Compounded med Semaglutide for weight loss-ads on facebook

Parents Forum Parent Cafe
21

My doctor prescribed me a less effective version of this type of drug called Saxenda I believe. My insurance did cover most of it or it was just less expensive (I paid $150 for a two month supply). I am borderline obese by BMI and non diabetic.

I took it up until I was almost at the target dose but then I had a SVT (tachycardia) episode (had to go to the ER) which my Dr. Warned might happen since it boosts your metabolism and my heart is very sensitive to stimulants and other things that rev up my heart rate. It also caused my hair to fall out in clumps and I have thin hair to begin with. I had lost about 7 lbs at that point - my goal was about 20-25 lbs.

I did some research on the hair thing, and others had experienced the same thing. The drug company said the side effect was not from the drug, but from the lack of nutrition due to reduced calories consumed. Iā€™m skeptical because my diet was the same except I had no desire to snack on sugary or other snacks. And would half my hair fall out bc of a seven pound weight loss?

Anyway, I wish it would have worked out for me because it was very effective in reducing my appetite and cravings and I didnā€™t have any nausea at all.

5 Likes
22

My doctor tried to get me on several different versions but my insurance said ā€œHell No!ā€ to each one. Iā€™m not pre-diabetic but would love to lose 20-40lbs. I donā€™t want to pay $1200/month for life, or however long Iā€™m on it. I watch what I eat (limiting bread, pasta & rice), donā€™t drink alcohol and exercise 3-4 times a week, but canā€™t seem to lose much. Women of a certain age, going through the big ā€œMā€, often have issues shedding weight.

I would never have considered trying these drugs for the amount of weight I want to lose but then I saw many thin people using them for 5-10lbs of weight loss. My brother-in-law and his partner get it through a weight loss clinic and pay out of pocket. Another friend, who I just saw this weekend, who IS diabetic and very obese said sheā€™s been on it since July and has lost 20lbs. That doesnā€™t seem like that much to me for the amount of time sheā€™s been using it. I hope it helps her, but Iā€™m worried about what happens if she stops taking it (she told me that she forgot the pen when she was on vacation).

When I was in for a physical a couple of weeks ago, my PCP told me that thereā€™s been supply issues with Ozempic/Wegovy. Iā€™ve also noticed that the Wegovy weight loss commercials have stopped in my area.

1 Like
23

I have to admit to being totally dumbfounded by the costs being discussed here and the willingness to accept being on a lifetime of expensive medication.

Itā€™s a very, very tiny percentage of the population that canā€™t lose weight by eating less and moving more. Save the $ and hire a good wellness coach!

(Iā€™ve had a weight issue my whole life and itā€™s a struggle for me to maintain a healthy weight so I get the appeal but this doesnā€™t seem to be the answer).

11 Likes
24

I experienced surgical menopause in my 30ā€™s and only when I reached my late 40ā€™s did I struggle with weight. I exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet but was pre diabetic for a number of years. I had to resume taking a statin which caused my blood sugar to really go up, so Iā€™m now taking metformin, which can also help with weight loss. The one thing Iā€™ve noticed is that as you age, you really need to switch up your workouts. Interval training, rowing, ski erg, strength training - all more effective for me now than the Pilates and long, slow runs I used to do.

4 Likes
25

So my sister is diabetic and obese. Now sheā€™s just diabetic. She was on the doctor prescribed meds going to their clinic. She tried 2 different drugs but likes one of the two of them and think costs $250 on Medicare with BC supplemental insurance. Sure she looks amazing but she does eat a good diet and has been working out like on a treadmill/walking that she really never did before. She for years couldnā€™t lose weight. She never ate like garbage food and eats organically with little meat. This got her over the hump.

6 Likes
26

Iā€™ve had a weigh issue since I was a kid and things actually got better for me after menopause ; ). I think itā€™s a combination of a healthier lifestyle, better sense of moderation (so I donā€™t fee deprived), and less stress.

I used to do a lot in the gym, and switched out my workout every time but I went ā€œtoo big (instead of going home)ā€ and have a bunch of injuries now that preclude me from lifting any significant weight. That said, I walk 5 miles every day, do core work daily, kayak in the nice weather, snow shoe and ski in the winter, and weā€™re adding in indoor rock climbing more regularly this coming winter. I find what Iā€™m doing is easier on my body and still keeps me where I want to be in terms of health.

Iā€™m really lucky that so far, all my labs are really good, and I donā€™t take any prescription medications.

6 Likes
27

There is a shortage of this drug for people who actually have diabetes and need it because of all the people using it for an easy way to lose weight. Itā€™s absolutely unbelievable that people are using this drug for vanity purposes, especially ā€œcelebrities ā€œ.

9 Likes
28

The one my friend is doing is (as I mentioned in the title) a compounded med. she said she gets a box in the mail with a vial of the med in powder powder form and a vial of some super sanitized (for lack of a better word) water, and syringes. Sounds like that is what some have described above. I think she says she pays under $300/mo. Iā€™ll ask her when I next speak with her.

29

Covid long hauler here (and a nurse). I am on it as I was starting to feel desperate. Was already prediabetic with hypertension. Strong family history of heart problems and stroke. My brother just had a massive stroke at 46. I had gained 50 lbs with covid and had a BMI of 39.

On sema, I do have some fatigue and gi upset. But I have lost 25 lbs in 4 months. It does make it easier for me to make better food choices and decrease portion sizes. Still ā€œobeseā€ with a BMI of 33 but making progress.

I go in person to an NP who has several years of experience in cardiac care. She began offering this as an option because she saw many of her patients struggle with the consequences of obesity. She saw results with the meds and saw many of her patient improve. For me, its about how I can enhance heart health.

14 Likes
30

Wegovy is specifically produced for weight loss. It has no impact on the Ozempic supply for diabetes.

3 Likes
31

Except that if production of semiglutide is limited, the manufacturer can and needs to decide which supply chain to prioritize (i.e. Ozempic for diabetes or Wegovy for weight loss). Presumably, the different branding is to help them see what the market for each is, but off label use of Ozempic for weight loss only may be confounding such observation.

1 Like
32

Iā€™m going to try to reply to some remarks here, but Iā€™m ready to duck if needed.

First of all, the assumption that anyone who is severely overweight is sitting around eating bonbons all day with no exercise is very, very often wrong.

Itā€™s been shown over and over that not all bodies process calories and exercise the same way.

For myself: never been a fast food person (none at all for decades), rarely eat any kind of dessert kind of stuff, severely aware of portions, lo carb most of the time (sometimes a moderate amount, like a little bit of pasta as a treat), only eat lean meat and not often (no red meat, chicken on occasion, fish and seafood also on occasion), emphasis on fruits and vegetables, etc etc. This is my life and has been for most of adulthood. The amount of time I spend thinking about this probably counts as an eating disorder.

If I stop thinking about and being extremely conscious about what I eat, I will gain weight. If Iā€™m very strict about it, I wonā€™t.

I would have to restrict calories to much, much beyond whatā€™s considered ā€œnormalā€ to lose any weight. This is very, very, difficult for most people to continue for any real length of time.

Exerciseā€“have done so my entire adult life. Bike, swim, walk, kayak. leg and arm weights. Love being outside and love moving.

The realityā€“Iā€™ve always had a very slow metabolism and keeping weight at normal levels has been a stress my whole life. When menopause hit, weight gain went into over drive, especially hips and legs. This is impacting my ability to exercise as it affects knees, feet, and causes general all over leg pain (my doc suspects lipodema which can be triggered by menopauseā€“Iā€™ve always had heavy legs, even at ā€œnormalā€ weight.)

This is all to sayā€“Iā€™m so tired of the ā€œJuSt EaT LeSs AnD gEt a LiTtLe ExErCiSeā€ mantra.

Yes, Iā€™m considering looking into these drugs (if insurance will cover) and no, I donā€™t need lectures.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

22 Likes
33

They are ramping production. Why wouldnā€™t they as they will make far more money from doing so.

1 Like
34

I board horses, and thereā€™s a huge variation in what each has to eat to be a good weight. Some require lots of high calorie food, others get a tiny handful so they donā€™t feel deprived, and have to wear a grazing muzzle so they canā€™t eat a lot of grass. People are no different. Some can eat a lot more than others, some are more sensitive to carbs, etc. There is no one size fits all, with horses, or with people.

@garland I empathize with your post!

8 Likes
35

Not only that but the weight loss drug is for people who are obese or have issues with weight. We had a run where all body types were being celebrated and represented - thatā€™s over. Thin is in again - numerous articles being published about it and the harm it does to young people.

1 Like
36

100% agree with you and my apologies if my post came across that way. Iā€™ve yo-yoed my whole life. At one point losing 100 lbs. Even at my heaviest, I exercised regularly and followed a Mediterranean diet. Itā€™s so frustrating that there isnā€™t one thing that works for everyone.

3 Likes
37

I think this thread was bound to trigger emotions in some shape or form. Support for anyone who is feeling conscious or annoyed as a result of the conversation.

I donā€™t think I saw a post that insinuated ā€œjust eat less and get a little exerciseā€. Yes, comments about food choices were volunteered and types of exercise were mentioned. Surely we have all known people throughout life for who food/exercise was not the key to a health/weight gain battle. There are so many factors.

I think what I was surprised about in this thread was the people (in real life in general) who have gone this medication route (which seems to be a life long choice for the benefits) for something like 25 pounds. I will not judge because I am not them but it is SURPRISING to me.

Through the decades, people have and will battle weight loss via medication. Often it doesnā€™t work out well either in terms of long term management or health consequences.

Also I havenā€™t kept ā€œscoreā€ in this threadā€¦but it seems like the majority of users mentioned are women? Should we be bothered by that??

5 Likes
38

Novo Nordisk says that they are having trouble keeping up with demand.

Here is an article in Pharmacy Today about compounding of semiglutide: Semaglutide shortage gives rise to unauthorized products

39

Itā€™s the same medicine- just different dosages.

40

I see 4 men posting