Just saw this posted on Oushk facebook group for anyone considering them for maintenance.
^^^
We understand that there's currently a bit of a wait for consultations, and we're doing our very best to get everyone signed up as quickly as possible. However, to make things even better, I'm collaborating with our awesome web developers to streamline and automate the process going forward. Please bear with us for the next few weeks, and I'll be sharing all the exciting details soon! 😁
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. This will also come with a very special update for all our patients who are in maintenance or getting there very soon!!
For those who are looking for more information, I will add a few points:
Oushk currently offers 3 plans, conti, taper and flexi - the details of each are available on our website but please know that these plans are set as guides and no one has to follow them in any way.
As an overview -
Conti means continuous use of medication for as long as needed and appropriate (meaning this can be life long)
Taper means you would like to come off the medication eventually (whether this takes 6 months or 6 years, it does not matter)
Flexi is for when you decide you would like to try maintenance with lifestyle changes but would like an option to restart the medication at a later time (even at a lower BMI) - as long as you have been our patient, you will always be our patient so we will ensure you will always be looked after.
The ultimate decision about your dosage will still be with the patient and as a prescriber we will be able to help you with this during the consultation to come up with an individualised plan.
The 3 monthly "thing" is a checking point for the safety of both our prescribers and our patients to see how things are going - this is not a subscription nor a commitment. You can stop ordering at any point you like!
When prescribing at lower BMIs, its even more important for us to ensure our patients are monitored to reduce the risk of anyone slipping in to the underweight BMI.
Other bits we often get asked about:
• we will prescribe down to a BMI of 19 if appropriate for the patient.
• you can start maintenance at any BMI - even at 28 if thats what you would like to do.
• each pen still needs to be used within 30 days so if you would like to inject every 14 days then you will only be able to use 3 doses out of your pen. (for mounjaro) - wegovy is within 6 weeks of opening
• month on / month off is fine however there is no scientific data to suggest that this is a good way to maintain.
• if you stop medication and would like to restart after more than 8 weeks - you will need to start again at 2.5mg.
• if you would like to move to us from another pharmacy and your BMI is within the healthy range, then we will ask for evidence of at least last 3 prescriptions and a full body image from before you started your treatment. - this is so we can build up a case study for you on our system so we can justify prescribing for someone at a lower BMI.
• maintenance should only really start once you have reached your goal weight as this is when you increase your calories to stop losing the weight.
• if you are at a lower dose such as 5mg, you are still able to increase to 7.5mg while in maintenance if needed
• we will never "cut" anyone off but will work with you to ensure we can always put your needs and benefits first as long as the treatment is safe.
More than anything, Oushk recognises obesity as a condition that requires not just treatment, but also management and prevention AND mounjaro and wegovy are both fully licensed for treatment and management i.e. maintenance.