Ozempic for those a few months in - part 3

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

New thread
Old thread - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4872030-ozempic-for-those-a-few-months-in-part-3?page=40&reply=132316913

I'm calling it quits , I've been on ozempic since march last year and I am 7lbs from my target. However juniper switched me from ozempic to wegovy. I just can't tolerate it, I'm on 1mg and I think I've reached my set point or my can't be arsed trying any more weight.

My nausea is worse on wegovy and I'm vomiting in the morning as my stomach is so full and horrible, stomach emptying seems much slower. But the worst is the diarrhoea, warningTMI but it is like liquid, it is pouring out of me about seven times a day. Awful stomach cramps too.(no diarrhoea on ozempic)

I'm on 1300-1400 and I think to lose weight I'd need to drop another 200. I know it can be done but I just can't motivate myself. I feel good the weight I am so I shouldn't fixate on this arbitrary number I've set. I am paying alot to sts and my effort is lacking.

I know the drugs are chemically the same but they just aren't the same to my body and I seem to be reacting badly.

So as from Tuesday I am going to go down to 0.5mg then 0.25mg slowly to zero.

I'll update the thread on how it goes off it. Xx good luck everyone keep up the losses xxx

Good luck SarahC50. Sorry you had bad side effects on Wegovy. I have been off it for about 6 weeks and the weight gain is not good. I was maintaining for ages but of course that was the drug. I am giving it a proper break though and will probably try again in March. Also Monjauro is coming soon so I will consider that if it is available.

@RunningAndSinging oh no that’s not good to hear. What are you feeling like six weeks off the drug and did you slowly wean yourself off?

@SarahC50 so sorry to hear it. Well that's no way to live! It sounds horrible. Wishing you all the best, please pop back and update us on how you're getting on. x

@RunningAndSinging Sorry to hear it, what sort of gain are you experiencing? Is the hunger back with a vengeance?

I've eaten closer to my maintenance (1300-1400 kcal/day) for a week due to work pressure, was feeling quite under-fueled so had 3-4 refeed days, and lo and behold I gained 1/2 pound. Which I don't even count because it's nothing, and I feel so much better in myself.
However it does bring home that this is absolutely not without effort, and what a numbers game it is, at least for me. I will always have to keep an eye on that.
But, as someone said; "Being overweight is hard, and staying slim is hard. Choose your hard."

I was quite a slow loser on Ozempic anyway. It was about a 10 kg loss in 12 months and the four months of maintenance. I was on 1 mg for ages, tried one week of 1.7mg and had bad side effects and then my last 6 weeks were on half dose of the 1.7 so 0.85 mg.

My last dose was just before Christmas, I have tried to avoid sugar in January with varying success. I have been ravenous in the afternoons and eating cheese and crackers and sour dough toast and banana. I am back to eating full meals and not feeling full up so quickly. I have never counted calories (recently) and do eat healthy meals.

i have gained around 5 kg since around mid December so about 11lb. Working it all out and writing it down like this has given me a bit of a shock. I don’t feel any less motivated than I was during the time I was on Wegovy. I was sometimes better than others but would lose when I was good and maintain when I wasn’t trying so hard.

in terms of how so am feeling - I don’t feel sick in the mornings anymore and don’t get full so quickly. I am monitoring my mental health and I think it may be a bit better but perhaps not significantly. I will keep this monitoring up when I restart so I can compare. (I wasn’t that bad - probably mostly the menopause but just thought I should be sure it wasn’t the Ozempic). Perhaps I am less tired now. I have had less afternoon naps I think.

RunningAndSinging Thanks for sharing! It's worrying how quickly the weight can come back! I need to really focus on keeping it off... But good to hear about the improvement in wellbeing and energy levels!

I’ve done two months and the GP has taken it off prescription for me as they’ve decided to stop prescribing it for all patients.

My hb1ac blood sugar has gone down from 81 to 52.

I don’t think I can afford it myself but my BMI is 31 and I’m T2 diabetic (and have been for 15 years; my BMI was 24 when I was diagnosed).

They’ve made a surgery decision to stop prescribing it as it’s hard to get hold of and too many people are using it just for weight loss. This was an incredible drug for me and I’m not sure what to do now.

Where are you all getting it from? Can anyone advise on the best way to get it privately?

@RunningAndSinging that is really helpful thankyou for sharing.
Like @VanellopeVonSchweetz99 said I think we are going to have to carefully calorie count for life.

I'm aiming for 1400-500 for maintainance. I am very scared of my hunger coming back, I've felt my blood sugar lovely and stable with no ravenous periods.

I was disappointed last week with myself as I had an awful day and turned to tonnes of sugar and crap.

I guess worst case we can restart one of the drugs. I hope some energy comes back and I'm looking forward to no nausea after nearly a year of it x

That's shocking as it was really doing a good job for you. My GP wouldn't prescribe for me (Type 2) last summer due to a blanket decision (they told me NHS directive due to shortages) not to issue prescriptions to any new patients. I bought two months myself, used it, and my HbA1c went from 68 to 50. On that basis I had some long and lively discussions with the surgery pharmacist, who eventually agreed to prescribe it for me, and has done since. Maybe you can discuss with someone at your surgery, and argue your case? Shouldn't have to be done, I know!

Can someone please remind me if wegovy clicks are the same as ozempic?

I have been on ozempic match - nov

I stopped due to see how I could cope after weaning myself off.

It was okay at first but now I need to wean myself back on as I still have 3 stone to lose and I'd started putting weight back in ( in Jan - not Dec)

I've been in ozempic about 6 months, I'm approaching my goal weight (bmi 25). Manual has just sent an update they've changed from 1mg ozempic to wegovy, but I still have one one 1mg Ozempic pen to go. How's everyone's change been to wegovy, have you gone up the dose as well?

@bloom19 My transition from O to W was smooth, I went up a dose when I felt I needed it, as I have been doing all along. I'm 11 months in and still getting a good effect, have been on 1.7 W now for around 3 months.

That's great to hear!
I've recently started to have some nausea, mainly in the mornings but can last longer (not a chance it's pregnancy related). Not every day. Wonder if this is due to ozempic, but it didn't start immediately after I went up a dose.

Hello! Was on these threads a while ago but not been on recently.

I'm really sorry if this has already been covered, but I wondered if I could get some advice on switching from Ozempic to Wegovy? I have been on .7mg of Ozempic (I have the 1mg Ozempic pen and stretch it out a bit to last 6 weeks). I have just ordered a 1.7mg Wegovy pen. How do the doses tally? Is 1mg of Ozempic equivalent to 1.7mg of Wegovy? And am I likely to have any side effects as I switch?

Any advice gratefully received! I am so nearly at a healthy BMI and I would love to get to my target weight by the summer!

@bloom19 I made the switch when Juniper did but still had an Oz pen in the fridge. I just finished it and I think the Wegovy is stronger/better for me.

also, for everyone: I’ve hit my goal weight one week short of my first anniversary on the medicine. What now?! I’m afraid to go off of it but I’m very happy with my body and am going to start working on building some muscles.

It is the same drug just a different name essentially.
I think the maximum dose with Ozempic is 1mg but Wegovy can be prescribed at 1.7mgs and 2.4mgs. The titration is the same 4 weeks at each dose before increasing if you need to.
I have read this thread and can see some people have noticed Wegovy having different side effects but in my case it's been no different at all.
I have been very happy with my own results using ozempic then Wegovy have lost 4 stones in 14 months.
Now just about in a normal BMI.
But have been the same weight now for weeks seem unable to lose the stone I need to to have a healthy waistline
Question is how to go forward from here?
I miss enjoying food a lot it's dispiriting to be unable to get enthusiastic about what to cook .
But I just know I'd return to my old ways without the support of the drug.
I'm on the 1.7 dose now and am interested in how and if people are getting off the medication?
I think mountjaros introduction could possibly make a difference in cost which is a big factor for me.
But overall I can't express how happy I am / went on a big holiday recently and for the first time in decades I didn't feel like the fat woman. No fear about plane or coach seats or embarrassment about eating in public.
I'm
so grateful for having had the chance to use the drug.

@orangelotus Thanks so much for the reply. I get that it's the same drug but is it the same concentration? I guess I'm asking if I can go straight from 1mg Ozempic to 1.7mg Wegovy, or if I need to titrate, so:

Next week: Ozempic 1mg
Week after: Wegovy 1m
Week after: Wegovy 1.2 mg
Week after: Wegovy 1.5 mg
Week after: Wegovy 1.7mg

I buy from RightAngled and I'm quite surprised that they have offered me Wegovy for the first time but given no information at all about how I should make the switch.

As far as I understand it's exactly the same concentration it's just a different name as it's specifically for weight loss rather than treating diabetes?
I went from 1mg directly to the 1.7 as I felt the 1 mg wasn't having much effect but if you feel the 1mg was effective for you you could use a click chart to manage your dose.
Less side effects and more economical!
I believe that the pen is only useable for 8 weeks after the first use, but I don't know why that is.
Sooner or later people who know more than me will be along!
Sounds like you've done very well on the medication though

Ah brill. That makes sense! Thanks so much. I've been on it for ten months now and progress has been slow but steady. I can't wait to be my target weight!

I'm very close to target weight and expecting to hit it bang on my one year anniversary since starting the jab, next month. I'm also concerned about what to do next. Tapering off or cold turkey?
I saw an American woman on instagram, blonde, and kicking myself for forgetting her name but she talks a lot of sense. She has successfully come off and said one way to mimic the effect of semaglutide is to eat lots more fibre, aiming for 30g/day. That makes sense to me, also very sating, as is protein. That's my vague plan going forward/coming off, as well as calorie counting. I have a much better understanding of nutrition now, as well as my TDEE. But no idea how hard it will be once hunger and food chatter comes back.

@VanellopeVonSchweetz99 is the Instagram woman cgoofme?

Her name didn't come out right there it should be the underscores in between cgo and of me

@MalibuBetty I follow her on IG she really talks common sense, refreshing in a sea of misinformation. I think despite being off it a few months she has continued to lose weight x

That's her, cgo_ofme, many thanks! Yes I find her refreshing too.

Just coming back to update that Wegovy seems to be working for me again - I don't know what went wrong before! I'm on 2.4mg and I thought it had stopped working as my weight loss stalled but I'm now losing again and 23kg gone since I started and I'm only 3.7kg from my target weight!

I wonder if it was that I injected it too superficially in my tummy fat, and didn't push it deep enough? I pushed it in a bit more last week and it's working. Although I have also made more of an effort with my eating this week.

But anyway, yay! I'm knocking on a size 10!