I never imagined that a medication could bring such relief—and such fear.
Today, Mounjaro prices in the UK have shot up dramatically, turning what many call a “miracle jab” into a potential luxury few can afford.
Thanks to a policy move by Donald Trump affecting US manufacturers, Eli Lilly has been forced to raise wholesale costs by up to 102%.
Pharmacies are scrambling, and many are urging customers to switch to the cheaper alternative, Wegovy, from Danish company Novo Nordisk.
Last week, Mounjaro sales paused as people rushed to stock up before the price hike.
Now, Wegovy, priced more than £100 lower in major stores and up to £150 cheaper online, is absorbing those who feel priced out.
For anyone watching their budget—or their waistline—this shift is dramatic.
My GLP-1 Journey Begins
My personal experience with these drugs started in December 2023.
At 46, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two years earlier, I was struggling to manage my weight. At 19st 9lb, nothing seemed to work.
Desperate, I visited Dr. Dipesh Patel at The Cleveland Clinic, who started me on Wegovy.
The results were real—I lost 2st 9lb in ten months—but the side-effects were brutal.
From severe constipation to violent vomiting and diarrhoea, my body seemed to revolt at every dose increase. What worked for many turned into a nightmare for me.
The Harsh Reality of Wegovy
Starting with 0.25mg, the drug initially suppressed my appetite effectively. But as I moved up to 0.5mg and then 1mg, things went sideways.
Protein bars combined with slowed digestion caused extreme constipation and a fissure, and a later dose increase led to 48 hours of relentless vomiting, diarrhoea, and the infamous “sulphur burps.”
Despite my doctor’s advice to manage the side-effects with laxatives, hydration, and careful monitoring, the experience left me exhausted.
Yet I persisted, determined to make it work.
Discovering Mounjaro
When my Wegovy results plateaued and side-effects persisted, my doctor suggested Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
Starting at 5mg and quickly rising to 10mg, I found it far more tolerable.
Over eight months, I lost another 17lb, my blood sugars stabilised, and my energy and mood improved. It felt miraculous.
At 12mg, the results were euphoric—until summer brought another complication. IVF treatment required me to stop Mounjaro temporarily.
Within weeks, my weight rebounded by 13lb, my keto lifestyle collapsed, and I felt emotionally and physically unmoored.
The experience was a harsh reminder of how vital the drug had become to my stability.
Learning the Hard Way About “Mounjaro Withdrawal”
Stopping Mounjaro showed me the full extent of GLP-1 withdrawal: intense hunger, sugar spikes, weight regain, and a crash in mood and motivation.
Even natural alternatives failed to stabilize me consistently.
Eventually, I restarted Mounjaro at a low dose, gradually increasing while carefully managing hydration, fibre, and laxatives. Slowly, my control returned.
This experience inspired me to act beyond my personal journey.
Together with my friend and personal trainer, Kate Rowe-Ham, we created The Shift—a one-day workshop to help women navigate the life-changing rollercoaster of GLP-1 drugs, from cravings to old habits that these medications can’t erase.
Choosing Control Over Chaos
Today, I am on 5mg of Mounjaro and feeling stable. Once I regain the weight lost during the IVF pause, I plan to taper off again, ready for the inevitable return of old habits and food cravings.
I know newer, stronger drugs are on the horizon, but they will likely come with steep price tags.
Even with Mounjaro’s cost now exceeding £3,500 a year, the trade-off is clear for me: the difference between chaos and control, despair and dignity.
Healthy, stable living comes at a price—but it’s one I’m willing to pay.
And if Wegovy becomes my backup, I will navigate it armed with knowledge, experience, and strategies to minimize side-effects.
