIGHT loss jabs have taken the UK by storm - but for those looking for a more natural alternative, there's a food everyone's talking about. It's been dubbed 'the poor man's 2 Ozempic and other jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are a revolution in weight loss - but they come at a price Credit: Getty Called psyllium husk, you can find 500g of the stuff on Amazon for The food is said to mimic the fat loss effects of the revolutionary jabs by slowing down digestion, helping you feel fuller for longer and therefore preventing you from eating as much. But does psyllium husk live up to the hype? Here's everything you need to know about the supplement. What is psyllium husk? Psyllium husk is made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant's seeds, making it a plant-based fibre. Gut health dietitian Jo Travers, from the "It's often used as a laxative." Jo says psyllium husk is a soluble fibre "which means it passes through the small intestine without being completely broken down or absorbed". But it does attract water as it's being digested, becoming a viscous gel. It is known as a 'bulk-forming laxative' because it soaks up water in your digestive system and makes your faeces softer and easier to pass, according to 2 Psyllium husk is fibre supplement that promotes GLP-1, the hormone that weight-loss jabs mimic Credit: Alamy Sun Health Explainer: Fat jabs But can it make you lose weight? Is psyllium husk like Ozempic? Fibre, as we know, can help us go to the toilet. But Jo says: "It is a soluble fibre. Soluble fibre in all forms, not just psyllium, promotes GLP1 which is what weight loss drugs do." GLP-1 is a hormone that is released after eating. GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro mimick this hormone. It signals to your brain that you're full and slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body. Because it is fibre, it can also make someone feel fuller for longer Jo Travers Dietician, the London Nutritionist Jo adds: "It is indigestible, meaning it can help food move through the gut. It can be fermented by bacteria to produce beneficial compounds such as short-chain fatty acids. "It can improve blood sugar and lower cholesterol. Because it is fibre, it can also make someone feel fuller for longer." When you feel fuller for longer, you are less likely to reach for snacks or overeat, which may contribute to weight loss. Registered dietitian Jessica Cording says you can't lose weight by taking the fibre alone. She told 'But just introducing psyllium husk is not enough to cause weight loss.' She also said that "it's not the same as Ozempic". In a But a review of 22 people using the fibre Are there risks to consuming psyllium husk? Jo says psyllium husk is suitable for most adults, "although it is always worth speaking to your GP before you take any supplements, especially if you have any health condition or are taking any medications". "It can slow gastric emptying so could potentially affect some medications, but it isn't associated with any great side effects," she says. "Some people can develop an allergy to it." How do you take it? If you're going to give psyllium husk a whirl, start slowly at first and with lots of water. Jo says: "It absorbs water so it can cause constipation if you don't have additional water." A possible side effect from adding psyllium husk might be a little extra gas, dietitians say. Registered dietitian Keri Gans told Women's Health: 'If a person is not used to consuming fibre in their diet, it may cause gas and bloating at the start. "Therefore, I would recommend starting slowly, less than the recommended dose, and also drinking plenty of water to help acclimate one's body.' She also advised you don't exceed the recommended daily dosage - between 5 and 10 grams per day.
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Significant increase' in weight loss drugs like Ozempic being seized in Revenue operations
A number of operations have been carried out by Revenue customs service targeting weight-loss and other medical products. In one operation assisted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), 85 shipments of illicit weight-loss products were identified packaged as Ozempic and other brands including Wegovy and Mounjaro. During this operation, additional products packaged as the anti-diabetic and weight-loss medication Tirzepatide were intercepted. Another operation carried out over two weeks saw Revenue officers examine parcels at premises in Dublin and the midlands, where they made 635 detections of products. The parcels were found to contain products including illicit medical products packaged as semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, and 'substantial volumes of unknown Botox-type and tanning products believed to have been sourced via social media'. A spokesperson said these seizures 'reflect an emerging trend noted by Revenue officers', particularly those based at national mail centres and courier hubs, of a 'significant increase' in the number of packages containing prescription only medical products ordered by mail. They said the 'vast majority' of these intercepted packaged contained weight-loss products addressed to private individuals who bought them online. Larger consignments of the goods are also occasionally detected at ports and airports. Revenue enforcement teams have almost 11,000 individual weight-loss products over the course of all operations, as of May 31. This marks a 'significant increase' on the 2,300 individual products seized all of last year. Consumers have been issued a reminder of the importance of taking care when buying medical products online, 'as they may not be safe or effective'. They have also been advised to be cautious as they could suffer a financial loss if the goods they buy are seized. Investigations in respect of all operation carried out by Revenue are ongoing. In April, the HPRA announced more than one million units of illegal medicines had been seized last year, up 14pc on 2023. This included 203,088 units of anabolic steroids, 146,866 units of sedative drugs, 119,289 units of erectile dysfunction medicines and 113,555 analgesic drugs used for the treatment of pain. The HPRA noted an upward trend in the use of medical weight-loss products like Ozempic. 'While purchasing online is second nature for many of us, when it comes to prescription medicines, people need to ensure that the product is prescribed by a healthcare professional and sourced from a local pharmacy,' HPRA director of compliance Grainne Power said. 'Your pharmacy has sourced medicines from authorised sources for your protection and is an expert in their use. Using these prescription medicines without medical supervision or from an unregulated source leaves people unprotected. 'The seizure of over one million dosage units of illegal medicines last year highlights the persistent extent of the threats posed by falsified and unauthorised prescription medicines.'
