Has any one successfully started Wegovy recently?

[fluffycookie]

Like in the last two months. I have my annual visit next week and was going to discuss it with her. I am overweight and currently taking two BP meds and my BP is still not in a great place so I need to start making changes.  I know that starter doses have been restricted so I am nervous about trying to get it filled or even being able to start it.

TIA!

[starburst604]

It was prescribed to me but I was told the starter dose wouldn't be available until October. That was months ago for me but you might be able to start it soon enough! I reallllly want to get it!

[purplepenguin7]

not exactly what you asked but I had to stop for a few months and wanted to restart but the .25mg dose is not available anywhere. Amazon seems to be the best bet but seems hit or miss depending on where you are and your timing.

[TR]

Sept 20, 2023 14:55:24 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

not exactly what you asked but I had to stop for a few months and wanted to restart but the .25mg dose is not available anywhere. Amazon seems to be the best bet but seems hit or miss depending on where you are and your timing.

You can buy Wegovy on Amazon??? Or do you mean CostPlusDrugs? Or do they have another healthcare arm?

[fernweh]

My doctor started me on Saxenda which is a daily injectable. Once I maintained the highest dose for a few months we switched me over to the highest dose of Wegovy. Honestly- I lost more weight on Saxenda though. I have been on Wegovy for just for 2 months and have lost about 2 pounds.

[fluffycookie]

Sept 20, 2023 15:17:30 GMT -5 fernweh said:

My doctor started me on Saxenda which is a daily injectable. Once I maintained the highest dose for a few months we switched me over to the highest dose of Wegovy. Honestly- I lost more weight on Saxenda though. I have been on Wegovy for just for 2 months and have lost about 2 pounds.

Did you have any side effects on Saxenda?

[purplepenguin7]

Sept 20, 2023 15:13:20 GMT -5 TR said:

Sept 20, 2023 14:55:24 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

not exactly what you asked but I had to stop for a few months and wanted to restart but the .25mg dose is not available anywhere. Amazon seems to be the best bet but seems hit or miss depending on where you are and your timing.

You can buy Wegovy on Amazon??? Or do you mean CostPlusDrugs? Or do they have another healthcare arm?

it's just called Amazon Pharmacy.  You need a prescription and they file with your insurance like any other pharmacy. Up at the top of the amazon page is a "medical care" drop down with OneMedical, Amazon Pharamacy and Amazon Clininc.  I was able to get one of my doses through their pharmacy with no issues.

[mcmel]

I’m on the compounded formula but I started it about a month ago. I didn’t see much weight loss on the lower dosage but am absolutely noticing a difference on the higher dosage. I absolutely love it.

[TR]

Sept 20, 2023 15:34:54 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

Sept 20, 2023 15:13:20 GMT -5 TR said:

You can buy Wegovy on Amazon??? Or do you mean CostPlusDrugs? Or do they have another healthcare arm?

it's just called Amazon Pharmacy.  You need a prescription and they file with your insurance like any other pharmacy. Up at the top of the amazon page is a "medical care" drop down with OneMedical, Amazon Pharamacy and Amazon Clininc.  I was able to get one of my doses through their pharmacy with no issues.

Whoa cool! I had no idea.

[fernweh]

Sept 20, 2023 15:29:24 GMT -5 fluffycookie said:

Sept 20, 2023 15:17:30 GMT -5 fernweh said:

My doctor started me on Saxenda which is a daily injectable. Once I maintained the highest dose for a few months we switched me over to the highest dose of Wegovy. Honestly- I lost more weight on Saxenda though. I have been on Wegovy for just for 2 months and have lost about 2 pounds.

Did you have any side effects on Saxenda?

I did early on - nausea and vomiting (only when I ate certain foods), sulfur burps. They were usually triggered when I increased doses (every two weeks) by the time I got to the maintenance dose they were mostly gone.

[penguingrrl]

I'm starting it as soon as it arrives for me. I was not able to get wegovy brand anywhere and spent days calling around for the starter dose, so my doctor called it in to a compounding pharmacy that she has a relationship with and knows is licensed and safe.

[vamoose]

My husband started in June. Not sure how much more difficult it is now. I will say that each month, I have called between 25-50 pharmacies to find his dose of the month in stock. I have had more luck with less common pharmacies ((definitely no CVS).

[starburst604]

Sept 20, 2023 17:55:30 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I'm starting it as soon as it arrives for me. I was not able to get wegovy brand anywhere and spent days calling around for the starter dose, so my doctor called it in to a compounding pharmacy that she has a relationship with and knows is licensed and safe.

Do you know if coverage for the compound is different than for the injection? I’m not sure my insurance will cover the injectable but wondering about the compound, we have several good compounding pharmacies around here.

[Saudade]

Sept 20, 2023 18:59:27 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

Sept 20, 2023 17:55:30 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I'm starting it as soon as it arrives for me. I was not able to get wegovy brand anywhere and spent days calling around for the starter dose, so my doctor called it in to a compounding pharmacy that she has a relationship with and knows is licensed and safe.

Do you know if coverage for the compound is different than for the injection? I’m not sure my insurance will cover the injectable but wondering about the compound, we have several good compounding pharmacies around here.

I don't think there is a single insurance that will cover compounded Wegovy

[goldengirlz]

I’m not on any of these drugs, but the point about compounding pharmacies reminded me that I read an article today that Eli Lilly has started suing them:

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/19/health/eli-lilly-mounjaro-compound-lawsuit/index.html

I wonder if that means other pharma companies with GLP-1 inhibitors will follow suit and they’ll be even harder to get.

[penguingrrl]

Sept 20, 2023 18:59:27 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

Sept 20, 2023 17:55:30 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I'm starting it as soon as it arrives for me. I was not able to get wegovy brand anywhere and spent days calling around for the starter dose, so my doctor called it in to a compounding pharmacy that she has a relationship with and knows is licensed and safe.

Do you know if coverage for the compound is different than for the injection? I’m not sure my insurance will cover the injectable but wondering about the compound, we have several good compounding pharmacies around here.

I had no coverage at all through the compounding pharmacy, which I believe is standard unfortunately. I paid $150 for a one month supply out of pocket. Not thrilled at the cost, but I don’t know what my insurance coverage will be for name brand (likely better than that based on my other meds) and it will only be until I go up to the doses that they are making enough of.

[penguingrrl]

Sept 20, 2023 19:21:51 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

I’m not on any of these drugs, but the point about compounding pharmacies reminded me that I read an article today that Eli Lilly has started suing them:

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/19/health/eli-lilly-mounjaro-compound-lawsuit/index.html

I wonder if that means other pharma companies with GLP-1 inhibitors will follow suit and they’ll be even harder to get.

I read that the case is likely to go in favor of the compounding pharmacies because the FDA approves them making drugs in cases of a prolonged shortage and this qualifies. But obviously that doesn’t guarantee that is how it will go.

[starburst604]

Sept 20, 2023 20:27:28 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Sept 20, 2023 18:59:27 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

Do you know if coverage for the compound is different than for the injection? I’m not sure my insurance will cover the injectable but wondering about the compound, we have several good compounding pharmacies around here.

I had no coverage at all through the compounding pharmacy, which I believe is standard unfortunately. I paid $150 for a one month supply out of pocket. Not thrilled at the cost, but I don’t know what my insurance coverage will be for name brand (likely better than that based on my other meds) and it will only be until I go up to the doses that they are making enough of.

Ok that’s really helpful. While I’d rather pay less, I’m willing to pay in that ballpark to get it, so I may try to go that route.

[litskispeciality]

What is a compounding pharmacy?

[egishere]

I've been on Wegovy for a few months and only had trouble finding my dose once. Now I have new insurance and of course it won't cover it. Only covers Ozempic/Mounjaro with a pre auth but I do not have diabetes. I may go the compounding route. Anyone have a pharmacy/provider they recommend?

[shauni27]

Sept 20, 2023 19:13:43 GMT -5 Saudade said:

Sept 20, 2023 18:59:27 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

Do you know if coverage for the compound is different than for the injection? I’m not sure my insurance will cover the injectable but wondering about the compound, we have several good compounding pharmacies around here.

I don't think there is a single insurance that will cover compounded Wegovy

mine covers it. I pay $20 copay.

As for the actual question, I am not sure about lower doses because I switched to Wegovy after my Mounjaro coupon expired, so I was able to switch to the highest dose. I do not like it as much as Mounjaro, but it is better than nothing and I am still slowly losing a little.

[sofamonkey]

I have been on a compounded semaglutide for a little over a year now. Not too many side effects unless I overeat. I’ve lost about 96 pounds now.

[fluffycookie]

Thanks everyone! I will talk with my pcp next week. I know she is doing a bunch of blood work since my last full blood panel was 2019.

[sadie]

Sept 20, 2023 20:28:58 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Sept 20, 2023 19:21:51 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

I’m not on any of these drugs, but the point about compounding pharmacies reminded me that I read an article today that Eli Lilly has started suing them:

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/19/health/eli-lilly-mounjaro-compound-lawsuit/index.html

I wonder if that means other pharma companies with GLP-1 inhibitors will follow suit and they’ll be even harder to get.

I read that the case is likely to go in favor of the compounding pharmacies because the FDA approves them making drugs in cases of a prolonged shortage and this qualifies. But obviously that doesn’t guarantee that is how it will go.

And, I think the lawsuit-y issue at play is some compounding pharmas are calling their knockoffs the namebrand (e.g. Mounjaro vs. tirzepatide), not so much that they are making knockoffs. I'm sure big pharmas aren't happy about the knockoffs, either, but that isn't the focus of the suit.

[starburst604]

I just checked with a local compounding pharmacy and they do make a semaglutide compound in a lozenge, it's $300 for a month's supply. Pricey, but I'm desperate, so if the doctor will allow the compound I'm going to start it.

[Saudade]

Sept 21, 2023 14:23:13 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

I just checked with a local compounding pharmacy and they do make a semaglutide compound in a lozenge, it's $300 for a month's supply. Pricey, but I'm desperate, so if the doctor will allow the compound I'm going to start it.

I'm guessing it's the same as Rybelsus....which is the oral form of Wegovy(semaglutide). You should check with your doc/insurance/regular pharmacy to see if you can get it before pay for the compounded option. 

[Bernadine]

I highly recommend contacting your insurance to find out what they will cover, even before talking to your doctor.

[penguingrrl]

Sept 21, 2023 14:07:45 GMT -5 sadie said:

Sept 20, 2023 20:28:58 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I read that the case is likely to go in favor of the compounding pharmacies because the FDA approves them making drugs in cases of a prolonged shortage and this qualifies. But obviously that doesn’t guarantee that is how it will go.

And, I think the lawsuit-y issue at play is some compounding pharmas are calling their knockoffs the namebrand (e.g. Mounjaro vs. tirzepatide), not so much that they are making knockoffs. I'm sure big pharmas aren't happy about the knockoffs, either, but that isn't the focus of the suit.

Gotcha. Yeah, they should know better on that! 

[picksthemusic]

Not Wegovy, but Mounjaro. I started 7/21 and will probably hit -20lbs this weekend. I’m still astonished every day, and my clothes are starting to be too big. If you can get on a medication, I’d highly recommend it.

[okla]

Sept 21, 2023 11:11:51 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

Sept 20, 2023 19:13:43 GMT -5 Saudade said:

I don't think there is a single insurance that will cover compounded Wegovy

mine covers it. I pay $20 copay.

As for the actual question, I am not sure about lower doses because I switched to Wegovy after my Mounjaro coupon expired, so I was able to switch to the highest dose. I do not like it as much as Mounjaro, but it is better than nothing and I am still slowly losing a little.

What compounding pharmacy do you use that accepts insurance? And if you are on name brand Wegovy, that’s not a compound.