Ozempic for those a few months in - part 3

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Thread was full so I've started a new one. 😀

Have you noticed that it only allows you to go through the registration process between 8-6pm? Just incase it's that

I submitted my details to Boots today after 6pm. And the website said it would take up to 24 hours to make a decision.
However I did register last year on the Boots Website, as I started off my weight loss journey on Saxenda initially

I did. It was after half 5 so I thought I'd check a bit earlier too in case it was that .

I've reached my healthy weight and am ready to start thinking about coming off Ozempic.

I started on 0.25 for the first 4 weeks then moved onto 0.5. It worked really well for me so I have stayed on 0.5.

I have very much viewed it as a tool to help me make all the lifestyle changes I wanted/ needed to make. I'm exercising regularly now and really feeling the benefit. I'm eating really healthily - have been reading all the books about UPFs and glucose and listening to the Zoe podcasts. I've been implementing all the advice about whole, natural foods, pulses, eating the rainbow, nuts and seeds on everything etc. I've also been keeping an eye on calories via the Nutracheck app - although not obsessively so.

I am now into the healthy weight bracket and don't need to lose any more. I'm going to let Juniper know that I'm ready to start tapering off.

I'm nervous about experiencing a huge surge in appetite. After all the effort that I've put in - and feeling SO happy and healthy now - I'd be devastated if found myself in the grip of a monstrous , ravenous hunger that undid all my efforts.

I think it's probably a case of coming back down from 0.5 to 0.25 for a couple of months and then maybe spacing the injections out to once a fortnight then once every three weeks then once a month? Taper off very gradually over about six months?

Just wondering if anyone else is tapering off Ozempic after reaching their healthy weight.

@DrMadelineMaxwell - the Boots website did say they were only supplying current customers of Saxenda but I still filled in the consultation and got approved.

Just a bit of a warning for everyone- there was an article in an Irish newspaper this morning saying that there are fake 1mg Ozempic pens being sold. They have German labels on them. I’m slightly concerned as I got one from The Virtual Slimming Clinic a while ago and it was from Germany. I have used it now and don’t have the pen any more so can’t check it but please be careful where you buy Ozempic from.

Interestingly the same article also mentioned that in the US Walmart is already seeing changes in shopping habits of people taking semaglutide meds. And manufacturers of things like Pringles and similar and fast food companies are concerned about their profits!

@LSGX - sadly I’m not nearly there yet! Well done you. Great achievement. Definitely taper off slowly. 0.5 down to 0.25 as you say. I’m not sure about spacing out the injections. Maybe ask Juniper what they advise. The medication has a half life of 7 days so after 7 days you have half the 0.25 in your system. So after 14 days you would have none left I think. Then if you take 0.25 again it goes back up in your system. I’m not sure the rollercoaster of it would be a good idea.

Be aware the manufacturer says that for some people it may well be a medication they would need to be on for life a bit like if you were prescribed blood pressure medication. But obviously they have a vested interest in that approach!

The risk with any weight loss method is that if you go back to eating the way you did you will obviously put the weight back on. But it sounds like you have made healthy sustainable long term changes that you should be able to maintain. For me my view when starting Ozempic was that it was almost impossible to lose 5 stone as I’d tried and failed so many times before. But I hoped that maintaining the loss might be easier. With, as you have done, making the long term changes needed.

@LSGX well done on your loss. I'm in a similar situation but have another stone ISH to lose. I'm thinking of another six months on 0.25mg a week for maintenance just to give my body longer to getting used to small portions, no junk etc. I'm terrified of my appetite and cravings coming back. I feel like a new woman having lost weight and I don't want to lose that. I am so happy boots etc are supplying it and more women can use this brilliant tool.

@LSGX I'm with juniper too and I'd be interested to hear what they advise and offer re tapering and maintenance x

Was looking at Boots to switch from Ozempic, but they only seem to want to offer Oristat.

So thanks to someone mentioning Asda, I'm trying there. Good prices too!

You have to click on 'buy Wegovy' then you get a questionnaire to fill in. I have done it and am picking it up today.

I click - 'I'm New' and it doesn't give me the option.

Asda seems cheaper so I'll see how that goes!

Just a heads up for another trusted supplier of Wegovy… I’ve previously ordered Ozempic from Health Express and Quickmeds with no issues but their pricing of Wegovy is just greedy imo at £245 for a 1mg pen!

I saw Boots were now allowing new customers at £199 but when I filled in the online form the last stage says they will inform your GP, which put me off. I saw someone mention Pharmacy2u on another thread, not only was it cheaper at £169 they also had a 10% code pop up when I went through the online consult.

I ordered at 4pm on Weds, it was despatched the next day and arrived this morning. Cost £158 including postage. Incidentally the pen is identical to the Ozempic pen

Hi all, a bit baffled today as I've hit my first plateau in 7 months.
I've lost exactly nothing in 10 days (including my first week of Wegovy 1mg) while still being in extreme calorie deficit (less than 800kcal/day) as I have been more or less throughout.

I am aware it gets harder to lose as you reach a normal BMI (mine is 24 now so still at the higher end, as the NHS calculator likes to remind me) and I'd ideally need/want to lose another stone. I'm short and 50+, and it's a bit concerning for the future. Because if this is in any way indicative of my 'allowed daily calories to maintain', I will put on weight again as soon as I come off the jab. For anyone who has tried, you know that extreme calorie deficit takes planning and dedication, and it's really very, very little food every day. Without a suppressant I would say it's almost impossible, I would have to battle extreme hunger and seriously flirt with an eating disorder and that's no way to live.

I'm trying to ransack myself to see if I've done anything different but no, I track everything that goes in my mouth and it's not been any increases. No dinners out, takeaways, holiday or parties (which I've had on occasion throughout, and still lost). No increased appetite. The only thing might be drinking a bit less water? (less thirsty when it's cold out)

I guess I'm looking for some reassurance, ie did anyone else experience a plateau when swapping from O to W? Or at a 'normal' BMI? Or might this mean my current dose isn't effective any more (but I don't feel hungrier?). Or could it be, scary thought, that my body is getting used to much less food and is "holding on to fat"? I'm no nutritionist but I thought that was a myth that had been debunked tbh.

Sorry about the essay but I'm stumped.

It’s frustrating isn’t it @VanellopeVonSchweetz99 when you are doing everything you have been and it suddenly stops working. I think it’s common. It could be you need to up your dose. It could right itself naturally. It’s so hard to know.

I follow an American lady on Instagram who has lost 80 pounds and posts a lot about various things with these medications. It might be worth looking at her account and back through her reels and see if she covers plateaus. I have a feeling she does. Her account is cgoofme. That’s cgo underscore of underscore me. Last time I typed it it kept changing.

I had a look at some of her reels and she does touch on this @VanellopeVonSchweetz99. She says to up your protein and water and make sure you are eating enough. So you may well need to up your calories. But make it from protein.

Just ordered from pharmacy2u. And had the order cancelled with no explanation.

I put in a Boots order last night but they rejected me this morning. As I am not a current patient. I was last year but I became allergic to Saxenda but I will still be on their records. Oh well... I've now put in an Asda order & it's cheaper.

That's weird @Cantonet . I ordered from boots a couple of days ago having never had anything from them before and they processed it!

I would say that when I just went to pick it up the pharmacist in the store initially said they didnt have it and can never get any stock but the online service keep issuing the prescriptions anyway. Thej another woman behind the counter asked what dose, and turns out they did have 1.7mg in which is what I've been prescribed. If it had been a 1mg prescription I doubt I'd have got it. Worth bearing in mind as I would have been pretty hacked off if I'd paid the money but then the branch couldn't supply it.

Boots and Asda both rejected me because I am diabetic. Which is frustrating

Many thanks @Peridot1 !

How frustrating. Have you looked on the messages tab in your account?

Not sure if they’re open over the weekend but I called them when I first ordered as the payment page wouldn’t go through. They said it was a site wide issue and to try again in a day or so but I was keen to order while it was in stock so tried paying by PayPal instead and it went through straight away. I was so chuffed to get the 1mg Wegovy at nearly £100 less than the other greedy online pharmacies

Quickmeds supplied me knowing I was diabetic, but their pharmacist was excellent and talked me through various thoughts and ideas. He was really concerned that I was having to pay for the medication, and gave me the impetus to talk again to my GP, who has now prescribed Ozempic for me.

My HbA1c went from 68 to 50 within two months of taking the drug.

That should have been a reply to @MotherofTerriers !

Morning all, I'm still here, plodding on. I'm on 1.5mg now, in the arm. Effects are strong. I have lost over 50lbs since March and have 10lbs to go until goal. I will still be at the top end of BMI at that point so may re-assess once there.

My biggest regret is not starting it sooner.

I am now a couple of weeks into the switch to Wegovy from Ozempic - both 1mg. I would say that I have felt a bit sicker on the Wegovy and was sick one morning which I haven’t been for ages so perhaps there is something slightly different in the formulation. I have a 1.7mg pen ready to go in my fridge now. I am a bit nervous about side effects but have been plateauing fir a while so do want to give it a go and see if the higher dose makes a difference.