To think all these weight loss jabs are a bad move?

[Pineconecollector]

I’ve seen so many people recently saying they’re on Mounjaro - someone wrote on Facebook that they were struggling to eat anything at all, hadn't eaten for over 48 hours. Just zero desire to eat anything. Surely that can’t be healthy?

I also know of someone who has lied to an only e pharmacy to get the jab, because her BMI would be considered too low to be prescribed it. She’s wanting to get down to a size 6.

There is a shortage of one type of insulin pen. That is correct. It is caused by a problem with the manufacturer. You can read about it on the Diabetes UK website, link in earlier post.

The confusion is occurring because people are incorrectly stating that the shortage is caused by demand for weight loss injections. This cannot be the reason because the pens are different and not interchangeable. And not even manufactured by the same company in the case of Mounjaro.

I would contact the pharmacy who told your dad this incorrect information and make a complaint.

@SilenceInside diabetes uk did know about the shortage of pens as per your own link. They didn't attribute it to a specific reason though I agree.

I can't seem to copy the link but if you Google Nordo nordisk touch flex pens you will see that they wrote a letter dated 16 June 2023 to health professionals explaining that there was a shortage with some of their pens which they say is due to "high demand in our medicines". Given they produce both ozempic and wejovy both of which experienced sudden high demands in the run up to this date, I think we can assume its that rather than a sudden influx of ppl getting diagnosed with T1 diabetes that caused this demand.

I dont believe there's a current issue, like you say, they no longer make the most popular weight loss drug. Both the ppl I referred to were switched to cartridge pens last year which coincides with the timing of the letter I found.

Hopefully the issues have now been sorted, I was merely agreeing with a pp about having heard ppl being told similar.

Yes there may be long-term side effects of these drugs. Being obese has definite and serious short-term and long-term side effects. Which is worse?

It's degrees of the same thing, there's a huge difference between starving yourself to near death and eating a little less so that you approach a more healthy weight.

Your logic is similar to a heroin addict who doesn't think people should use morphine for pain relief

I think those people who are falsifying info and misusing them are the problem. Not the people who are using them responsibly to assist them in weight loss.

I am personally on Mounjarno. I have no side effects and I am the right weight to be prescribed it. It is helping me greatly to stick to a calorie controlled diet and has helped me with energy to exercise. I still want to eat and get hungry, I just don’t think about food as much and my taste buds have changed.

Overall I think it was a healthy choice for me and lots of others who use it responsibly to take.

I think in the US they did have a problem with pen shortgage driven by the increase in demand for self-dosing injections generally - they are made at the same factories and there was a lag while production ramped up. BUT in the US they use different pens to the UK. Their weight loss (and presumably insulin) pens are single dose. I think a shortage in the UK, for different reasons, has got confused with the US and led to the idea that weight loss drugs have deprived diabetics of insulin. Of course, you have to then wonder that in a conflict between the two, why a company would have no shortage of weight loss pens but a shortage of insulin ones - suggestion they are deciding the priority (based on profit?).

In reality, and regardless, these are all businesses and they will not turn down money - so production potential everywhere will be being increased as quickly as possible to meet demand, because no one wants to sell less of a product than they could do.

Maybe im being irrational though. Would be very interested to know how many calories on average people on the jab are having per day when its working as intended.

Over the last month I have averaged 1500-1700 cal per day.

I’ve been on mounjaro for 5 months and lost 3 and a half stone.

im aware of the side effects but there’s side effects to being obese too. My bmi was 36 it’s 28 at the moment.

im planning on staying on it for a long time, its the best thing I’ve ever done and the only time I’ve ever managed to lose weight at the age of 38, having been overweight and on a diet as long as I can remember.

I`m prediabetic and for the last few months I have reduced carbs and adopted a walking 8000 steps habit. I also follow the 16:8 fast. I keep reading about these injections - I am losing weight but very slowly. So it's tempting. But I heard a doctor talking about them on television and she said that apart from the side effects as soon as you stop taking the drug you get a rebound appetite and will more likely than not put the weight back on. I don't want to take anything forever. I think I will stick to the way I am doing it, it might take a long time but it's sustainable, I could do this forever if needs be.

Are you a slim person by any chance? I think they’re great, I’m using them for slow and steady weight loss.

@Hellogoodbyehello4321 this is the confusion of two separate issues that I'm talking about .

1. Historically there was a shortage of Ozempic, not insulin or insulin pens. That was in 2023, supply is ok now and expected to improved further.

2. Recently, there is an entirely separate issue with one type of insulin pen. On the Diabetes UK page you can click through via a link to the manufacturers explanation of the shortage. I can link it directly if you can't find it in the text. It clearly says that it's a manufacturing issue. Nothing at all to do with any other medication or pen.

Just also seen that last year there was a shortage of a different type of insulin pen, again nothing to do with weight loss pens but a supply and delivery delay.

I don't know why people are so keen to blame insulin shortages on people that have nothing to do with it at all.

@itwasnevermine @SilenceInside

Please see below link which shows novo nordisk uses flex touch pens for both insulin and semaglutide. Obviously they look slightly different but they are essentially the same pens, I've lived with a T1 diabetic for 15 years and I use the weight loss injections myself so know what both look like very well.

I don't know about other manufacturers but I know my DH was moved off flex pens last year for the insulin he was on, which was manufactured by Novo. Who at the time was experiencing high demand of some of their weight loss drugs. I believe this issue is now sorted but my DH prefers is cartridge pen so is pretty happy.

As a weight loss drug user myself, I have no issues with ppl using these pens but I don't know why you are so adamant to deny they don't use the same pens/didn't cause issues for T1 diabetics. You've read one article from diabetes uk to confirm your thoughts - maybe read a little wider

www.novonordisk.com/our-products/pens-and-needles/flextouch.html

@MrsSlocombesCat - I think that's a great example of you looking at the options and making a personal decision based on what is right for you.

They don't cause the issues. The manufacturers do.

I would use these I think- I've battled with binge eating my whole life. Sometimes it's anxiety driven but I've also recently been diagnosed with ADHD so there is also a dopamine element involved in my bingeing (sugar just gives that perfect dopamine hit). I've never been more addicted to a substance than I feel I am to sugar. I used to smoke- but quitting that was a breeze compared to my many failed attempts of quitting sugary foods. Alcohol I enjoy but can take or leave- some occasions I just don't feel like drinking etc. I never ever don't feel like eating 5 biscuits or a packet of sweets. Sadly I don't have the budget right now to afford £180/month on these weight loss jabs. I really wish I did- I'm nearly 20 stone and the heaviest I've ever been in my life. My body looks like a mountain with a pea head on it.

Hadnt really thought of that
But of course this is the case

Between the fast food industry and ultra processed food producers, alongside slim people who like that some people struggle with obesity, there are many who would like to keep fat people eating

These are absolute miracle treatments for obesity, and hopefully they will be very soon rightly available on the NHS

In the meanwhile, best spend your money on these and you'll be cost neutral as you save so much on not buying excessive food

@Poffy Apparently, Weight Watchers have now introduced their own customised jab, which they can sell themselves! I read this today.

@Changingnameagain I am not trying to convince you, but it is worth looking at how much you spend on excess food and sugar and seeing if that helps offset the cost a bit for you? That's if you really want to try the drugs. I genuinely believe it has been cost neutral for me - both in terms of food savings but also excess shopping (clothes etc) that I used to do for the dopamine hit - that no longer happens.

The doctor wasn’t giving the whole story or was misinformed, these drugs can be used for life, if one chooses and your doctor prescribes , all diets, every single one, you rebound when you stop, as people go back to their old eating habits when they hit target. Very few people lose weight and keep it off. The drugs change that landscape.

To lose weight on weight loss jabs you need to change your eating habits, move to low fat, low ish carb, lots of veg, fruit, salad, veg, basic healthy eating and smaller portions. All the drug does is reduce appetite to enable you to make those healthy choices.

but yes if someone just goes back to their old way of eating , stops taking the medication, they will gain the weight back , as they do on every diet. The drugs don’t suppress your appetite for life, irrelevant of whether you take them or not.

Isn't it wonderful how there are so many people so worried about total strangers food intake or people they "know of". Heartwarming really

And all the side effects we might get

@Hellogoodbyehello4321 I'm saying that Mounjaro is nothing to do with any insulin shortages. The pens are different from different manufacturers. Any shortage of pens that are use for both insulin or Wegovy are down to manufacturing issues, not shortages caused by supplies being taken for weight loss injections.

No person using weight loss injections in the UK is causing an issue for diabetics. Yet it pops up on every bloody thread about these injections, as it's a really handy and emotive stick with which to beat those selfish lazy thoughtless fat people with.

On the fast food manufacturers subject - have a look at what anti-obesity medications do to people's shopping habits. McDonalds lost 17% of share value down to this (they say). I bet they are worried!

It won't be semaglutide or tirzerapide as they are patented to novo nordisk and eli Lilly. Though I'm sure plenty of drug companies are trying very hard to develop their own equivalents.

ETA I googled and it seems to be in the states where they are somehow able to prescribe ozempic and wegovy directly and also charge $$ for the 'support' element.

Well yes obviously it's a manufacturing issue and they perhaps should have planned for the high demand better but as I've already said, they said there issues was caused by high demand in their products so indirectly.

I use these weight loss injection myself so have no issue with them. I am just for the 19th time agreeing with a previous pp that the demand did have an impact on T1 diabetics being moved to other pens because as per my previous link, I corrected you, that the pens used by that manufacturer are the same for insulin and semiglutide.
Use the weight loss drugs as I do, I agree it's a manufacturing issue and could have been planned for, but unlike you, I'm not denying it did have an impact on some diabetics. Fortunately now resolved.

Novo nordisks own letter of June 2023 says its due to increased demand. Not sure why your so keen to deny the experiences of the pp's father and what he was told by his pharmacist. The evidence is online and I've signposted it , read or don't, but stop saying the pens aren't the same when it's clear you don't have a clue what you're talking about given a 2 min Google of the manufacturers website says otherwise