Same request for me... I am working with my ins provider to figure out what is covered, so I can start making changes. Currently at a 44% BMI, and know I am a fat A that needs to get and be more responsible.

I haven't been able to get Ozempic this year. Have put on 20 lbs of the 50-55 I lost since Dec 2020. Crazy thing is, I'm exercising more than I ever have. I'd love to say it's muscle but that's only part of it.

I wish I'd done things differently. My doctor was right. I should have gotten the exercise routine down first and built up my muscle mass before dieting. As soon as I couldn't get Ozempic, the weight started coming on. Then we get a Peloton and I was doing better. Then I broke my GD foot and I sat on my arse and ate my feelings all summer.

Now I bike 3-4 times a week (Discover Your Power Zones program - currently in week 4) and do strength 3-4 days/week. I eat lots more fish, generally fast 14-16 hours a day.

I'm a woman (my handle implies I'm a guy) and I turn 50 in December. So there's all that comes with that.

Anyhoo, I'm switching off my husband's health plan to my employer's in January because Ozempic is covered on my employer's formulary. I've always struggled with what feels like hypoglycemia and the Ozempic makes that so much better. I just feel better on it. I feel no shame in saying that!

BMI 33 checking in.

Any worries about the (potentially unknown at this point) long term negative effects?

I'm glad those on this thread feel it's worth it. I'm a little concerned by the rampant use and it touted as a miracle drug.

I think KidDoc basically said it was a miracle drug. Ok, not miracle, but the results are amazing and and the drug seems to be targeting the right things.

I wonder about the long-term effects of the glutides, but I KNOW the long-term effects of being overweight are bad so I'm willing to roll the dice.

I've seen reports and videos stating it's causes lean muscle mass loss and possible a decrease in bone density as well. This drug seems too good to be true honestly. There are healthier ways to lose weight, you don't need drugs to do it.

I'm on a generic through Ways2Well. I had read about the muscle loss so I make sure to get in the gym 3-4 days per week.

I'm down about 20 lbs and have about 15 more to go. After years of chasing bad cholesterol and triglyceride numbers, my last bloodwork shows everything normal.

I'm also on TRT, so that may be helping as well.

I'm a fan.

FitzChivalry said:

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Same here.

Started in October of 2021 with a weight of 240. Right around 205-207 now. I have taken some small breaks from Ozempic here and there.

Has really helped me tighten my diabetes control as well. Last A1C was the lowest I have had since before puberty. Also helped me identify undiagnosed retinopathy to the point where surgery saved vision in my right eye.

Truly magnificent medication.

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Are you Type 1? I am and my doctor has said that I could take this. I am 25ish pounds above where I want to be, so I have held off as I would like to try and lose it myself first. Any issues with low blood sugars at all? Sounds like it has been pretty helpful for you overall.

Quinn said:

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FitzChivalry said:

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Same here.

Started in October of 2021 with a weight of 240. Right around 205-207 now. I have taken some small breaks from Ozempic here and there.

Has really helped me tighten my diabetes control as well. Last A1C was the lowest I have had since before puberty. Also helped me identify undiagnosed retinopathy to the point where surgery saved vision in my right eye.

Truly magnificent medication.

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Are you Type 1? I am and my doctor has said that I could take this. I am 25ish pounds above where I want to be, so I have held off as I would like to try and lose it myself first. Any issues with low blood sugars at all? Sounds like it has been pretty helpful for you overall.

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For a type 1 I would insist they be on CGM (edit for spelling) as the risk of hypoglycemia would be very real with how little you eat. You would need to drop your basal/long term insulin rapidly as well.

I've had a slow drift over 15 months up to 215-220 from 200-205 but I am generally disciplined with food and exercise just get bumps when I travel and have fun. I'm nearing my threshold to start another round of treatment but not there yet.

Quinn said:

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FitzChivalry said:

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Same here.

Started in October of 2021 with a weight of 240. Right around 205-207 now. I have taken some small breaks from Ozempic here and there.

Has really helped me tighten my diabetes control as well. Last A1C was the lowest I have had since before puberty. Also helped me identify undiagnosed retinopathy to the point where surgery saved vision in my right eye.

Truly magnificent medication.

---

Are you Type 1? I am and my doctor has said that I could take this. I am 25ish pounds above where I want to be, so I have held off as I would like to try and lose it myself first. Any issues with low blood sugars at all? Sounds like it has been pretty helpful for you overall.

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I am a type 1 diabetic.

Overall I have not had much of an issue with hypoglycemia while using a 1mg dose weekly. Have always been very aware of lows before a CGM or glucometer will detect.

Definitely off label for T1 therapy but it has contributed to maintaining sub 6.5 A1C's for the past 2 years.

I am barely Type 2 diabetic with an A1C of a steady 6.5

I'm also definitely overweight and my PCP has me on Ozempic. Was started on the .25 and now on my 2nd dose of .5 and not seeing any weight loss. Should I discuss moving to the 1.00 dosage?

Player To Be Named Later said:

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I am barely Type 2 diabetic with an A1C of a steady 6.5

I'm also definitely overweight and my PCP has me on Ozempic. Was started on the .25 and now on my 2nd dose of .5 and not seeing any weight loss. Should I discuss moving to the 1.00 dosage?

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After a month on the 0.5 yes I would.

https://tuckercarlson.com/the-case-against-ozempic/

Some pretty amazing and scary claims in this video.

Quote:

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The Case Against Ozempic

TIMESTAMP HEADLINE
00:03:10
Govt Money to Soda Companies

00:05:00
Taking Advantage of Americans

00:06:29
Stomach Paralysis

00:14:34
Ozempic for Life

00:22:48
SSRIs for Teens

00:27:34
The Root of Almost Everything: Diabetes

00:33:15
How Pharma Subverts the News Business

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As an outsider who is not on Ozempic, I'm curious what peeps think of the news cycle on the drug lately, especially the class-action suit about severe stomach/gastrointestinal issues, concerns that it raises suicidal thoughts, and the shortage due to overwhelming abuse from the fitness community?

I interviewed some medical people a while back for a different story, and they told me that it's already the most abused prescription drug on the market, yet it's prescribed to pretty much anyone who wants it.

Interesting article on some of the health problems people have on Ozempic. Seems to work really well for most, but a decent minority have some serious side effects.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/02/ozempic-not-working-weight-loss/677411/?taid=65d594ea47c3790001f7efd2&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=true-anthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

BassCowboy33 said:

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Interesting article on some of the health problems people have on Ozempic. Seems to work really well for most, but a decent minority have some serious side effects.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/02/ozempic-not-working-weight-loss/677411/?taid=65d594ea47c3790001f7efd2&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=true-anthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

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Locked behind a pay wall. I strongly suspect most of these are due to inappropriate dosing and absent medical management.

KidDoc said:

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BassCowboy33 said:

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Interesting article on some of the health problems people have on Ozempic. Seems to work really well for most, but a decent minority have some serious side effects.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/02/ozempic-not-working-weight-loss/677411/?taid=65d594ea47c3790001f7efd2&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=true-anthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

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Locked behind a pay wall. I strongly suspect most of these are due to inappropriate dosing and absent medical management.

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Article says a couple of things:

1) Roughly 17% of Ozempic users see no results. Scientists aren't sure why, but they think it's a genetic deal where the body just doesn't respond to the drug at all. The hope is that other weight loss drugs in the works, that work in different ways, can cover these people.

2) Another ~15% of users experience severe gastrointestinal issues and vomiting. Sometimes the pain passes after a few days. Other times it doesn't, and those people have to get off the drug for their safety. This is where the class action lawsuit comes from.

3) There's also an "inverse steroid" worry, where people on the drug drop significant body fat and muscle mass. When they drop off the drug, their body returns to its previous state. While that isn't unusual, there's worry it could create a situation where people use the drug long-term, which worries scientists about chronic effects (which may or may not be bad). I suspect this is what a previous poster was getting at, and I wonder if we'll start seeing an "Ozempic Skinny/Skeletor" look in the future.

It's more an informational piece that extolls how the drug can help people but goes into why it's definitely not for everyone.

My Mom takes Ozempic. It really helped her lose weight and manage her health condition.
But having looked through this discussion, I understood that she is just lucky not to face any issues. I read about this medication on the Canadian pharmacy site when it was prescribed and didn't find any complaints, though. Most people wrote that they found it helpful.

kermas said:

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My Mom takes Ozempic. It really helped her lose weight and manage her health condition.
But having looked through this discussion, I understood that she is just lucky not to face any issues. I read about this medication when it was prescribed and didn't find any complaints, though. Most people wrote that they found it helpful.

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Because most actually do find it helpful without significant side effects. Which is important to remember when other online sources focus only on the negatives

kermas said:

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My Mom takes Ozempic. It really helped her lose weight and manage her health condition.
But having looked through this discussion, I understood that she is just lucky not to face any issues. I read about this medication when it was prescribed and didn't find any complaints, though. Most people wrote that they found it helpful.

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Seems like it helps most people and the abuse issue is more of a problem than the side effects. Read an article yesterday that said diabetics are struggling to get it, because so many people in the fitness community are on it, which is crazy but probably shouldn't be surprising.

I do think some of the questions being asked are legit. The WSJ published an article today about part of our discussion, the long-term effects of the drug. This isn't something designed to be taken for prolonged periods of time, and there's worry people are just gonna sit on it forever.

Edit: forgot the link, lol.
https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/stop-taking-ozempic-wegovy-weight-loss-c0e11316

What about it is designed such that it can't be taken for a long time?

Quinn said:

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What about it is designed such that it can't be taken for a long time?

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It seems, from recent op-eds, that the medical community is asking the opposite question. What about it is designed such that it can be taken for a long time?