Support thread for those coming off meds

[Orangesandlemons77]

I just wondered if anyone wanted a support thread for those coming off meds due to the price increases. For people to support one another / share tips etc

I have found this on reddit which is a group of people mainly in the US (where they call MJ zepbound) who have had to come off due to their insurance) who are sharing tips for coping etc, called "GLP Grad"

https://www.reddit.com/r/GLPGrad/

I've been on MJ a year and gone up to 15mg but have been reducing to 5mg in recent months, planning on stopping due to the costs but have a wegovy pen in the fridge as my provider has switched me over to that.

I've going away on holiday this week so planning on having this my week off / win between, as didn't want to start the wegovy in case it has side effects on holiday.

I will tty checking back after my holiday and see how people are doing. Best of luck with this difficult situation. I don't have that many tips myself, I feel quite apprehensive about the food noise returning etc. My only tip really so far is apples, which are filling and sweet, I usually have one in the morning and then do intermittent fasting (skipping breakfast) which I plan on keeping going.

I'm not sure about the wegovy, if I seem to tolerate it ok I might use a small dose longer term but over time I think I want to come off as it is still not cheaper really and you only get four doses in it unlike MJ.

I am hoping to do something like spend any extra money saved on a swim pass or some healthy meals to support the change.

I also found this which was for people (mainly being forced due to insurance) swapping to wegovy from MJ. It doesn't generally seem that positive, but then I suppose people with side effects and problems seem to post more?

Might be of use for people swapping...

https://www.reddit.com/r/zepboundtowegovy/

Thank you for the links. I was on 15mg, last weekend started coming down to 12.5mg, have my current pen and 2 x 10mg pens arrived today, as that is all I could buy in the post panic buying price increase pendemic.
Already feeling hungrier at the end of the week but 15mg was super strong for me and I could barely eat 800 cals a day, so it's nice to feel some hunger.
I am planning on tapering fully off but I was prediabetic so that is a concern of mine. I may also buy berberine to help out my suppression and blood sugars.

Yes I found 15mg a bit strong too Mysticmaiden. Couldn't really eat much on it.

Before MJ, my GP prescribed me metformin off label to try and prevent metabolic syndrome and weight gain from some meds I'm on. Maybe that could be an option. I have seen it been mentioned as an aid to maintenance as well for coming off MJ It can have some side effects such as on the gut though.

Thanks for starting this, sure a lot of people will be starting the stopping process soon.
Ive only managed 6 months and got up to 7.5mg, had my last dose on the 5th August. Due to life circumstances and stress I was struggling to eat enough to function very well. Food is definitely starting to taste nicer again but I also think my stomach has shrunk so trying to stick to the same meals and portions as before.
I do have 1 pen tucked away for if i need it in the next few weeks. The spare money I have now will be going on a gym membership and gym clothes 😬 I'm glad mounjaro has got me a weight that I feel comfortable starting to exercise at.

I am wondering that about the stomach shrinking and if that might help FunnyCrabDance.

Hopefully! feeling similar about the swimming. I do aqua aerobics which I quite like. It's quite good whatever weight you are actually. Swimming can be good but can get a bit boring at times.

One of the things I've learnt to do is get comfortable with feeling hungry and the associated food noise. I'm just starting going down from 15 as I only have about 5 kgs to go. I was planning this anyway, but the price increase just brought it forward a month.

I still felt hungry on 15 so I've learnt to acknowledge that and when the voice starts up, I tell myself that actually I can eat whatever at my next meal so I don't need to have it now. It takes time and practice, but it's become a habit now.

I think for someone who doesn't have food noise they'd think "well duh, obvious" but for me it's been a part of the whole "sort out eating, exercise and head" process IYSWIM.

Since going down to 5 from 15 just this week I randomly started thinking about hot buttered toast one morning, after not fancying bread / toast for months, I didn't have any but just kind of noticed it happening.

Wonder if practicing mindfulness in the past might help with this sort of stuff. Maybe.