I started ozempic last night

[HermioneWeasley]

Going to log my experience here as a journal and also to help others if interested.

having gone hungry to lose 5lbs earlier this year and then stalled because I’m always hungry, I put 4lbs back on. Being v pear shaped I never have a belly, but now it sticks out and digs in and clothes are uncomfortable. Doing more exercise makes no difference. It is clear that will power simply doesn’t work for me.

I took my first dose (0.25mg) last night. Woke up around 2.30 with pain at the injection site which passed. Was v thirsty so gulped water which just seemed to sit there. A couple of small burps. Got back to sleep. Weirdly vivid dreams. This morning, not particularly hungry first thing.

Welcome @Madferitchick . Of course, everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.

I haven’t done saxenda, but yes it’s a pen with a fine needle and you twist it to get to the dose and then press to dispense and then hold for 6 seconds after it’s done.

Thank you @HermioneWeasley
So, in theory I can buy a higher dose pen, but turn less clicks to get a lower dose from it?
As I've been in sax I think I'll need a higher starting dose anyway as that seems to be the consensus generally.

Thank you for sharing your experience @Intemperatefatty . Sounds like magic!

Did they ask for measurements, pics etc? It seems I’m doing an entire job interview. And it’s a minimum of 6 hours between my answers and their next question / request. It’s taking forever and I don’t even know if I’ll get approved. 😭

@Prettybutdumb no, I just put my height and weight in along with a few other medical questions and was approved (next day I think)

I guess you could @Madferitchick , but I’m on my first pen and it’s a low dose so someone more knowledgeable might be along to confirm

@madforit I was on the 3 mg dose of Saxenda & moved up to the 0.5 mg dose of Ozempic. But if you're on a lower dose than the 3, it's best to start on the 0.25 strength. To be honest the Ozempic effect seems to be progressive on me. 3 weeks in its having much more of an effect than at the beginning. I'm completely off alcohol & often don't feel hungry at all. I'm still on the 0.5 dose but I've ordered the 1 mg strength for next week. I'm now debating whether I need it.

Anyone know if Ozempic is in stock anywhere or when it's coming back in stock?

Has anyone tried the Ozempic tablet form & had success? The injecting is putting me off.

Wow ! Really interesting OP, Thanks for sharing.

I work with a lot of type 2 diabetic patients, and wonder how much this drug could help them?

Also 2 staff members who are very overweight, and it would really help them. (one of them is type 2 on Metformin already and BP medication in her 40s). Don't worry, I won't tell them, but keep my thoughts to myself!

@MrsDoyle351 Ozempic only has a license currently to treat Diabetics. It's being used off-licence for weight loss. But the same compound has been licensed by the UK government as Wegovy & it's coming online in the New Year. The only Weight loss injections that's licensed currently is Saxenda.
Ozempic appears to be still available in the Health Express website in all sizes.

I haven't tried rybelsus but anecdotally ozempic seems to be more effective. The injection needle with ozempic is tiny and comes in a pen shape.You just press it to your thigh or stomach and it shouldn't hurt. For me, it's less painful than putting on a freestyle libre and slightly more painful than finger pricks.

First injection I did I couldn't feel at all. The worst are finger imo.

@LovelaceBiggWither how much does it cost in AUS please

When you can actually get it in Australia, you mean? I'm a T2 diabetic who met the conditions to get it on the PBS so I pay $6.50. Private scripts are about $140 I think. The TGA has asked that no pharmacist fill private scripts which are for obesity until the supply line is flowing again.

My pharmacist said they were told this week that supplies should be returning to normal from Dec 31 but who knows?

After using it for 3 months and losing almost two stone, I've just had an email to say all pens are out of stock until next year! Are other people planning to try Rybelsus or go with another injectable?

I thought Ryelbus was the brand name for Ozempic?

Did my third injection this week.

I’ve lost 6lbs without ever feeling deprived (but I started from being very bloated so it’s probably more like 3-4)

I am more hungry now though so I can see I’m ready to move up the dosage. I feel like I have very vivid dreams the night I take it - don’t know if anyone else has noticed that?

apparently once the pen has been started you don’t need to keep it refrigerated as long as it stays below 30C.

No, it's the name of the oral form. Both meds use semaglutide as the active ingredient.

Taking my third dose tonight. Still not feeling hungry and the nausea has settled. I'm not moving up to the next dose until I do feel hungry.

welcome @therealpumpkinbumpkin. Hope it works out for you

I've lost over 20 pounds now after 3 months on initially Saxenda & then Ozempic. I've been on the 1 mg strength for the last week & lost a kg. However I'm now worried about being able to pick up another 1 mg pen due to the shortage. I believe the tablet presentation doesn't equate up to the 1 mg strength sadly.

I started ozempic this week. So far so good. I have tried saxenda before and never got passed the first few days as it made me feel so ill. I’ve, thankfully, not had the same experience with ozempic. Fingers crossed this works or I will have to consider surgery. The ache in my knees and hips cannot be ignored any longer.

I'm also planning to start this week having tried Sax in the past. I felt really poorly on that so glad to hear that I might escape that with ozempic.