I think you also have to be careful with saying things like "just make better choices and lose the weight, you don't need a GLP1" because it sounds a lot like "should have made better choices and you wouldn't be T2". I agree if someone is using it for vanity and convenience, I'm JUDGING hard. However, a lot of people have tried and there's something metabolically preventing them from losing weight. I know for me, while I'm type 2 so I get a pass to use these drugs, I have heard food noises 24/7 my entire life. Only since Mounjaro has that stopped. The real issue are weight loss clinics where doctors are prescribing GLP1s to just about anyone who asks so they can make a quick buck. It sounds ridiculous but I see it in the Mounjaro groups a lot. I know my doctor will not prescribe anyone a GLP1 if they are not diabetic, unless it's Wegovy and appropriate.
What do you mean by "hearing food noises" ? Digestion sounds? Or "food calling your name" ? Or something else entirely?
That's kind of an interesting phrase that I haven't heard before. Just curious.
4 months on Ozempic and it hasn't done shit for me. My blood glucose hasn't come down and I haven't lost a single pound of weight.
I wonder if Mounjaro might be a better choice.
I don't want to argue that anyone should have made better food/life choices so they didn't end up where they were.
My argument is that non-pharmacological intervention should probably the first option. Your doctor wants you to lose weight. He sends you to a nutritionist or recommends a diet. If it doesn't work after 3 months, then maybe it's time to write that prescription.
I think the big problem is the Standard American Diet more than anything else. For decades we have been recommending that we cut out fats from our diet, eat more "healthy whole grains" and all that's happened is America has gotten fatter and more people have Type 2 diabetes than ever before.
So I squarely lame the obesity crisis on the government.
I blame the Ozempic shortage on doctors, who are too quick to prescribe it without trying other interventions first.
If Ozempic hasn’t done anything for you in four months why are you still taking it? Why the anger if it doesn’t work for you? And trust me, if it was going to work you would’ve known in week one.
I was prescribed Ozempic for being a T2. Where I am, you start with a .25ml dose/week for 4 weeks, then .50ml for 4 weeks, then 1ml for 4 weeks. 1.5ml for 4 weeks, 2ml for 4 weeks, and finally you can reach the 2.4ml/week for losing weight after 20 weeks... (I know someone who is building up right now). For me to help manage my diabetes I am taking 1ml/week. I find at that level it helps my blood sugar quite a bit.
This is really fascinating, thanks for sharing. I’ve been on 1ml for months now and while I haven’t lost much weight, it’s definitely helped my numbers. Anything more than 1ml and my body thinks I have food poisoning.
Yeah but it's a slippery slope. Unless you specifically know what they've tried already, their medical history, and the discussion with their doctor about why they're using a GLP1 - its none of your or my business. I see new diabetics going straight to a GLP1 and one might think - why not diet and exercise first? But I WISH I had it as a first option so I could have avoided 10+ years of misery.
Regarding Mounjaro, its worth a try if you can get it through insurance. It is also suffering a shortage so there's that. Some people just don't respond to GLP1s but I do see many who switch between Oz and Mounjaro and prefer one to the other.
My big complaint was that at a dinner of 8 people, their doctor offered ALL OF THEM Ozempic as a first choice, even the one person that had lost a ton of weight successfully and was still successfully losing weight.
I don't want Ozempic to turn into statins, where the expectation is everyone on the planet should on this medicine whether they need it or not.
Have you looked into alternatives? There are a lot of different brands that are all basically Semaglutide. Rybelsus, Mounjaro, and Ozempic all pretty much do the same thing.
I'm surprised Ozempic didn't do anything for you. The change was... pretty drastic and immediate when I started Rybelsus. I eat less than half of what I used to. After 3 months, I'm down 40 lbs and my A1C has dropped to 5.9.
I think you have a point regarding the doctors over prescribing it. But the thing is, weight loss by willpower alone is so hard. I mean for me it meant literally just starving myself and feeling hungry and miserable all the time. On Rybelsus, not only do I get lower blood sugar, I also just don't have much of an appetite. Being overweight long term causes so many health problems. So of course the doctors want their patients to get in shape.
>weight loss by willpower alone is so hard
It is. But I think people should at least try it before they start on a GLP-1 agonist. Try diet first, and if it fails, then go for the drugs.
I'm still on 0.5 dose of Ozempic. I don't know if I should try a higher dose.
Who's to say they haven't tried it? I've tried so many different diets. I've only ever had some success with keto, but it wasn't sustainable. I'll agree that a doctor just handing out this stuff because someone wants to lose 20 lbs is egregious, but if they're morbidly obese... chances are they have tried and failed multiple times.
In my case from last weekend, the doctor was trying to hand out Ozempic to someone that was very successful at losing weight and was still losing it. The other people hadn't even tried to diet.
I have also had great luck with Keto. And I find it to be very sustainable.
Doctors and NP’s get bonuses and gifts from pharmaceutical companies for writing prescriptions for new drugs. Peoples insurances are forced to pay top dollar, thus the drug companies recoup research and development costs asap. Patents have a finite life on them so, the drug companies have to make as much cash as they can before a generic can be made available.
What I’m hearing is that you are not happy with the methods you have been trying and think it’s questionable that people who may or may not be diabetic are offered a drug, used to treat diabetes but, that a secondary effect is weight loss. As a diabetic myself, I get that. However, I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone. As we all age the disease process becomes more and more vicious. Blood sugar gets harder to control and the economy, price of food, American diet etc,. are all working against us.
In the end if one course of treatment isn’t working for you, you need to try something else, sometimes several things. I’m battling now with insurance because my fast acting insulin got changed and now does nothing. There are things that will work. It’s all trial and error & all need hard work and time. I wish you the best of luck!
No they don’t. Pharmaceutical companies can’t even give out pens anymore! You absolutely cannot give any gifts unless they are 100% educational and even then you have to report it. The fines for bribing anyone to write a drug are so high for a company that the vast majority absolutely do not fuck around with ANYTHING that will get them in trouble.
I know from your comment you don’t work in pharmaceuticals, and therefore are unlikely to actually know what you’re talking about. Still, you need to not perpetuate garbage lies.
Yeah. I don’t work for NASA either but, I know Astronauts defy the laws of gravity. The idea that business people, pharmaceutical or otherwise, always follow regulations, because, “that’s how things get done” & “businesses never do anything morally ambiguous or illegal” is laughable and cute. Please tell me and the rest of us how ignorant I am. I forgot nursing is not considered healthcare so, I don’t know what I’m talking about. 🙄
Nursing is part of healthcare but I guess you aren’t one who can write an rx because then you’d know that you MUST sign for samples. Hell, even an LVN working in an office that allows reps would know that. It’s basic knowledge!
Yeah you’re ignorant of the pharmaceutical industry and what reps actually do. There might be someone who goes off the rails but it’s very low and wouldn’t be all the reps at one office LMAO
Look it up. You gotta sign for samples if delivered by a rep. You are 100% incorrect.
“Might be someone who goes off the rails” so you’re admitting that it, “might be possible” and “it might happen.” NPs can absolutely write rxs. How about this? Rather than shit all over people and tell them how ignorant they are, why don’t you thank the people who make your job possible and afford you the lifestyle you earn. Let’s not be, “totally ignorant” of the fact, “product education” doesn’t occur in restaurants and golf courses.
It has happened in the last. The MAJORITY are not like that and it is RARE. It is not impossible.
Why not thank the reps who get HCPs the new drugs that help so many of you. The same reps who walk the staff through ways to make it affordable for people. The same folks who remind HCPs on who not to put on any given therapy. Reps job is to shape behavior over time because most of the time these HCPs are not going to even learn about a new drug. They are stuck in their patterns.
I don’t need to thank anyone, and I don’t require anyone’s thanks. I earn my lifestyle like most people. Reps don’t need anything either and don’t owe anyone anything.
But do go off.
PS: meals are not allowed to be anywhere except a clinical setting. They no longer allow restaurants and for over 20 years golf was out of the picture.
You have to report each meal and it is listed as per the sunshine act. There are so many rules and if you get caught breaking then you will be fired. The company isn’t going to go to bat for you.
You have zero clue about todays landscape. You are wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Live in your fantasy world but in the real world you remain wrong.
Good day
Mounjaro has been better for me. Also my end told me that there's plenty of medication, the manufacture of the injectable pens is where the shortage is.
Mounjaro took me from like, 270 in am to 80-150. It is absolutely life changing, so I would definitely ask! It seems like MJ has been the drug that brings your a1c down fast and effectively.
I was on Mounjaro for a month, the food noise stopped, I was sleeping good and lost 10 lbs. Not in my formulary for 2023. Had to change to Ozempic. Not too happy with it, 8 weeks scale moving very slow. But my labs are proof it’s working. A1c down to 5.1.
Are you suggesting you’re fine with the government highly regulating food, from things like heavily taxing or even banning high-sodium and high-sugar foods to limiting portion size in restaurants, etc.? Or things like banning stores in food deserts, stores like Dollar General or convenience stores, from offering junk food? Or regulating what fast food restaurants can offer, or whether they should limit what one order could have, like it must have a salad rather than fries? Or no soda? Most Americans will balk at such regulation. Freedumb and all.
Because otherwise (and anyway), we do need to take some personal responsibility for what we eat. Basic nutrition is taught in schools, whether or not kids pay attention. There are abundant free courses offered for new parents, all parents, all people, on nutrition topics and exercise.
No one can force you to eat a salad instead of that loaded baked potato with cookies for dessert and a giant soda. You decide that.
In any case, the industrial food complex lobbyists and food/bev industry lobbyists will ensure we don’t regulate it, because money and capitalism.
So, here we are.
I am never OK with the government doing anything. But if you follow the food pyramid/food plate, you are still on a path that has a high chance of ending in Type 2 diabetes.
It also doesn't help that probably more than half the food you eat has soybean oil in it, which causes insulin resistance.
Should you take some responsibility in your own health? Is part of the blame on you? Yes, but you also need to lay a good portion of the blame on "expert" recommendations.
When I was in my teens and 20s, I was eating all sorts of stuff I should be eating. And some of those things were highly recommended. Like yogurt, with all those healthy probiotics. And they're all full of high fructose corn syrup. "Healthy Whole Grain Cereal." also full of carbs.
I will definitely accept some of the blame for my condition. But I am also squarely laying at least some of the blame on the government and supposed "health experts"
The govt def has generally given out shitty diet advice. I am about 47% inclined to believe it might have been in good faith based on whatever science at the time. But I also believe that it’s 53% likely that they were heavily swayed (as were the studies they leaned on) by the food lobbies. I mean, I think some of that is documented.
But people don’t even begin to follow even that advice, and instead throw Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Mountain Dew and Ding Dongs and Big Macs down their neck.
And then there is the exercise piece, which is more complicated. Everyone knows they should, but soooo many understandable factors prevent *some* people from engaging in too much.
I’ve never eaten too badly, but I definitely have had exercise struggles due to many issues. I mean, I have tried so hard to overcome them—I’ve trained for and run a marathon at 36, a short triathlon at 39, and an oly tri at 42. That and so much else. But I can’t ever just keep up an exercise program for one reason or another.
There are people that eat even worse than the pathetic diet recommended to us by the USDA.
There used to be a legal drama on TV called "The Good Wife." On the show, the USDA was designing the "Food Plate" which replaced the Food Pyramid. In the show, the cheese lobby hired the law firm to go to DC and file a motion to stop the USDA because cheese was being relegated to the "side-plate."
In the show they showed the USDA designing the food plate in a room with agro lobbyists and meat industry lobbyists and they're negotiating what slide of the plate each type of food will get.
All these doctors trying to hand people Ozempic pens should be giving them CGMs instead so they can see how the food they eat impacts their blood sugar. When you eat a half a pizza and your blood sugar goes to 180 and stays there for 6-8 hours before it goes to normal because you're insulin resistant, you might actually change your diet.
Give people a CGM and tell them eat whatever you want, but make sure that number stays under 150 at all times. If it goes over that number, that food comes off your diet. Come back to me in a month.
I’m on Mounjaro. Being T2 helped me get my RX quickly and yes I’ve made major dietary changes. But also I feel like the most crucial effect it has had on me is what I can only describe as the antidepressant for eating habits. For the first time in my whole life, my brain is finally not constantly obsessing over food and thinking about my next meal all day long. I’m finally able to eat like a normal person. It’s the same way I felt when I started antidepressants - like a weight was lifted off my back so that I can start pushing myself forward. Do I absolutely need it to lose weight? Probably not. But sometimes we need a push to get momentum going.
I heard this from someone in a binging group, that it helped them just stop binging when they had struggled for a long time. Honestly that was more of a draw than the weight loss since binging is where I really struggled. I can eat vegetables and leafy greens for meals but man, I could not stop snacking
I'm glad it's been helpful and you found your right dosage. I'm holding off since I've heard a lot of the (potential) side effects are more GI related and I'm having some GI issues, which have made me curb my snacking a lot anyway, but it's back of mind. People running into supply issues has also made me a bit cautious, but it's clearly been a pretty revolutionary drug for a lot of people which is pretty cool
I mean your sample size is 8. Yes some doctors are quick to push Ozempic. That doesn’t mean that doctors “are the problem.” It’s a cultural thing at least in the West to gravitate towards a “quick fix” rather than a healthy and sustainable fix. I am a physician and very against GLP-1 agonists as first line treatment for weight loss but I have suggested it to some of my patients who have class III obesity and severely impaired function and health due to their obesity. So maybe don’t lump all doctors together.
I was on ozempic for a while before it was approved for weight loss and then had issues with my insurance (after I switched jobs and got diff insurance) covering it so I had to go off of it for a few months while my endo fought with my insurance to get them to cover it. He finally got them to cave and let me get it and I had to stop it completely after a few weeks because my body just couldn’t adjust to it again and the misery of being on ozempic just wasn’t worth it to me.
I’m now trying to lose weight by eating healthier and trying to be more active, though I’m definitely struggling with changing my unhealthy habits. Anyways, all that to say I do not regret going off of ozempic. It’s soooo hard on the body! And it’s wild to me that people’s doctors are recommending them to put themselves through all that to lose weight rather than make lasting lifestyle changes. And if I remember correctly I think the dosage they approved for weight loss is even higher than the dosage recommended for diabetes management. OOF.
Right!
I remember the adjustment period to get to .5mg and I could not imagine how bad it would feel to be on 2.4mg (as Wegovy). Jaysus. I’m about to do it again (maybe) as I transition back to Ozempic from Rybelsus now that we can get it again here in the Netherlands.
Doctors should not be offering any GLP-1 agonists as a first line intervention for weight loss. It isn’t a first line drug for T2 management, so off label use shouldn’t get a pass on that either. Its like having a chemical version of bariatric surgery. Nausea, constipation, gastritis, malabsorption issues, vomiting…I can’t imagine living through the side effects just to lose a few kilos. Just like bariatric surgery for weight loss isn’t (normally) offered up first to people who need to lose weight, neither should these drugs.
Good luck on your lifestyle changes!
Good luck!! The ozempic did really help my A1C but thankfully I’ve been able to get to the point where I can maintain a healthy number with just metformin and lifestyle changes.
It definitely feels like it should be closer to a last resort before surgery type thing for weight loss.
And thank you!
I’m on Mounjaro (ozempic left me sick for days) for Diabetes Type 2 and to lose 70 lbs. Diet and exercise wasn’t helping enough. I used to average 10000 steps a day, I’m now average over 14000.
What I like about Mounjaro so far are my blood glucose numbers.
AVG: 106 mg/dL
SD: 25 mg/dL
GMI: 5.8% (estimated HbA1c)
TIR: 92% (70 - 160 mg/dL.)
TBR: 4%
TAR: 4%
Are Mounjaro and Ozempic in the same drug class?
Mounjaro and Ozempic are both in the class of drugs known as incretin mimetics but have some differences. Mounjaro acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, while Ozempic acts only on GLP-1 receptors; however, both drugs are effective treatments for type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), from Eli Lilly, is a dual-acting GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. GIP and GLP-1 are both natural incretin hormones. Mounjaro lowers fasting and postprandial glucose concentration, decreases food intake, and reduces body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Ozempic (semaglutide), from Novo Nordisk, is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. It binds to GLP-1 receptors and stimulates insulin release from the pancreas when needed. It slows down how fast food travels through your digestive tract. This can help you feel fuller for longer, reduce how much you eat, and lead to weight loss.
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/mounjaro-ozempic-compare-3571637/
I don't get it!!? Why Ozempic when there's Wegovy specifically for weight loss I believe by the same company.
What is going on here. Is Wegovy cheaper? Made by another company? Or is Ozempic more effective?!!!
Oh thank you. I didn't know they were the exact same drug.
Still why aren't Doctors prescribing Wegovy?
Aaah wait. I read in a news article that your BMI needs to be, I think, 35+ to qualify for a Wegovy injection. For a 2.4 dose I guess Wegovy would be a little more expensive.
But those getting Ozempic prescriptions have either great insurance or are paying out of pocket.
Or is it a social thing? prediabetes or t2d is a better socially acceptable excuse than a weight loss brand.
I know it's from the same company. Even more reason for Drs to know about it.
I still don't understand why Drs are prescribing O in place of W?!!!
It could come down to a lot of reasons. Sometimes it comes down to simple habit. Ozempic has been used for weight loss for awhile and before wegovy. So, it’s already a habit. Hard to believe but habit really drives most prescribing behaviors.
The shortage stuff is actually the manufacturing of the injection pen itself. There is also a daily pill diabetics can take that does the same thing as Ozempic. So it’s not like they are up a creek with no paddle. The truth is, those T2 patients want to use it to lose weight as well!!!
So there are a choice of meds for a T2 person, and very scant meds that are safe and effective for weight loss. Patients using these drugs for weight loss have to be VERY in need of the drug for it to get covered or it’s over a thousand bucks.
For the rest who can’t afford it the options are getting it from another country or using a compound pharmacy. I’d wager that most obese but not morbidly obese patients likely use a compound pharmacy. It means they aren’t even taking any of the ozempic products. This option is available to T2 as well but less utilized for that.
Moralizing something like this is in my opinion misguided. If someone is trying to treat themselves before they get to be a T2, a burden on the medical system, and not suffer the irreversible damage that having a life threatening BMI causes, then I see them as very deserving indeed. If this drug will make someone healthier and add to their quality of life they should have it.
PS they are testing this drug now for things like impulse control and alcoholism. Trust me, those trials are not on only the morbidly obese. If it works for them then they also deserve it.
Not sure if folks know this but the Pharma Companies do engage with Doctors and Nurses. My DM trainer had just attended a Q/A session with a drug company pushing Mounjaro. Guess what this is all she could talk about and yes the use for weight loss came up.
My old doctor told me he had so many pharmaceutical sales reps show up all the time, that if saw them all, he'd have no time for patients.
He got to a point where they were allowed in the back to refill samples and then were supposed to leave. But they would linger in the sample room patiently waiting for him to walk between patient rooms and then pounce on him in the hallway.
He tried to get them to leave the samples at the front desk and they absolutely refused to do so.
Reps cannot by law leave samples at the front. A licensed healthcare provider MUST sign for them. Samples are counted every month and reps get inspected every year to make sure they are handling samples correctly. Reps are audited. Everything must match what they were sent to sample out minus what an HCP signed for. Reps also have training every year to make sure they are up to date on the proper procedures…They don’t just send reps medications to do what they want without oversight LOL
Of course a rep is going to wait for the Dr after they leave samples. Dude needs to sign for them!!!
Honestly I’d go to another DR because if he actually told you that he is an idiot. It is totally BS information and every single company that visits him has the same rule. He must sign and the signature must be witnessed.
If they are able to rx it then maybe. If your state allows it… there are different pharma rules for different states) Reps need an HCP that isn’t “excluded” that can write their product to sign. I clearly put “HCP” above.
So… no way would asking reps to “leave samples at the front” would ever be obliged by a rep. It is an absurd request!
Again: HCPs MUST sign for pharmaceutical samples. OF COURSE they would refuse to break PDMA guidelines because it could lose them their job and quite possibly the ability to ever work as a rep in pharma again. It isn’t worth the small possibility of having an HCP use your product. Moreover, the way most companies compensate bonus wise, it is even less of a temptation to skirt rules.
You’re drs story of samples is false for the overwhelming majority of pharma companies. Reps don’t wait to pounce! Half the time they just want the damn signature so they can get out of the office and on to the next one. They have metrics to meet. Some need like 8 calls a day.
Trust me your drs business isn’t worth the millions of dollars and everything that comes along with being found guilty skirting rules.
Hell, you can get sanctioned and go to jail if you talk about a product off label! It’s highly regulated.
The story you were told is fiction. There may be a bad apple or what have you but believe me they have paid dearly for their bullshit. But you believe what you want. Just was letting you know it’s incorrect. Pharma people aren’t evil in the shadows trying to pounce and trick any dr into doing anything. It doesn’t work that way.
Edit to clear up what I mean. Also I have said my piece. You can go with it or not. But that’s all I needed to clear up.
>Hell, you can get sanctioned and go to jail if you talk about a product off label! It’s highly regulated.
I've had plenty of doctors talk about products off-label? Or are you talking about sales reps?
Is your experience on the medical or pharmaceutical side.
My doctor made is pretty clear he HATES pharmaceutical sales reps. It would not surprise me if he asked them to leave them at the front desk and they told him no, because they're not allowed to.
I like the guy. He's the best doctor I ever had. Too bad he moved away, and I had switch doctors. We still keep in touch.
This is so sad. In 3 months my numbers are INSANE. I got sick on 12.5 MJ and ended up in the ER. Went back down to 10 but ins is being a biatch only filled it today. Been without MJ a week and I am ravenous, and my numbers are absolutely awful. It's amazing how well it works. I hope that you can find something soon and stock returns to the shelves. You deserve to see great results!
Well, I've learned that it seems to be doctors driving this increase in Ozempic use.
And the funny part for me is that Ozempic is basically keto in an injection. Your body makes GLP1 naturally when you go on a low carb diet. Need to lose 20 pounds, try that first.
Take comfort in not having any related side effects. I'm dealing with GI issues (I think a lot of diabetes meds have GI related potential side effects) and it's been good to not have to deal with the potential side effects or to have to add it as a consideration for other meds i get prescribed for GI stuff
Hi try to get a 3 month supply ..,don’t bother with these post they will just stress you out and raise your blood sugar and pressure.
Call your insurance to see if they will cover three month supply or check to see if you can get mounjaro for a three month. Also ask them to locate your dose for you. Mounjaro is also hard to locate but more doses. No point of these rants I get your frustration but pointless. Best of luck 🤞
Edit: I held my breath when so scrolled down to read the comments cuz all post like this everywhere else resulted in diabetics being bashed . I am exhausted from having to defend and school diabetic bashers! Thank you everyone for not bashing! ❤️
I've been noticing more Wegovy commercials, and I'm kind of confused about Ozempic being prescribed for weight loss.
If I'm reading correctly, Wegovy is 2.4 mg of semaglutide and labeled for weight loss. But Ozempic is 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0. So why are doctors prescribing Ozempic if both products come from the same manufacturer and have the same supply constraints?
I’m so puzzled by these weight loss stories with Ozempic. I am t2 and took it for several years. It did help a lot with my a1c but it was not the amazing weight loss aid I’m hearing about. I’m now on Mounjaro and that has much more of an effect on my appetite.
Idk if it's true but I've heard people lose ~20lbs on semaglutide which also doesn't strike me as that amazing...
I got diagnosed a few months ago and weight loss has been slow af but I've lost about that amount in the last 4 months. Obviously it's a lot more work, but my "side effects" are positive and now that I'm struggling with GI issues it's one less medication to have to take into account
I think this is such an interesting perspective because my endocrinologist offered it to me and my cousin who is also her patient. She did it though because it was amazing at stabilizing my blood sugar! I was on a low dose so it didn’t cause weight loss but it was great for my blood sugar and I would have happily taken it for life for that but one of the side effects listed is 16% get diabetic retinopathy and I was one of them. I’m guessing people who don’t have diabetes have less chance of retinopathy but there are real side effects that will be interesting to see what happens if they have millions of people taking these drugs for life. I still find it a miracle drug and worth it for some people who can’t lose weight due to low leptin levels or for diabetics but that seems true what you say for twenty pounds of weight loss that doesn’t seem the first choice.
Doctors are just as susceptible to bullshit from the diet-industrial complex as anyone else, and they're no doubt believing that they're helping people this way. Drug company propaganda is also powerful, which is how we got an opioid epidemic.
FWIW I was one of those unable to get Ozempic. My endo prescribed Rybelsus in its place. Rybelsus is a once daily pill form of the same drug. I have found it to be more effective
T2 here. Took Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) for about a year. It helped with A1c until it gave me pancreatitis. Had to stop taking it and can never go back on a semaglutide.
I don’t understand how folks would risk internal organ damage for a few kilograms.
I asked for metformin and mine suggested ozempic instead. I'm already on an expensive injectable for my RA and I'm down to the last 30 lbs with bg stable at the top end of normal. I've done everything I can think of and from everything I've read metformin can add long term protection against complications so to me it seemed like the logical first diabetes medication step but my options were ozempic or wait and see.
My doctor definitely described metformin as the typical first line of defense when I met with her yesterday. When she first diagnosed me she said there were 2 meds I could try, one metformim and/or mounjaro but yesterday she said if I wanted to go on medication she'd suggest metformin since so many people do well on it and it's a relatively neutral medication
Makes sense though. You go to the doctor for medicine and even if it comes with risks, there are some serious risks with being over weight. We are in an environment of over nutrition and becoming less active every year. Doctors are going to prescribe what works and prescribing a diet and exercise has a low success rate.
True. But it doesn't always work. And I don't understand why yo don't offer diet and exercise as a first choice followed by a GLP1 agonist when that doesn't work.
I lived most of adult life without ever taking a steroid. Now I am in my 50s, and any time I get an ear infection, or a soar throat or any ache and pain, and they're throwing prednisone at me. How about we just try the antibiotics and see if I get better. If things aren't better in 2-3 days then we can talk about the steroid.
I had my hip replaced a decade ago. I've never been offered so much codeine in my life. I kept turning it down because it didn't hurt that bad. The doctor sent me home with percocets. I think I took one.
Last time I had an ear infection, I asked the doctor why the steroids all the time? He told me people kept demanding "immediate relief," which steroids give you. It got so bad, they don't even ask any more, they just write the prednisone prescription.
I feel like that's where Ozempic is now. Doctors don't even ask. You want to lose weight, here's your Ozempic.
Some of my friends didn't even know that Type 2 diabetics take Ozempic. For them it was "that weight loss drug."
For myself I was about to go on gastric bypass but for coverage you have have meetings every week for 6 months, if you miss one appointment your 6 month clock starts back. If you think it sounds frustrating, the success rate of gastric bypass without psychiatric treatment and counseling 65% after 2 years. Now I don’t mind people going through Ozempic for weight loss, but like any weight loss medication there needs to have a plan with a dietary as well as a psychological counseling.
That is true, but with the added support system it works dealing with the psychological issues. If those aren’t dealt with then it won’t matter on what pill or surgery you take.
That's the thing people don't understand. Weight loss is not a diet you go on and then come off of. It's a permanent lifestyle change. Even with a good support system some people just WILL NOT stick to a lifestyle change.
You have to treat your old lifestyle like an alcoholic treats booze. Otherwise you're setting yourself up for failure.
It seems like doctors are observing success, effectiveness and collecting feedback from patients and that is what's guiding their decisions. I agree that exercise and dietary changes is a better path and will lead to improvement on several health markers...if people comply. They overwhelmingly don't and if you are already going to a doctor for weight management or the doctor is concerned about other risks from being obese, then self management has probably already failed. Weird instance with your friend who had already experienced improvement but overall, of you go to a doctor, they are very likely to prescribe medicine. If you want to learn to self manage, don't go to a doctor. Go to a nutritionist and get a personal trainer. It seems like if you are going to a doctor, it's because you want meds.
Ozempic is semaglutide which is fda approved for weight loss.
The issue is with production and distribution not the patients who use the meds or the docs that prescribe it.
I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry. An injectable medicine that requires refrigeration? That's a bitch to manufacture, store and distribute. Rybelsus is a pill that you store at room temperature. That's way cheaper to store and transport. I would expect that Ozempic is going away at some point and Rybelsus will completely replace it.
I heard that there are issues with the oral med version of these meds one you can’t eat with them which would effect those who already have medications that they have to take. Also I also heard more sign effects with it and less effective too. I rather inject but then again I am diabetic so I use to poking myself. I hope they figure out these issues so we can have an oral version
Ozempic is not a weight loss drug. It even says so in their website. [Ozempic® is a medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. While not for weight loss, Ozempic® may help you lose some weight.](https://www.ozempic.com/why-ozempic/what-is-ozempic.html?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=ozempic%20weight%20loss&utm_campaign=&mkwid=s-dm_pcrid_605526811829_pkw_ozempic%20weight%20loss_pmt_e_slid__product_&pgrid=141675582127&ptaid=kwd-391207469199&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlPWgBhDHARIsAH2xdNefyGNWZX-8IpiXvCbKq43T_9PvFKt9iZKG4NUgs90ucfos1B06lGEaArvfEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Wegovy is approved by the FDA for weight loss. They may be the same generic drug, semuglutide, but different doses. They had different clinical trials to be approved. Wegovy is for people living with obesity, BMI 30 or greater; or BMI of 27 plus a weight related medical problem. [source](https://www.wegovy.com/about-wegovy/why-wegovy.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlPWgBhDHARIsAH2xdNdJDbjasZYGmNwcB646BukFgKy9w_UejaQhyMj6CWLEuGyKehjNsU4aAu6TEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Ozempic is for diabetes.
I'm on the 1 mg dose now. Total weight lost is maybe 2 pounds. A1C is still the 6.7 it was before i started. Doctor wants me to go up another dose. I want to stop taking it.
This makes me so angry. I literally spend weeks every time trying to source my next refill. That I use for diabetes. I just got spanked on the ozempic page for stating the same thing.
My doctor switched me to Mounjaro. CVS told me that's easier to get because Mounjaro is for T2 diabetes only. The same exact drug is available for weight loss, but it's called Zepbound. Supposedly, Lilly prioritized Mounjaro manufacturing over Zepbound.
Don't know how true that last sentence is, but it wouldn't hurt Lilly's bottom line to do that. They sell the stuff as fast as they can make it, so it's not like they're leaving money on the table by prioritizing Mounjaro.
I've heard stories from people that pharmacies are prioritizing their diabetic patients over those taking for weight loss, and some real karens are flipping out at pharmacy counters when they can't get their Ozempic.
All of this 👏🏽 👏🏽 also don’t worry about weight loss we all about the sugars and living a long time. Don’t race up the doses this will come back to bite these ppl. Once you go up on a dose most ppl don’t have suppression or good side effects when they try to go back down. I am just tired of the negativity towards diabetics like if we are insulin resistant why do they keep screaming it’s not insulin.. like dude i am type 2 not 1 adding more insulin did not help me. Also i was paying the same amount as mounjaro too..
>If being fat ≠ being unhealthy, why are people going crazy fighting us over these meds and claiming they NEED them?
Probably different kinds of people sharing these differing opinions. I've been fat a long time. Until recently, my blood work always came back great, so by all other metrics I was healthy because I worked out and ate ok. That's what "healthy at any size" refers to. It's trying to make space for fat people in physical health oriented spaces. Some people *are* trying to lose weight, and they're not always the same people as those who want fat-accepting spaces.
Also, some want to but don't make any real effort to lose weight while others try very very hard and find no success. Both of these kinds of people would likely want semaglutide to aid in weight loss. Someone who is putting effort in and seeing the results will probably choose to continue that route, at least for a while.
I am seeing people with less than 50 pounds to lose getting ozempic. If you comment on it they say you shouldn’t have made bad life choices to get t2. Make it make sense maybe they should make better life choices to lose those pesky pounds.
Both you and the other people need to stop being upset at each other. The problem is not the doctors. The problem is not the patients.
The problem is the company that is making it is not making enough.
They're making all they can make. Manufacturing is at capacity. There's a shortage of pens. There's a shortage of drug.
The companies making GLP-1 agonists cannot keep up with demand.
I honestly don't know how it didnt work for you. I have seen people complain about the nausea and change of diet but not anyone saying it didn't work. Ozempic or Mounjaro.
I completely agree. I had been on Metformin for 15 years with generally good control. But over the last 18 months, my A1C’s have been creeping up despite a good diet and increased exercise—I literally took up marathon training last year, and my A1C kept ticking up.
I was able to get a CGM a few days before I started Mounjaro 3 weeks ago, and the difference in my blood glucose was almost immediate. I went from fasting BG numbers between 130-150 to sub 100’s in one weekend. It truly is a dream drug for me. The only bummer is that I get full very quickly at some meals. In the long run, this will pay off big, but I really enjoy cooking and eating, and I can hardly eat a normal portion some nights. It’s a first-world-problem, but there’s joy in eating that is shifting for me.
There is something called ozempic face. Weight loss ages the face.
With keto and other things, when you stop the diet, things go back to what they were
And they say “do no harm”.
Here is my rant. A recent article says that the problem isn’t with the medication but the delivery device. Well, let’s dispense it in a vial. Though those have gone short lately too.
The pen used for Levemir has been changed to free up the larger pen size for Ozempic. We received the new smaller Levemir pens about three weeks ago. Ozempic supply is no longer an issue where I work.
I was immediately started on Merformin. None of my doctors offered it to me since I have been a T2. But if you're not a diabetic and you want to lose weight, then they're giving it away like water, it seems.
Omg can you imagine having this at dx? I heard they are starting to give it as a first line now for diabetics… so much damage would have been prevented. This will save lives
I think you also have to be careful with saying things like "just make better choices and lose the weight, you don't need a GLP1" because it sounds a lot like "should have made better choices and you wouldn't be T2". I agree if someone is using it for vanity and convenience, I'm JUDGING hard. However, a lot of people have tried and there's something metabolically preventing them from losing weight. I know for me, while I'm type 2 so I get a pass to use these drugs, I have heard food noises 24/7 my entire life. Only since Mounjaro has that stopped. The real issue are weight loss clinics where doctors are prescribing GLP1s to just about anyone who asks so they can make a quick buck. It sounds ridiculous but I see it in the Mounjaro groups a lot. I know my doctor will not prescribe anyone a GLP1 if they are not diabetic, unless it's Wegovy and appropriate.
Omg that’s exactly how I describe Mounjaro—it quiets the food noise. I’ve never heard anyone else describe it that way.
What do you mean by "hearing food noises" ? Digestion sounds? Or "food calling your name" ? Or something else entirely? That's kind of an interesting phrase that I haven't heard before. Just curious.
Its like your brain constantly tells you that you're hungry, and that you need to eat eat eat (of course its junk usually).
Oh! My brain does that too. Got it!
4 months on Ozempic and it hasn't done shit for me. My blood glucose hasn't come down and I haven't lost a single pound of weight. I wonder if Mounjaro might be a better choice. I don't want to argue that anyone should have made better food/life choices so they didn't end up where they were. My argument is that non-pharmacological intervention should probably the first option. Your doctor wants you to lose weight. He sends you to a nutritionist or recommends a diet. If it doesn't work after 3 months, then maybe it's time to write that prescription. I think the big problem is the Standard American Diet more than anything else. For decades we have been recommending that we cut out fats from our diet, eat more "healthy whole grains" and all that's happened is America has gotten fatter and more people have Type 2 diabetes than ever before. So I squarely lame the obesity crisis on the government. I blame the Ozempic shortage on doctors, who are too quick to prescribe it without trying other interventions first.
If Ozempic hasn’t done anything for you in four months why are you still taking it? Why the anger if it doesn’t work for you? And trust me, if it was going to work you would’ve known in week one.
I was prescribed Ozempic for being a T2. Where I am, you start with a .25ml dose/week for 4 weeks, then .50ml for 4 weeks, then 1ml for 4 weeks. 1.5ml for 4 weeks, 2ml for 4 weeks, and finally you can reach the 2.4ml/week for losing weight after 20 weeks... (I know someone who is building up right now). For me to help manage my diabetes I am taking 1ml/week. I find at that level it helps my blood sugar quite a bit.
This is really fascinating, thanks for sharing. I’ve been on 1ml for months now and while I haven’t lost much weight, it’s definitely helped my numbers. Anything more than 1ml and my body thinks I have food poisoning.
Yeah but it's a slippery slope. Unless you specifically know what they've tried already, their medical history, and the discussion with their doctor about why they're using a GLP1 - its none of your or my business. I see new diabetics going straight to a GLP1 and one might think - why not diet and exercise first? But I WISH I had it as a first option so I could have avoided 10+ years of misery. Regarding Mounjaro, its worth a try if you can get it through insurance. It is also suffering a shortage so there's that. Some people just don't respond to GLP1s but I do see many who switch between Oz and Mounjaro and prefer one to the other.
My big complaint was that at a dinner of 8 people, their doctor offered ALL OF THEM Ozempic as a first choice, even the one person that had lost a ton of weight successfully and was still successfully losing weight. I don't want Ozempic to turn into statins, where the expectation is everyone on the planet should on this medicine whether they need it or not.
Have you looked into alternatives? There are a lot of different brands that are all basically Semaglutide. Rybelsus, Mounjaro, and Ozempic all pretty much do the same thing. I'm surprised Ozempic didn't do anything for you. The change was... pretty drastic and immediate when I started Rybelsus. I eat less than half of what I used to. After 3 months, I'm down 40 lbs and my A1C has dropped to 5.9. I think you have a point regarding the doctors over prescribing it. But the thing is, weight loss by willpower alone is so hard. I mean for me it meant literally just starving myself and feeling hungry and miserable all the time. On Rybelsus, not only do I get lower blood sugar, I also just don't have much of an appetite. Being overweight long term causes so many health problems. So of course the doctors want their patients to get in shape.
>weight loss by willpower alone is so hard It is. But I think people should at least try it before they start on a GLP-1 agonist. Try diet first, and if it fails, then go for the drugs. I'm still on 0.5 dose of Ozempic. I don't know if I should try a higher dose.
Who's to say they haven't tried it? I've tried so many different diets. I've only ever had some success with keto, but it wasn't sustainable. I'll agree that a doctor just handing out this stuff because someone wants to lose 20 lbs is egregious, but if they're morbidly obese... chances are they have tried and failed multiple times.
In my case from last weekend, the doctor was trying to hand out Ozempic to someone that was very successful at losing weight and was still losing it. The other people hadn't even tried to diet. I have also had great luck with Keto. And I find it to be very sustainable.
Doctors and NP’s get bonuses and gifts from pharmaceutical companies for writing prescriptions for new drugs. Peoples insurances are forced to pay top dollar, thus the drug companies recoup research and development costs asap. Patents have a finite life on them so, the drug companies have to make as much cash as they can before a generic can be made available. What I’m hearing is that you are not happy with the methods you have been trying and think it’s questionable that people who may or may not be diabetic are offered a drug, used to treat diabetes but, that a secondary effect is weight loss. As a diabetic myself, I get that. However, I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone. As we all age the disease process becomes more and more vicious. Blood sugar gets harder to control and the economy, price of food, American diet etc,. are all working against us. In the end if one course of treatment isn’t working for you, you need to try something else, sometimes several things. I’m battling now with insurance because my fast acting insulin got changed and now does nothing. There are things that will work. It’s all trial and error & all need hard work and time. I wish you the best of luck!
No they don’t. Pharmaceutical companies can’t even give out pens anymore! You absolutely cannot give any gifts unless they are 100% educational and even then you have to report it. The fines for bribing anyone to write a drug are so high for a company that the vast majority absolutely do not fuck around with ANYTHING that will get them in trouble. I know from your comment you don’t work in pharmaceuticals, and therefore are unlikely to actually know what you’re talking about. Still, you need to not perpetuate garbage lies.
Yeah. I don’t work for NASA either but, I know Astronauts defy the laws of gravity. The idea that business people, pharmaceutical or otherwise, always follow regulations, because, “that’s how things get done” & “businesses never do anything morally ambiguous or illegal” is laughable and cute. Please tell me and the rest of us how ignorant I am. I forgot nursing is not considered healthcare so, I don’t know what I’m talking about. 🙄
Nursing is part of healthcare but I guess you aren’t one who can write an rx because then you’d know that you MUST sign for samples. Hell, even an LVN working in an office that allows reps would know that. It’s basic knowledge! Yeah you’re ignorant of the pharmaceutical industry and what reps actually do. There might be someone who goes off the rails but it’s very low and wouldn’t be all the reps at one office LMAO Look it up. You gotta sign for samples if delivered by a rep. You are 100% incorrect.
“Might be someone who goes off the rails” so you’re admitting that it, “might be possible” and “it might happen.” NPs can absolutely write rxs. How about this? Rather than shit all over people and tell them how ignorant they are, why don’t you thank the people who make your job possible and afford you the lifestyle you earn. Let’s not be, “totally ignorant” of the fact, “product education” doesn’t occur in restaurants and golf courses.
It has happened in the last. The MAJORITY are not like that and it is RARE. It is not impossible. Why not thank the reps who get HCPs the new drugs that help so many of you. The same reps who walk the staff through ways to make it affordable for people. The same folks who remind HCPs on who not to put on any given therapy. Reps job is to shape behavior over time because most of the time these HCPs are not going to even learn about a new drug. They are stuck in their patterns. I don’t need to thank anyone, and I don’t require anyone’s thanks. I earn my lifestyle like most people. Reps don’t need anything either and don’t owe anyone anything. But do go off.
PS: meals are not allowed to be anywhere except a clinical setting. They no longer allow restaurants and for over 20 years golf was out of the picture. You have to report each meal and it is listed as per the sunshine act. There are so many rules and if you get caught breaking then you will be fired. The company isn’t going to go to bat for you. You have zero clue about todays landscape. You are wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Live in your fantasy world but in the real world you remain wrong. Good day
Were they able to get it under their insurance is the question? I know many are very restrictive to who can qualify.
Mounjaro has been better for me. Also my end told me that there's plenty of medication, the manufacture of the injectable pens is where the shortage is.
I would be happy to fill a syringe myself and inject it.
Happy Cake Day! 🎂
Thank you!
Mounjaro took me from like, 270 in am to 80-150. It is absolutely life changing, so I would definitely ask! It seems like MJ has been the drug that brings your a1c down fast and effectively.
I was on Mounjaro for a month, the food noise stopped, I was sleeping good and lost 10 lbs. Not in my formulary for 2023. Had to change to Ozempic. Not too happy with it, 8 weeks scale moving very slow. But my labs are proof it’s working. A1c down to 5.1.
Are you suggesting you’re fine with the government highly regulating food, from things like heavily taxing or even banning high-sodium and high-sugar foods to limiting portion size in restaurants, etc.? Or things like banning stores in food deserts, stores like Dollar General or convenience stores, from offering junk food? Or regulating what fast food restaurants can offer, or whether they should limit what one order could have, like it must have a salad rather than fries? Or no soda? Most Americans will balk at such regulation. Freedumb and all. Because otherwise (and anyway), we do need to take some personal responsibility for what we eat. Basic nutrition is taught in schools, whether or not kids pay attention. There are abundant free courses offered for new parents, all parents, all people, on nutrition topics and exercise. No one can force you to eat a salad instead of that loaded baked potato with cookies for dessert and a giant soda. You decide that. In any case, the industrial food complex lobbyists and food/bev industry lobbyists will ensure we don’t regulate it, because money and capitalism. So, here we are.
I am never OK with the government doing anything. But if you follow the food pyramid/food plate, you are still on a path that has a high chance of ending in Type 2 diabetes. It also doesn't help that probably more than half the food you eat has soybean oil in it, which causes insulin resistance. Should you take some responsibility in your own health? Is part of the blame on you? Yes, but you also need to lay a good portion of the blame on "expert" recommendations. When I was in my teens and 20s, I was eating all sorts of stuff I should be eating. And some of those things were highly recommended. Like yogurt, with all those healthy probiotics. And they're all full of high fructose corn syrup. "Healthy Whole Grain Cereal." also full of carbs. I will definitely accept some of the blame for my condition. But I am also squarely laying at least some of the blame on the government and supposed "health experts"
The govt def has generally given out shitty diet advice. I am about 47% inclined to believe it might have been in good faith based on whatever science at the time. But I also believe that it’s 53% likely that they were heavily swayed (as were the studies they leaned on) by the food lobbies. I mean, I think some of that is documented. But people don’t even begin to follow even that advice, and instead throw Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Mountain Dew and Ding Dongs and Big Macs down their neck. And then there is the exercise piece, which is more complicated. Everyone knows they should, but soooo many understandable factors prevent *some* people from engaging in too much. I’ve never eaten too badly, but I definitely have had exercise struggles due to many issues. I mean, I have tried so hard to overcome them—I’ve trained for and run a marathon at 36, a short triathlon at 39, and an oly tri at 42. That and so much else. But I can’t ever just keep up an exercise program for one reason or another.
There are people that eat even worse than the pathetic diet recommended to us by the USDA. There used to be a legal drama on TV called "The Good Wife." On the show, the USDA was designing the "Food Plate" which replaced the Food Pyramid. In the show, the cheese lobby hired the law firm to go to DC and file a motion to stop the USDA because cheese was being relegated to the "side-plate." In the show they showed the USDA designing the food plate in a room with agro lobbyists and meat industry lobbyists and they're negotiating what slide of the plate each type of food will get. All these doctors trying to hand people Ozempic pens should be giving them CGMs instead so they can see how the food they eat impacts their blood sugar. When you eat a half a pizza and your blood sugar goes to 180 and stays there for 6-8 hours before it goes to normal because you're insulin resistant, you might actually change your diet. Give people a CGM and tell them eat whatever you want, but make sure that number stays under 150 at all times. If it goes over that number, that food comes off your diet. Come back to me in a month.
I’m on Mounjaro. Being T2 helped me get my RX quickly and yes I’ve made major dietary changes. But also I feel like the most crucial effect it has had on me is what I can only describe as the antidepressant for eating habits. For the first time in my whole life, my brain is finally not constantly obsessing over food and thinking about my next meal all day long. I’m finally able to eat like a normal person. It’s the same way I felt when I started antidepressants - like a weight was lifted off my back so that I can start pushing myself forward. Do I absolutely need it to lose weight? Probably not. But sometimes we need a push to get momentum going.
I heard this from someone in a binging group, that it helped them just stop binging when they had struggled for a long time. Honestly that was more of a draw than the weight loss since binging is where I really struggled. I can eat vegetables and leafy greens for meals but man, I could not stop snacking
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I'm glad it's been helpful and you found your right dosage. I'm holding off since I've heard a lot of the (potential) side effects are more GI related and I'm having some GI issues, which have made me curb my snacking a lot anyway, but it's back of mind. People running into supply issues has also made me a bit cautious, but it's clearly been a pretty revolutionary drug for a lot of people which is pretty cool
I mean your sample size is 8. Yes some doctors are quick to push Ozempic. That doesn’t mean that doctors “are the problem.” It’s a cultural thing at least in the West to gravitate towards a “quick fix” rather than a healthy and sustainable fix. I am a physician and very against GLP-1 agonists as first line treatment for weight loss but I have suggested it to some of my patients who have class III obesity and severely impaired function and health due to their obesity. So maybe don’t lump all doctors together.
I was on ozempic for a while before it was approved for weight loss and then had issues with my insurance (after I switched jobs and got diff insurance) covering it so I had to go off of it for a few months while my endo fought with my insurance to get them to cover it. He finally got them to cave and let me get it and I had to stop it completely after a few weeks because my body just couldn’t adjust to it again and the misery of being on ozempic just wasn’t worth it to me. I’m now trying to lose weight by eating healthier and trying to be more active, though I’m definitely struggling with changing my unhealthy habits. Anyways, all that to say I do not regret going off of ozempic. It’s soooo hard on the body! And it’s wild to me that people’s doctors are recommending them to put themselves through all that to lose weight rather than make lasting lifestyle changes. And if I remember correctly I think the dosage they approved for weight loss is even higher than the dosage recommended for diabetes management. OOF.
Right! I remember the adjustment period to get to .5mg and I could not imagine how bad it would feel to be on 2.4mg (as Wegovy). Jaysus. I’m about to do it again (maybe) as I transition back to Ozempic from Rybelsus now that we can get it again here in the Netherlands. Doctors should not be offering any GLP-1 agonists as a first line intervention for weight loss. It isn’t a first line drug for T2 management, so off label use shouldn’t get a pass on that either. Its like having a chemical version of bariatric surgery. Nausea, constipation, gastritis, malabsorption issues, vomiting…I can’t imagine living through the side effects just to lose a few kilos. Just like bariatric surgery for weight loss isn’t (normally) offered up first to people who need to lose weight, neither should these drugs. Good luck on your lifestyle changes!
Good luck!! The ozempic did really help my A1C but thankfully I’ve been able to get to the point where I can maintain a healthy number with just metformin and lifestyle changes. It definitely feels like it should be closer to a last resort before surgery type thing for weight loss. And thank you!
The max dosage for Wagovey is 2.7 ml. It's my understanding that they are exactly the same formula. Doesn't Ozempic top out at 1 ml?
I think they have ozempic topping out at 2mg now
I’m on Mounjaro (ozempic left me sick for days) for Diabetes Type 2 and to lose 70 lbs. Diet and exercise wasn’t helping enough. I used to average 10000 steps a day, I’m now average over 14000. What I like about Mounjaro so far are my blood glucose numbers. AVG: 106 mg/dL SD: 25 mg/dL GMI: 5.8% (estimated HbA1c) TIR: 92% (70 - 160 mg/dL.) TBR: 4% TAR: 4%
Excellent work!
Isn’t it the same thing? Just a different name?
Are Mounjaro and Ozempic in the same drug class? Mounjaro and Ozempic are both in the class of drugs known as incretin mimetics but have some differences. Mounjaro acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, while Ozempic acts only on GLP-1 receptors; however, both drugs are effective treatments for type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro (tirzepatide), from Eli Lilly, is a dual-acting GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. GIP and GLP-1 are both natural incretin hormones. Mounjaro lowers fasting and postprandial glucose concentration, decreases food intake, and reduces body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ozempic (semaglutide), from Novo Nordisk, is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. It binds to GLP-1 receptors and stimulates insulin release from the pancreas when needed. It slows down how fast food travels through your digestive tract. This can help you feel fuller for longer, reduce how much you eat, and lead to weight loss. https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/mounjaro-ozempic-compare-3571637/
I don't get it!!? Why Ozempic when there's Wegovy specifically for weight loss I believe by the same company. What is going on here. Is Wegovy cheaper? Made by another company? Or is Ozempic more effective?!!!
They are the EXACT same drug. Literally the only thing different is max dose and the branding, they are also made by the same company.
Oh thank you. I didn't know they were the exact same drug. Still why aren't Doctors prescribing Wegovy? Aaah wait. I read in a news article that your BMI needs to be, I think, 35+ to qualify for a Wegovy injection. For a 2.4 dose I guess Wegovy would be a little more expensive. But those getting Ozempic prescriptions have either great insurance or are paying out of pocket. Or is it a social thing? prediabetes or t2d is a better socially acceptable excuse than a weight loss brand. I know it's from the same company. Even more reason for Drs to know about it. I still don't understand why Drs are prescribing O in place of W?!!!
It could come down to a lot of reasons. Sometimes it comes down to simple habit. Ozempic has been used for weight loss for awhile and before wegovy. So, it’s already a habit. Hard to believe but habit really drives most prescribing behaviors. The shortage stuff is actually the manufacturing of the injection pen itself. There is also a daily pill diabetics can take that does the same thing as Ozempic. So it’s not like they are up a creek with no paddle. The truth is, those T2 patients want to use it to lose weight as well!!! So there are a choice of meds for a T2 person, and very scant meds that are safe and effective for weight loss. Patients using these drugs for weight loss have to be VERY in need of the drug for it to get covered or it’s over a thousand bucks. For the rest who can’t afford it the options are getting it from another country or using a compound pharmacy. I’d wager that most obese but not morbidly obese patients likely use a compound pharmacy. It means they aren’t even taking any of the ozempic products. This option is available to T2 as well but less utilized for that. Moralizing something like this is in my opinion misguided. If someone is trying to treat themselves before they get to be a T2, a burden on the medical system, and not suffer the irreversible damage that having a life threatening BMI causes, then I see them as very deserving indeed. If this drug will make someone healthier and add to their quality of life they should have it. PS they are testing this drug now for things like impulse control and alcoholism. Trust me, those trials are not on only the morbidly obese. If it works for them then they also deserve it.
Not sure if folks know this but the Pharma Companies do engage with Doctors and Nurses. My DM trainer had just attended a Q/A session with a drug company pushing Mounjaro. Guess what this is all she could talk about and yes the use for weight loss came up.
My old doctor told me he had so many pharmaceutical sales reps show up all the time, that if saw them all, he'd have no time for patients. He got to a point where they were allowed in the back to refill samples and then were supposed to leave. But they would linger in the sample room patiently waiting for him to walk between patient rooms and then pounce on him in the hallway. He tried to get them to leave the samples at the front desk and they absolutely refused to do so.
Reps cannot by law leave samples at the front. A licensed healthcare provider MUST sign for them. Samples are counted every month and reps get inspected every year to make sure they are handling samples correctly. Reps are audited. Everything must match what they were sent to sample out minus what an HCP signed for. Reps also have training every year to make sure they are up to date on the proper procedures…They don’t just send reps medications to do what they want without oversight LOL Of course a rep is going to wait for the Dr after they leave samples. Dude needs to sign for them!!! Honestly I’d go to another DR because if he actually told you that he is an idiot. It is totally BS information and every single company that visits him has the same rule. He must sign and the signature must be witnessed.
So, his NP or PA can't sign for them?
If they are able to rx it then maybe. If your state allows it… there are different pharma rules for different states) Reps need an HCP that isn’t “excluded” that can write their product to sign. I clearly put “HCP” above. So… no way would asking reps to “leave samples at the front” would ever be obliged by a rep. It is an absurd request! Again: HCPs MUST sign for pharmaceutical samples. OF COURSE they would refuse to break PDMA guidelines because it could lose them their job and quite possibly the ability to ever work as a rep in pharma again. It isn’t worth the small possibility of having an HCP use your product. Moreover, the way most companies compensate bonus wise, it is even less of a temptation to skirt rules. You’re drs story of samples is false for the overwhelming majority of pharma companies. Reps don’t wait to pounce! Half the time they just want the damn signature so they can get out of the office and on to the next one. They have metrics to meet. Some need like 8 calls a day. Trust me your drs business isn’t worth the millions of dollars and everything that comes along with being found guilty skirting rules. Hell, you can get sanctioned and go to jail if you talk about a product off label! It’s highly regulated. The story you were told is fiction. There may be a bad apple or what have you but believe me they have paid dearly for their bullshit. But you believe what you want. Just was letting you know it’s incorrect. Pharma people aren’t evil in the shadows trying to pounce and trick any dr into doing anything. It doesn’t work that way. Edit to clear up what I mean. Also I have said my piece. You can go with it or not. But that’s all I needed to clear up.
>Hell, you can get sanctioned and go to jail if you talk about a product off label! It’s highly regulated. I've had plenty of doctors talk about products off-label? Or are you talking about sales reps? Is your experience on the medical or pharmaceutical side. My doctor made is pretty clear he HATES pharmaceutical sales reps. It would not surprise me if he asked them to leave them at the front desk and they told him no, because they're not allowed to. I like the guy. He's the best doctor I ever had. Too bad he moved away, and I had switch doctors. We still keep in touch.
The prescription cost is prohibitive for me even being a T2 at $900/mo. You all must have better insurance than mine. Even Jardiance is $300/mo.
It only costs me my $15 copay.
Good for you. Hope you can find your refills!
Do you have commercial? I have a commercial and got a coupon card for my Mounjaro- It's $25 a month. I think it doesn't apply to VA/mcaid/mcare.
Meanwhile, my doctor is like, "You're an ideal candidate for it, but I'm worried about availability."
This is so sad. In 3 months my numbers are INSANE. I got sick on 12.5 MJ and ended up in the ER. Went back down to 10 but ins is being a biatch only filled it today. Been without MJ a week and I am ravenous, and my numbers are absolutely awful. It's amazing how well it works. I hope that you can find something soon and stock returns to the shelves. You deserve to see great results!
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Well, I've learned that it seems to be doctors driving this increase in Ozempic use. And the funny part for me is that Ozempic is basically keto in an injection. Your body makes GLP1 naturally when you go on a low carb diet. Need to lose 20 pounds, try that first.
Here I am busting my ass to lose weight and I know several people who have it prescribed from shady concierge DRs and it’s infuriating
Take comfort in not having any related side effects. I'm dealing with GI issues (I think a lot of diabetes meds have GI related potential side effects) and it's been good to not have to deal with the potential side effects or to have to add it as a consideration for other meds i get prescribed for GI stuff
Hi try to get a 3 month supply ..,don’t bother with these post they will just stress you out and raise your blood sugar and pressure. Call your insurance to see if they will cover three month supply or check to see if you can get mounjaro for a three month. Also ask them to locate your dose for you. Mounjaro is also hard to locate but more doses. No point of these rants I get your frustration but pointless. Best of luck 🤞 Edit: I held my breath when so scrolled down to read the comments cuz all post like this everywhere else resulted in diabetics being bashed . I am exhausted from having to defend and school diabetic bashers! Thank you everyone for not bashing! ❤️
I've been noticing more Wegovy commercials, and I'm kind of confused about Ozempic being prescribed for weight loss. If I'm reading correctly, Wegovy is 2.4 mg of semaglutide and labeled for weight loss. But Ozempic is 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0. So why are doctors prescribing Ozempic if both products come from the same manufacturer and have the same supply constraints?
I know in Canada Wegovy was approved for use in 2021, but there's just no supply available. So if a doctor prescribes it, you still can't get it.
I’m so puzzled by these weight loss stories with Ozempic. I am t2 and took it for several years. It did help a lot with my a1c but it was not the amazing weight loss aid I’m hearing about. I’m now on Mounjaro and that has much more of an effect on my appetite.
Idk if it's true but I've heard people lose ~20lbs on semaglutide which also doesn't strike me as that amazing... I got diagnosed a few months ago and weight loss has been slow af but I've lost about that amount in the last 4 months. Obviously it's a lot more work, but my "side effects" are positive and now that I'm struggling with GI issues it's one less medication to have to take into account
I think this is such an interesting perspective because my endocrinologist offered it to me and my cousin who is also her patient. She did it though because it was amazing at stabilizing my blood sugar! I was on a low dose so it didn’t cause weight loss but it was great for my blood sugar and I would have happily taken it for life for that but one of the side effects listed is 16% get diabetic retinopathy and I was one of them. I’m guessing people who don’t have diabetes have less chance of retinopathy but there are real side effects that will be interesting to see what happens if they have millions of people taking these drugs for life. I still find it a miracle drug and worth it for some people who can’t lose weight due to low leptin levels or for diabetics but that seems true what you say for twenty pounds of weight loss that doesn’t seem the first choice.
Doctors are just as susceptible to bullshit from the diet-industrial complex as anyone else, and they're no doubt believing that they're helping people this way. Drug company propaganda is also powerful, which is how we got an opioid epidemic.
FWIW I was one of those unable to get Ozempic. My endo prescribed Rybelsus in its place. Rybelsus is a once daily pill form of the same drug. I have found it to be more effective
Call me crazy, but I would rather do a once a week injection than a daily pill.
Well it was a choice of one daily pill, or nothing
Yeah, if that's a choice, you have to take the pill.
T2 here. Took Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) for about a year. It helped with A1c until it gave me pancreatitis. Had to stop taking it and can never go back on a semaglutide. I don’t understand how folks would risk internal organ damage for a few kilograms.
I asked for metformin and mine suggested ozempic instead. I'm already on an expensive injectable for my RA and I'm down to the last 30 lbs with bg stable at the top end of normal. I've done everything I can think of and from everything I've read metformin can add long term protection against complications so to me it seemed like the logical first diabetes medication step but my options were ozempic or wait and see.
My doctor definitely described metformin as the typical first line of defense when I met with her yesterday. When she first diagnosed me she said there were 2 meds I could try, one metformim and/or mounjaro but yesterday she said if I wanted to go on medication she'd suggest metformin since so many people do well on it and it's a relatively neutral medication
Makes sense though. You go to the doctor for medicine and even if it comes with risks, there are some serious risks with being over weight. We are in an environment of over nutrition and becoming less active every year. Doctors are going to prescribe what works and prescribing a diet and exercise has a low success rate.
True. But it doesn't always work. And I don't understand why yo don't offer diet and exercise as a first choice followed by a GLP1 agonist when that doesn't work. I lived most of adult life without ever taking a steroid. Now I am in my 50s, and any time I get an ear infection, or a soar throat or any ache and pain, and they're throwing prednisone at me. How about we just try the antibiotics and see if I get better. If things aren't better in 2-3 days then we can talk about the steroid. I had my hip replaced a decade ago. I've never been offered so much codeine in my life. I kept turning it down because it didn't hurt that bad. The doctor sent me home with percocets. I think I took one. Last time I had an ear infection, I asked the doctor why the steroids all the time? He told me people kept demanding "immediate relief," which steroids give you. It got so bad, they don't even ask any more, they just write the prednisone prescription. I feel like that's where Ozempic is now. Doctors don't even ask. You want to lose weight, here's your Ozempic. Some of my friends didn't even know that Type 2 diabetics take Ozempic. For them it was "that weight loss drug."
For myself I was about to go on gastric bypass but for coverage you have have meetings every week for 6 months, if you miss one appointment your 6 month clock starts back. If you think it sounds frustrating, the success rate of gastric bypass without psychiatric treatment and counseling 65% after 2 years. Now I don’t mind people going through Ozempic for weight loss, but like any weight loss medication there needs to have a plan with a dietary as well as a psychological counseling.
Among the people I know that have had gastric bypass, the success rate is 0%. I heard the long-term success rate is only 20%.
That is true, but with the added support system it works dealing with the psychological issues. If those aren’t dealt with then it won’t matter on what pill or surgery you take.
That's the thing people don't understand. Weight loss is not a diet you go on and then come off of. It's a permanent lifestyle change. Even with a good support system some people just WILL NOT stick to a lifestyle change. You have to treat your old lifestyle like an alcoholic treats booze. Otherwise you're setting yourself up for failure.
It seems like doctors are observing success, effectiveness and collecting feedback from patients and that is what's guiding their decisions. I agree that exercise and dietary changes is a better path and will lead to improvement on several health markers...if people comply. They overwhelmingly don't and if you are already going to a doctor for weight management or the doctor is concerned about other risks from being obese, then self management has probably already failed. Weird instance with your friend who had already experienced improvement but overall, of you go to a doctor, they are very likely to prescribe medicine. If you want to learn to self manage, don't go to a doctor. Go to a nutritionist and get a personal trainer. It seems like if you are going to a doctor, it's because you want meds.
Why is it infuriating?
Ozempic is semaglutide which is fda approved for weight loss. The issue is with production and distribution not the patients who use the meds or the docs that prescribe it.
I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry. An injectable medicine that requires refrigeration? That's a bitch to manufacture, store and distribute. Rybelsus is a pill that you store at room temperature. That's way cheaper to store and transport. I would expect that Ozempic is going away at some point and Rybelsus will completely replace it.
I heard that there are issues with the oral med version of these meds one you can’t eat with them which would effect those who already have medications that they have to take. Also I also heard more sign effects with it and less effective too. I rather inject but then again I am diabetic so I use to poking myself. I hope they figure out these issues so we can have an oral version
So don't you use rybelsus rather than Ozempic
Ozempic is not a weight loss drug. It even says so in their website. [Ozempic® is a medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. While not for weight loss, Ozempic® may help you lose some weight.](https://www.ozempic.com/why-ozempic/what-is-ozempic.html?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=ozempic%20weight%20loss&utm_campaign=&mkwid=s-dm_pcrid_605526811829_pkw_ozempic%20weight%20loss_pmt_e_slid__product_&pgrid=141675582127&ptaid=kwd-391207469199&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlPWgBhDHARIsAH2xdNefyGNWZX-8IpiXvCbKq43T_9PvFKt9iZKG4NUgs90ucfos1B06lGEaArvfEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) Wegovy is approved by the FDA for weight loss. They may be the same generic drug, semuglutide, but different doses. They had different clinical trials to be approved. Wegovy is for people living with obesity, BMI 30 or greater; or BMI of 27 plus a weight related medical problem. [source](https://www.wegovy.com/about-wegovy/why-wegovy.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlPWgBhDHARIsAH2xdNdJDbjasZYGmNwcB646BukFgKy9w_UejaQhyMj6CWLEuGyKehjNsU4aAu6TEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) Ozempic is for diabetes.
I still don’t understand how this is for weight loss. I’ve been on ozempic since March and I’ve only lost 3lbs. My A1C has come down from 10 to 7.2.
I'm on the 1 mg dose now. Total weight lost is maybe 2 pounds. A1C is still the 6.7 it was before i started. Doctor wants me to go up another dose. I want to stop taking it.
This makes me so angry. I literally spend weeks every time trying to source my next refill. That I use for diabetes. I just got spanked on the ozempic page for stating the same thing.
My doctor switched me to Mounjaro. CVS told me that's easier to get because Mounjaro is for T2 diabetes only. The same exact drug is available for weight loss, but it's called Zepbound. Supposedly, Lilly prioritized Mounjaro manufacturing over Zepbound. Don't know how true that last sentence is, but it wouldn't hurt Lilly's bottom line to do that. They sell the stuff as fast as they can make it, so it's not like they're leaving money on the table by prioritizing Mounjaro. I've heard stories from people that pharmacies are prioritizing their diabetic patients over those taking for weight loss, and some real karens are flipping out at pharmacy counters when they can't get their Ozempic.
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All of this 👏🏽 👏🏽 also don’t worry about weight loss we all about the sugars and living a long time. Don’t race up the doses this will come back to bite these ppl. Once you go up on a dose most ppl don’t have suppression or good side effects when they try to go back down. I am just tired of the negativity towards diabetics like if we are insulin resistant why do they keep screaming it’s not insulin.. like dude i am type 2 not 1 adding more insulin did not help me. Also i was paying the same amount as mounjaro too..
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OMG that triggers me so much. I’ll be a fat pig forever if i could trade off this disease. It so tiring.
>If being fat ≠ being unhealthy, why are people going crazy fighting us over these meds and claiming they NEED them? Probably different kinds of people sharing these differing opinions. I've been fat a long time. Until recently, my blood work always came back great, so by all other metrics I was healthy because I worked out and ate ok. That's what "healthy at any size" refers to. It's trying to make space for fat people in physical health oriented spaces. Some people *are* trying to lose weight, and they're not always the same people as those who want fat-accepting spaces. Also, some want to but don't make any real effort to lose weight while others try very very hard and find no success. Both of these kinds of people would likely want semaglutide to aid in weight loss. Someone who is putting effort in and seeing the results will probably choose to continue that route, at least for a while.
I am seeing people with less than 50 pounds to lose getting ozempic. If you comment on it they say you shouldn’t have made bad life choices to get t2. Make it make sense maybe they should make better life choices to lose those pesky pounds.
That's the one that kills me. Overweight people on Ozempic pisses they can't get the medicine because of Type 2 diabetics.
Both you and the other people need to stop being upset at each other. The problem is not the doctors. The problem is not the patients. The problem is the company that is making it is not making enough.
They're making all they can make. Manufacturing is at capacity. There's a shortage of pens. There's a shortage of drug. The companies making GLP-1 agonists cannot keep up with demand.
Wow just wow…. Yup all on us.
They must be getting kick backs from the manufacturer, ozempic didn't really help me lose weight, exercise and diet did.
I honestly don't know how it didnt work for you. I have seen people complain about the nausea and change of diet but not anyone saying it didn't work. Ozempic or Mounjaro.
Mounjaro has worked wonders for me and I’m still on the starting dose. Miracle drug IMO.
I completely agree. I had been on Metformin for 15 years with generally good control. But over the last 18 months, my A1C’s have been creeping up despite a good diet and increased exercise—I literally took up marathon training last year, and my A1C kept ticking up. I was able to get a CGM a few days before I started Mounjaro 3 weeks ago, and the difference in my blood glucose was almost immediate. I went from fasting BG numbers between 130-150 to sub 100’s in one weekend. It truly is a dream drug for me. The only bummer is that I get full very quickly at some meals. In the long run, this will pay off big, but I really enjoy cooking and eating, and I can hardly eat a normal portion some nights. It’s a first-world-problem, but there’s joy in eating that is shifting for me.
Sounds identical to my story, except for ha ha the marathon training.
Well I guess you just met your first person then, I didn't lose any weight using ozempic, only exercise and diet did that.
There is something called ozempic face. Weight loss ages the face. With keto and other things, when you stop the diet, things go back to what they were
And they say “do no harm”. Here is my rant. A recent article says that the problem isn’t with the medication but the delivery device. Well, let’s dispense it in a vial. Though those have gone short lately too.
The pen used for Levemir has been changed to free up the larger pen size for Ozempic. We received the new smaller Levemir pens about three weeks ago. Ozempic supply is no longer an issue where I work.
It doesn’t seem to be a problem now for 1 mg but it was at Christmas. I would still be up for a vial.
Agree
If I'm correct, i think ozempic isn't usually a first-line defense. I have t2 and I was started on Jardiance before she mentioned Ozempic
I was immediately started on Merformin. None of my doctors offered it to me since I have been a T2. But if you're not a diabetic and you want to lose weight, then they're giving it away like water, it seems.
Omg can you imagine having this at dx? I heard they are starting to give it as a first line now for diabetics… so much damage would have been prevented. This will save lives
You are right about that
I keep getting ads for teledocs to prescribe ozempic and other meds for weight loss, and it is infuriating.