Would you stay on the jabs for life if you didn’t have to pay?

[PuzzledObserver]

Just that, really.

When you reach your goal weight (maybe you already have) would you want to get off GLP-1’s even if you didn’t have to pay? To put it another way - do you feel there is any benefit in NOT taking them, other than saving money. Assuming you’re currently paying privately, of course.

Jag was £280 per month (10mgs),
tablets £99 4mgs for a month.

I will pay to keep the weight of.

Lots of talk and studies around the long term benefits of using them with a view the effects outside weight loss could be something everyone should be advised to consider even those at healthy weights.

So true. People seem to think they’ll diet for a limited amount of time and then that’s it, back to normal. It’s a complete lifestyle overhaul. Permanent, resisting temptation on a daily basis

I go off and on depending on finances. The difference being “on” is incredible. I feel so much better even though the weight loss is only a stone and that’s only overweight to normal. Monjaro helps with my mental health apparently!

I am anyway, even with having to pay. My plan from early on was to lose the weight then maintenance dose and it's worked amazingly.

Totally get that people may need to stop for financial reasons and/or side effects, but otherwise there seems no reason to mess with a good thing.

OP, it's a great question.

I am only 2 months in and have gone from BMI 30.3 to 28. I'll be carrying on for a while.

However, I'm having to take a small dose (1.5mg of MJ) because the side effects of brain fog and dizziness and low energy were too bad at 2.5mg.

For me, it isn't a long term solution. I would rather feel 'normal' and have more energy. If I had to choose between taking the current dose for life or never taking it again, I'd stop.

I’m a bit confused by your question? Of course I would stay on them whether they were free or not, I want to stay the size I am now so I’m paying £169 every 2 months (I split dose). If they were free, awesome. If I stop injecting, I’ll put on weight, simple as that.

I am at goal and am about to stop taking mj because i can not afford to take it indefinitely. I am happy to be stopping, (just one tiny dose left to take). I am hoping to keep the weight off, but if it starts to go on again despite my best efforts, and cost wasn't an issue, yes I would stay on it forever.

I’ve been on them for 2 years in November and have been at goal weight for 9 months. I micro-dosed due to side effects and never went above 4mgs. I’m currently buy a pen every 6-7 weeks and feel that long term use is appropriate for me so I’m happy to continue to pay.

I was going to slowly titrate down with the view to coming off by June this year, was doing about 3mg once a week, however, the food noise, just feeling out of control again was creeping back in. I did put on about 5lbs which I wasn't worried about but also thought what if its another 5lb? Where does it end. Im now back on 7.5mg once a week and I just feel so much better in my life, I cant explain. Tracking calories is easy, my head feels calm and my body feels calm. I'e been maintaining for a year, but the last few months definitely became very difficult. I have ADHD and on a wait list for ADHD meds, I'm hoping they make a difference too. So yes, I will be staying on 7.5mg for the foreseeable, yes its expensive but worth every penny for how it makes me feel. Luckily I can work it into my monthly budget.

Just adding that micro-dosing or taking a very small dose clearly doesn't work for me.

I'm hoping to come off them, and it's not just related to the price. Mainly because for me (and I appreciate this is different to most who have posted) I dont have the 'disease of obesity' ie I don't think I'm genetically predisposed. I had gradual weight gain in relation to lifestyle changes, peri and a medication. I had been trying unsuccessfully to lose weight for a long time and it's only the jabs that have worked, but I do think my new maintenance will be doable.

The other aspect for me is I had a strong reaction to wegovy, and to each increasing dose, but my body seems to adjust quite quickly and it wears off. Which makes me worry about the impact of long term use, eg if my body is learning to fight back! That's anecdotal, I just worry if it will be like the rebound affect I had with long term ssri use.

@Proteinpudding I’ve never been obese either. I’ve not even really been overweight (barely) having a BMI of 25 for a short period. I just think MJ is magic for switching off my impulses. I’ve always eaten well generally and am very active, but the weight gain came with snacking on top, comfort eating. As I go into menopause, it is such a relief to have this weapon that’ll hopefully keep me trim and healthy without it being a mental battle.

The question was really to find out whether most people were viewing the meds as temporary or permanent. I put the “if you didn’t have to pay” in there because many people cite cost as a factor in their decision-making.

If its wasn't for cost I would still be on 10mg now, maybe even higher. I was on 10mg for over a year and felt fabulous.. only reason im coming down the strengths is cos the price..

I shall stay on as long as i can afford at whatever strength is manageable. currently 6.25, from a 12.5 pen.. 2 more weeks left then I try 5mg.

Apologies, I was clearly tired last night! Even though I’ve not been obese, I still see MJ as a permanent requirement. I know how to eat healthy, MJ wasn’t a reset for me, I had nothing to re-learn, I just need something to reduce my cravings!

Let’s face it, that’s why most diets however you do it do involve involve putting the weight back on, it takes a lot of constant strong will, unless like protein pudding describes weight gain is a result of a temporary situation; most of us can very easily fall back on the habits that get us back to where we were. I feel no shame in it, thank god WLI are here! I just wish they were cheaper!

I’ve accepted I will need to stay on them, as long as they’re available. I’ve gone from bmi of 35 to 24-25, and although I’m at the top of the healthy BMI I’m worried about my face looking drawn if I drop much more, I’m a 12 in most things and I think a fair bit of the weight is due to still having quite a loose flabby tummy. I’m trying to titrate down to see what a maintenance dose is for me and am managing on around 7-8mg currently. I use a 12.5mg pen so the cost is ok.

Came off the jabs in april

no weight gain so far though its hard work

i would stay on them if i didn’t have to pay purely because my sleep was sooooo much better on them as i didnt have all the noise in my head i get which can mean it takes me a while to get to sleep

I think they're permanent for me. I have tried a period off them and found my blood sugar quickly became erratic.

I take 2.5mg a week, but I buy a 5mg pen so it lasts 2 months. I'd love them to be free, but will settle for prices just naturally coming down when non-branded MJ becomes available.

I did have fright this month when my provider didn't auto prescribe and asked me to video call to check I don't have an eating disorder! I am BMI 22/23. I thought shit, what if I don't get them? But the pharmacist was great and prescribed again after our call.

I lost 6 stone on wegovy in 10 months - going from 15stone 10 to 9 stone 10. I’ve been off the jabs for 2 months now, and went on an all inclusive week long cruise during this time, and have managed to maintain so far. But it’s hard work. Luckily I counted calories throughout so I’ve built that as a solid habit and am sticking to a deficit. I have absolutely no issues going back on if I needed to, though I’m aware I may struggle to get this prescribed.

Oh I totally understand why you might make that choice, and I wouldn't be against doing the same if I felt the need (if I could be prescribed again) Just that it's a more finely balanced decision than for someone who is certain that if they came off them they're going to regain 5st +.

I also have some issues with feeling 'flat' and headaches which I was prone to before but I think have increased on wegovy so that's another consideration for me. And my suspicion that they'd stop working at some point, as like I said my body seems to react initially and then fight back!

@jiffypipe I do think I'll still need to work at it, just that it might be an achievable goal for me! The jabs have helped me realise that my daily requirements are lower than I thought, even with strength training and doing a sport. I'm around a lot of athletes and think I was kidding myself I could eat like they did, but I'm a middle aged weekend warrior, not a 21yr old full time athlete 😂I've been really trying to adjust my expectations when it comes to treats, eating out etc.

No worries.

For me, I always put the weight back on very quickly because of really severe binge eating…. and once I was out of control, I was out of control. This time, I have done all the work on my dysfunctional eating and mindset before I went anywhere near WLI. I had lost a lot of weight (over 5 stone) and basically kept it off for over a year.

But I was still borderline obese, so am now on MJ to take me the rest of the way, just into the top of the healthy BMI range will be enough for me. And I guess that’s why I started with the assumption that I would eventually be able to stop, because the habits are already there.

Time will tell, I guess.

Another factor is that I was on 2 medications for type 2 diabetes, and about to be given a third, when I started this journey. One of my meds was a weekly GLP-1 injection, Trulicity, which is specifically for blood glucose and induces only mild weight loss compared to the newer ones. Being able to stop those meds because of the changes I made (low carb diet, fasting, and consequent weight loss) was a really proud moment. So maybe that’s internalised the idea that I “ought to” be able to maintain without meds. Both my blood glucose, and my weight.

Apparently surgeons are reporting higher complications with patients who are on these meds so do bare that in mind if you have upcoming surgery you may need to come off for a while