“I started Ozempic last night” - THREAD SIX

[Peridot1]

Hi all. Just spotted the previous thread filled up so thought I’d start a new one quickly.

I am kind of relieved there is a shortage. I have lost quite alot of weight but Dare I say it… I agree with Boris.. you start to dread the injection day. I seem to get endless headaches and disgusting metallic taste in mouth. Yukky burps. I feel like being fat maybe wasn’t so bad.

I've done 6 months of saxenda and one month of ozempic. I've got one 0.25 dose in my pen left but can't find any more to continue after that. I guess this will be the end of my sax/oz journey for now. I'm fully committed to keeping on with weight loss, it is just going to be much harder (not the best timing with summer holidays starting, which is always a juggle with kids and work = increased stress).

I'm thinking having a few months break from ozempic and trying to maintain my weight or still lose at a slower rate will be a good exercise in sustainability.

@DrMadelineMaxwell intrigued to hear if you received a 1mg?x

I did receive 1mg. Think I just made it before they ran out.

The mhra have released a document saying supplies are extremely limited and not expected to get better until mid 2024 at the earliest.

Priority is for diabetics and no new patients should be initiated on these drugs. Off lable prescribing is strongly discouraged and discussion with pts regarding stopping meds who have not achieved targets.

There is also a threat of investigation by the cqc for clinics not complying.

www.cas.mhra.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspx?AlertID=103235&fbclid=PAAabCghUsrxNPxwZn4E9157KfAOtoSJJxov6VDP-OxtbCgsKYqmJswNxclUU

Thank you for sharing.
I really cant justify Juniper's new costs. Spending over 25% of my monthly salary on injections would be insane of me.
I wish I had eeked out my pens like you, but I didn't so I very much stopped cold turkey since Juniper raised my price 2 weeks before I was due for a refill.
My appetite has increased significantly and I'm eating at odd odd times. I just can't restrain myself. But I continue my fast-pace runs thrice a week and trying to eat healthy even though I'm eating much, so hopefully they help me in some way, otherwise I'm not sure what I'd do.
I'll just have to embrace life as it is. Clearly the Ozempic not-hungry version of me isn't true reality.

Hi

I got my first 0.25 pen today. I am a bit confused as it says it contains 1.5ml which is 6 x 0.25, not 4 x 0.25. Can anyone explain that? Obviously I only have four needles anyway...

Thanks

Is it really the time to be starting Ozempic with the chronic shortages? You are starting a course of treatment you will not be able to continue with for long if you read the comments on this and other threads.

You do get 6 injections from the pen btw so should buy some extra needles from Amazon or a chemist if you do intend to continue with it while you can still source Ozempic. It just seems a very bad time to be starting tbh.

Thanks for responding Twiglets

That's good to know re the dosing. I guess I thought I would probably lose at least some weight with the 0.25 dose as other posters appear to have had good early results.

If I can't get a 0.5 pen after that I may have to stop but at least I will have had 6 weeks to try it, and in any case, I might decide it isn't the right medication for me with regards to side effects/actual weight loss.

I've got it now so might as well use it! I am three stone over the top end of normal BMI so at this point anything helps.

@Zempy unless you are a "super responder" 0.25 and 0.5 may not do much - quite a few people find it only works for them once they're on 1.0.

But, if you are a super responder then 6 weeks of 0.25 could give you a good head start

Thanks @TheWayOfTheWorld I will update!

Quick meds 1mg in stock

Thanks @Whisper23

Don’t worry, I am not going to update every day, but given the original thread title I thought I would post.

Injected at bedtime last night. Took me a while to get my head around it, but I am dyspraxic so I expected that.

Had INCREDIBLY WEIRD and vivid dreams. I also had a couple of sharp pains near the injection site (tummy) but no stomach upset or nausea so far.

The most noticeable outcome is that my appetite has pretty much disappeared. It’s the weirdest feeling. I wasn’t very hungry but wanted to eat something before I went out for the day, so I made myself one weetabix with milk. I managed to eat less than half of it and I was full.

Later in the day I suddenly felt a bit faint, and realised I needed to eat, but I wasn’t actually hungry IYSWIM.

I made myself a small dinner and just about managed to eat it all. I use MFP and have consumed about 780 calories today. I’m pretty sure I won’t eat anything before bed.

So, so far so good but obviously it’s very early days.

Zempy I lost 4 kg in the first 6 weeks. I have just stayed on the 0.25mg and it is coming off fast. I do feel icky and headachy most of the time though. I can't see myself sticking with it. I am looking forward to being a bit slimmer for the summer but after swimsuit season... forgeddit. I am gonna jsut let myself chunk up again.

@Youdoyoubabe why would you just chunk up again?

I've been on Ozempic now for 4 months and lost 3 stone and 1 lb. I'm eating the same food and amount as I was in earlier weeks and drinking 2-3 litres of water everyday but my weight loss is so slow now. Last week I only managed 0.2 kg. I have been out walking more too. Any advice from anyone who has got past this?

@caringcarer what doses have you been taking and what are you on now? Maybe you need to up the dose?

I'm far from being an expert sadly as only just started.

@caringcarer - you have done so well. You must feel very different with that loss! I’m not sure why you aren’t losing much now but I think it’s pretty normal. What dose are you on now? I seem to remember you were prescribed it from your GP - maybe ask them what they suggest? Sometimes tweaking what you eat can help. More protein and less carbs.

Possibly due to your maintenance calories decreasing as you lose weight? E.g. originally you needed 1800 to maintain, you now need 1600 to maintain, you are eating 1500. It’ll now take three times as long to lose weight as your deficit has dropped from 300 to 100.

Appreciate previous comments around the timing of starting now / shortages but have 0.25mg pen and ready to go but hugely nervous.
Have to travel (by car) in next few days and worried about side effects and toilet trouble. Realise very individual but grateful for any advice.
Any tips on food choices going forward also welcome - hoping it’ll help me to cut down on alcohol and plan to reduce carbs/increase protein. Thanks!

I am only on day two but I wouldn't drink alcohol on it at all to be honest.

I just managed to eat for the first time today - one piece of toast. It was a struggle to get it all down, but I managed it slowly. My advice is don't try to eat what you would normally eat in terms of quantity. Little and often probably best to avoid nausea. Not sure about the other end - I haven't had any issues yet, but again, I wouldn't eat a cake or ice cream as I would be too worried.

@Assert150 totally get the worry about toilet trouble. Apart from constipation I'm four months in and only had one incident where I was hit with such cramps and urgency I didn't think I'd make the toilet. I had eaten a fair bit of a family sized dairy milk, within 20m the cramps hit and I had a terrible night of very bad diarrhoea. So since then I've avoided sugar and processed food.

Try and eat little and often even if you don't feel hungry to keep your blood sugar stable and the nausea at bay. You'll be fine xx

Thanks @Zempy and @SarahC50! Good to know about the chocolate etc. Any issues with coffee or the like?

I never drink coffee anyway. Tea is fine.