Saxenda

[bembridge11]

Just wanted to share my experience
Weight gain has been an on going battle as I have got older - 49 now.
BMI in the unhealthy range - and at 5'2 being over 10 stone is not a good look.
Slimming world works .... when I stick to it.... but lockdown has made snacking in front of the TV all too easy and my weight shit up again. I decided to give Saxenda a try. The skinny jab. Just completed the first week. So far so good. It has been like a kill switch on my appetite: snacking has totally stopped and can only eat a fraction of what I ate before as I am so full so quickly. Have lost 2kg this week. Roll on next week. Have had a little nausea at the beginning and felt a bit more thirsty. That was all. Anyway - I just wanted to share my experience so far with you all because I am feeling v happy

[LeGrandBleu]

It is worth risking cancer? It causes cancer in rats and mice. Why would you take it? If you can't stop snacking, bin the snacks.

From their page: www.saxenda.com/about-saxenda/how-it-works.html

"What is the most important information I should know about Saxenda®?
Serious side effects may happen in people who take Saxenda®, including:

Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda® and medicines that work like Saxenda® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.

Add to that kidney failure, suicidal thoughts, gallstone, .....

Who recommended it to you?

[Shedtheload]

What will you do when you have lost the weight? Will you continue to take the jab forever because surely your appetite will return to normal and you will start gaining again?

[bembridge11]

When I hit my target I will reduce the injections to one or twice a day or stop. Also by then the gyms will have reopened and my life will hopefully be a bit more normal.

[bembridge11]

Yes. I read the side effects. All drugs have side effects. This drug is used widely in diabetes treatment and there is no cancer but they have advised caution because if rat strudies Obesity is the biggest risk for cancer so for me avoiding obesity is a good thing. I haven't had any mental health side effects - but if I did then I would discuss with my doctor and stop the treatment.

[Mammyloveswine]

Is it even licensed in the uk??

[bembridge11]

Yes. I have it on private prescription. I couldn't and wouldn't have it if it wasn't licensed. I know it isn't a life long solution but if it kick starts me for the summer then it will help me enormously to feel better for the summer. If my motivation kicks up and I can manage with following SlimmingWorld more closely then I won't need to spend more money on this. But it has really reduced my appetite. So following something like SlimmingWorld or a 5/2 diet feels much more doable now.

[MintyJones]

It sounds terrifying and I'm all for a quick fix to weight loss believe me

[bembridge11]

It is working great for me. The weight has dropped and it is already noticeable in my face. I am amazed at how little I feel the needle going in. I thought it would be sore: the side effects listed haven't affected me. If I carry on like this I will hit you target in about a month - just in time for when the kids break up and we may try and get away somewhere in England. I realised it isn't for everyone but I just wanted to share my personal experience. But I know it isn't for everyone.

[LeGrandBleu]

You are not in the obese category at 5.2 and 10 stones. And yes all drugs have side effects, but not many have cancer as the first one listed.

And one should consider alternatives. Do you have to take the drug or is there a better way to lose those pounds for your holiday that doesn't involve cancer, kidney failure, gallstones,... Don't say you are doing it so you lessen you cancer risk. More like for vanity, fair enough to want to lose and look better, but at the cost of health down the line....

If you really want to lose weight AND reduce your cancer risk , just take a big black bin bag, and ditch all the snacks, chips, cookies, white bread, sauce jars, and fill the fridge with celery, carrots, cucumber, kale and tomatoes. These will reduce your risk cancer far more than the small excess weight you have. And also giver you a great skin the second you step in the sun.

You will also find out that after losing the first 5% of bodyweight , the effects stop, and a year after, all those on trials have regained the weight once they stopped the drug but the health issues remained ....
english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/51641/0/NewsDetails.aspx

Do as you please but don't promote it here.

[bembridge11]

I that the first side effect listed is nausea. Cancer isn't a side effect. It would be a reason not to allow a drug to market. Is would be good to get facts straight first.
And no one is forcing you to take this option or to read about my experience!

This drug is in the NICE guidelines in the UK and is currently prescribed to treat diabetes already. Hardly cancer causing.

And I agree - I am not obese - but I am in the unhealthy range... and wanted to pull myself back from that - which is what I am doing. Every weight loss plan has the same problem - that when the person stops, the weight comes back. Even gastric band has this problem - the weight comes back. So I agree that ultimately some change in how I eat is needed.. But if that was so easy to achieve then I wouldn't need any help.

[LeGrandBleu]

I believe it is in the guidelines for an BMI above 30 or 27 is diabetic. Not for a mere 25.7 .

Cancer is listed on the product website as the most important safety information you should know. And on the FDA page as well it is reported www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022341lbl.pdf
and you can read about the rat study as well and you see rat life span in rat and mice if very different than human, so what takes a certain amount of weeks in rats, will take years or decades to develop in human. The important is 50% of rats developed tumours.

The weight comes back when you go back to the food that got you to the unhealthy weight. Diet don't work, lifestyle changes do.

What I was saying in my previous was that you can do as you please and take all the risks that you want but don't promote them on a public forum.

[Shedtheload]

You’re not at increased cancer risk at a BMI of just over 25. Fair enough if you’re willing to ignore the potentially dangerous side effects of injecting an appetite suppressant but don’t pretend that you’re somehow doing something good for your health. It’s no different from diet pills imo.

[tvsnacks]

Im starting on it next week. BMI 32. Looking forward to it 😊

[tvsnacks]

I lost 3,3 kiloes in a week. Yay.

[Millicent10]

Thanks for your post, I am thinking about trying this (having previously tried every diet under the sun), my BMI is greater than yours. I appreciate people’s comments about side effects and increased risk of disease but I have been on and off hormonal contraceptives for 25 years and accepted that risk, being obese also increases your risk of numerous diseases.

[tvsnacks]

I don't have any side effect. Still on low dose.
I don't feel hungry and that is a huge help. I would still LIKE to eat more, but I don't need it. It has been eye opening in many ways

[Millicent10]

Thanks tvsnacks, I have ordered some and will start next week. I really hope this works, I have used the money I had put aside for the holidays (cancelled due to coronavirus).

The only diet I have done that has curbed my appetite is Keto but it was impossible to stick to for any amount of time and in the end the thought of meat made me sick. Before children I stayed slim basically by going to bed early evening and sleeping/reading/watching TV. After 4 x kids I can’t do this and just constantly snack to get me through! I will update.

[tvsnacks]

Yes please update. I know it is expensive, but I hope it is worth it.
It is so much easier when not hungry..
what is your bmi?

[bembridge11]

Still going with the Saxenda. My starting BMI was over 27 (unhealthy range and strong family history of diabetes)
My weight loss hasn't been v dramatic but it does seem to be steady: in the past with slimming world I have also managed to lose weight - I feel it is faster on these injections but not o rely dramatic in speed. I am eating less when I do eat - my portions are smaller. And I don't snack nearly as much (hardly at all to be honest). My kids got a takeaway and I had some with them - but I really didn't eat as much as I would normally. ! And I would have previously eaten my plate and helped them finish theirs too. I didn't do this as I was too full.
Still enjoy have a drink though - so that's nice to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening. But I noticed I don't need the nuts or crisps to go with it! I have lost 5.5 k so far - over a period of 4 weeks. I am at the full dose which is 3mg a day. So each pen is only lasting me about 6 days. So once I am at my goal weight I will reduce how often I use the pen which will save me a fair bit of money. And the gyms are reopening which will help. Although I know for me that the gym isn't the answer if I don't reduce the amount I eat. A friend once told me that the battle of the bulge is won in the kitchen not the gym. That is really true for me.

[Vodkacranberryplease]

@bembridge11 Just ordered these and thrilled to find this thread! My appetite has spiralled out of control and I crave the wrong things so I'm hoping a few months of eating a wider variety of good foods (Fruit and veg etc) will change my cravings and appetite.

Can I just say for those PP going on about how dangerous it is, eat less move more - how about you get up to date with the latest science? Start with a book called 10% Human and then come back and see if you are still spouting the same old tired tropes saying the same thing.

So OP I'm going to nick a few tips from a previous VLCD (worked for years, crash diets medically proven to work, fasting proven to benefit gut biome and cancer before anyone starts on it) and ensure every day I have at least 1.5 litres of water (mine with juice of a lemon plus sweetener as it kills appetite at night) plus apples and ensuring I always get enough sleep. On days I didn't do the water/sleep I didn't lose weight. So it's a must not an 'aim'.

Plus Paul McKenna sugar (he stopped me smoking so 🤞). Can't wait for it to arrive!!!! Did you find it was better to do the jabs at night or in the morning?

[tvsnacks]

Good for you!! I never est breakfast, so using that, i take sax at lunch time, so i eat between 3 and 9 evening.
But struggeling. 6 week holiday, at home, in the bloody rain. So eat too bad and drink too much. I start again monday 😞
Best of luck to us all🌺🌺🌺

[Vodkacranberryplease]

Well the bloody docs haven't delivered! Very annoyed!

[tvsnacks]

What do you mean, not delivered?

[Vodkacranberryplease]

I ordered it and filled out the form then the doc had questions (but the messages weren't showing). Anyway I finally managed to retrieve and answer the messages (all very mundane/obvious) on Friday at 8am and I've heard nothing since. Over a week now! Pissed off because I'm going on holiday now and could have done with that weeks weight loss 😕

[Higgy3]

Just wondered where the best place is to get Saxenda from ?
Online pharmacy or skinnyjab ?