Weight Loss Injection check-in 2024

[pugz]

Starting a new thread, hope that is ok! 

How are things going with your medication? Any supply issues? Insurance issues? Will share mine below.

[pugz]

I've been on Wegovy since last April or May (I can't remember when I started because I was sick for weeks). I had to skip the 1.0 dosage due to the shortage. Have been on 1.7 since July maybe? I plateaued back in November at about 34lbs lost and then around Christmas I switched from thigh to stomach injections and I started losing again. As of this week I'm officially down 40lbs which is wild. Even more wild was fitting in an XL, a size I honestly can't remember when I last wore, maybe 15 years ago? A long long time.

So then as course as soon as I start losing again 1.7 goes out of stock. Yes that is right, all but the highest dosages are now out of stock. So I'm supposed to move up to 2.4, a little nervous about it but hopefully after the initial adjustment I won't have side effects. I've been fine on 1.7 other than needing to nap the day after my injection.

I have my annual appt with my PCP coming up and will get bloodwork done then, curious to see any changes. She sees me every 6 months because I'm on anti-anxiety meds but now wants to see me every 3 months. Kind of annoyed by that but going to talk to her about it to see her reasoning. Maybe we can compromise on 3x a year vs 4? 

[sadie]

I just moved up to 2.4 of semaglutide last week, and things are moving along. I'm down almost 15 lbs since August. I've been happy with my progress. I'm hoping to drop another 30-40 more eventually.

[janegold]

Interesting pugz, have you heard from others that abdominal injections can be more effective?

I switched from Mounjaro to Wegovy a few months ago because my insurance covered the latter. I have lost only maybe 5 additional lbs on the highest dose of Wegovy since that time. I'm not too upset about it because I am almost at the point where I want to maintain, but I would ideally like to lose about 10 more lbs if possible. Overall, I'm down 67 lbs since September 2022. I'm wondering if I could jumpstart things a bit by doing injections every 6 days instead of every 7.

My H has been trying to start for several months but still can't get a Wegovy prescription filled. He asked his doc last week to submit a PA for Zepbound so we'll see...

[Bad Dingo]

I started Mounjaro in Aug of 22 and lost 75 lbs. I've been maintaining around 160 for at least 6 months. Still considered overweight at around 5'3"/5'4". Insurance does not cover any of these meds so I've been paying $500/box ever since the $25 coupon expired. I take a shot every week and a half to two weeks to minimize the financial burden. I cannot imagine having to go off the shots, the pain and inflammation I was living with due to cancer treatment and health conditions was unbearable. This drug has changed my life.
ETA- No supply issues at all

[klassygoosey]

I can't get my Ozempic 1mg filled again due to shortage. My doc let me renew my 0.5 but only enough to take at that dose. Every time I have to go back up to 1mg again the side effects are worse. (So much vomiting.)  So, I've had to resort to $350 thru a local med spa (Boston area) whereas it is usually free via insurance at CVS.  But I am down 30+ lbs and my AIC is in normal range for the 1st time in over a decade.  I do feel very tired and brain foggy from how little I eat. Am trying to aid more protein in this week.  

[fluffycookie]

I started zepbound last Friday. I was quesy over the weekend, but I am also on antibiotics that are horse pills and tend to make me queasy when I first start them. The PA process was pretty easy. Insurance approved it in a day and the pharmacy ordered it and I picked it up for $25 the next day. I am focusing on eating protein and fiber this week and next week hopefully starting to exercise.

[penguingrrl]

I started semeglutide in September. I couldn’t get it at any local pharmacy, my doctor connected me with a compounding pharmacy. I pay $150/4 weeks. I’m down about 20 lbs and have been losing steadily since moving to 1.0 (I lost at 0.25, gained and was hungrier at 0.5 then started losing at 1.0). At my last visit she wanted to increase my dose to 2.4, but I resisted since I’m losing slowly but steadily and don’t have any side effects, and would rather avoid side effects if possible.

I’m hoping to lose another 40 lbs, which would put me close to a “healthy” BMI but my doctor is worried a healthy BMI that might actually be too low for my frame, so we’ll see where it goes.

I’m hoping the shortage is solved soon because dealing with shipping and the compounding pharmacy has been dramatic every single month, and my doctor only prescribes one month at a time and sees me each month.

[shauni27]

Jan 17, 2024 10:55:14 GMT -5 janegold said:

Interesting pugz , have you heard from others that abdominal injections can be more effective?

I switched from Mounjaro to Wegovy a few months ago because my insurance covered the latter. I have lost only maybe 5 additional lbs on the highest dose of Wegovy since that time. 

Twinning! In the last 6 months when I was on the highest dose of Wegovy, I lost and gained the same 3-5 lbs. I switched back to Zepbound because my insurance covers it now, and I am down 5 lbs already. I started again at the 10 and next week go up to the 12.5. I am finding the higher doses are all available around here for any of the injectables, so that has been nice. 

I am down 74lbs since August 2022 and would like to lose just a bit more to not be in between sizes. 

[cleo29]

I have a question: how does maintenance work with the injections? Do you just move to a lower dose once you hit your goal weight?

[Bad Dingo]

Jan 17, 2024 12:11:57 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

I have a question: how does maintenance work with the injections? Do you just move to a lower dose once you hit your goal weight?

For me, with approval from my doctor, I am staying on the same dose but am administering it less frequently.  It varies between a week and a half and two weeks, I take the dose when my pain starts increasing.

[cleo29]

Jan 17, 2024 12:19:44 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Jan 17, 2024 12:11:57 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

I have a question: how does maintenance work with the injections? Do you just move to a lower dose once you hit your goal weight?

For me, with approval from my doctor, I am staying on the same dose but am administering it less frequently.  It varies between a week and a half and two weeks, I take the dose when my pain starts increasing.

OK. Something I am always curious about because maintaining my goal is always a challenge. :/

[circa1978]

A lot of people think changing the injection site spurs loss. I've been really stable lately and am planning on going back to my stomach this week. BUT I don't have gastric side effects in my arm or thigh and am still not hungry so, that's the trade-off.

[circa1978]

Related to the IUD post, have any of you had bleeding/period changes on the injections? It's a common thread on the Mounjaro Reddit and I definitely have.

[BlondeSpiders]

I've been using Ozempic on and off since April or so. Off because my pharmacy couldn't keep it in stock. I had made it up to the 2mg tier and was seeing real results with no real side effects. Unless you consider forgetting to eat because I have no hunger triggers anymore a side effect. I switched pharmacies (Express Scripts) and now have a regular supply. About to go back up to the 2mg dose and am ready for more steady weight loss.

[sadie]

Jan 17, 2024 12:48:13 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

Related to the IUD post, have any of you had bleeding/period changes on the injections? It's a common thread on the Mounjaro Reddit and I definitely have.

I did on Wegovy, but I attributed it to a significant weight loss. (I also have an IUD.)

[shauni27]

Jan 17, 2024 12:19:44 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Jan 17, 2024 12:11:57 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

I have a question: how does maintenance work with the injections? Do you just move to a lower dose once you hit your goal weight?

For me, with approval from my doctor, I am staying on the same dose but am administering it less frequently.  It varies between a week and a half and two weeks, I take the dose when my pain starts increasing.

this is what my pcp suggested for when I am ready to get to maintenance.

[hazelden]

I started Mounjaro in August 2022 and lost 50 pounds by July 2023, which put me at a healthy BMI for the first time in nearly 20 years. I've always stretched out the injections to like 10-14 days. Starting this past fall I've been doing an injection every 3-5 weeks. I always spaced things out, so I have 30 injections in my fridge right now, which should last me into 2026. I've gained 10 pounds from my lowest weight, which I don't love, but seems to be where my body wants to stay. I'm doing the best I can to maintain my weight loss and good eating habits, and the monthly injection is a nice boost to keep me on track.

[lovelovelove]

I was originally prescribed zepbound in Dec, but my insurance doesn't cover it. My endo switched the rx to wegovy and it's out of stock everywhere around me. Dr told me to just keep waiting until either insurance coverage for zepbound or wegovy is in stock

[kiminky]

For those using weight loss injectables, how have you changed your diet since starting? Was that part difficult? Also, have many experienced constipation? How have you dealt with that?

[AJL]

I had some really unpleasant side effects from my last shot (10mg) after being on that does for months with no issues. My endocrinologist suggested that I spread out my shot days from every 7 days to every 10 days. I take it tomorrow and I'm really hoping that my side effects will have gone away or are greatly diminished. 

I'm still losing but not as rapidly and I'm ok with that. I have diabetes and my main concern has been blood sugar stabilization. But a 58 pounds loss is also really nice, too.

[SusanBAnthony]

I started in Nov through one of the online companies. I have lost 15 lbs so far on the second dose. At that dose my appetite is suppressed and I have no side effects, and I am losing a bit over a pound a week, so no reason to go higher IMO.

I am not drastically changing my habits because I already ate what I consider a healthy diet, just too much. Today I ate a piece of toast with cream cheese, then a salad with cheese and a cookie for lunch, then will have grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. I would have eaten two pieces of toast, had a morning and afternoon snack, and had an evening snack or a second grilled cheese.

I am guessing I want to lose ten more pounds and then will start spacing out shots to maintain.

I don't have any major health issues and I was almost but not quite obese. I had to put a lot of effort into not gaining weight and I still slowly gained 25 pounds over 13 or so years. The best part for me is the mental side of not constantly thinking about food. I was just on a work trip with meals at weird times and no snacks available and instead of it stressing me out or packing a ton of snacks I just.... didn't care.

[mcmel]

Jan 17, 2024 17:39:16 GMT -5 kiminky said:

For those using weight loss injectables, how have you changed your diet since starting? Was that part difficult? Also, have many experienced constipation? How have you dealt with that?

I eat a fraction of what I did before. Because I don’t each much, I crave nutritious food, a stark contrast to when I would bored eat 1,500 calories of junk food in a sitting.

I have, but I also experienced this when I lost a large amount of weight on my own a few years ago. I just don’t really have to go when I’m eating significantly less food, but I’m trying to combat this. I’ve tried gummies and I don’t feel like they helped so I’m going to try powder Metamucil or miralax.

[krystee]

I started Mounjaro in July and I’m down 30, and my A1C is now totally normal. I need to add exercise because the loss has slowed. I would really love to lose another 40-50.

[mcmel]

I started in August, dropped 50 pounds by January and have held there since the first of the year. I have a goal of 40 more pounds but I’m content with having this plateau stage right now bc I’ve been eating more the last couple of weeks and I know my body needs it.

[mcmel]

Jan 17, 2024 20:24:07 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jan 17, 2024 20:21:00 GMT -5 mcmel said:

I started in August, dropped 50 pounds by January and have held there since the first of the year. I have a goal of 40 more pounds but I’m content with having this plateau stage right now bc I’ve been eating more the last couple of weeks and I know my body needs it.

Which med are you on?

Compounded semaglutide. 4.5 units of 2.4 mg/mL

[leshoequeen]

I was approved for wegovy in December, but local pharmacies have been out of stock ever since. Hoping supply issues start to ease soon. I have 50lbs to lose.

[m15]

I'm on Wegovy 1.0. I think my first shot was in October?? I've had some issues with supply, but manage to find it usually just in time. I've lost close to 30 lbs and would like to lose a few more. However, I am going to go off for a bit I think. My migraine frequency has increased from a couple of times a month to almost daily. Not sure if it's related or not, but I cannot function with daily migraines. Additionally, when I take the full 1.0 dose, I get extremely sick. Vomit for hours on end at least once a week. So, I asked my Dr to go back on the .5. I am going to take a week off and then see what happens with migraines. If nothing changes, I will start taking the .5 again. I've not had any constipation. Just diarrhea and vomiting.

[SusanBAnthony]

Jan 17, 2024 20:25:31 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jan 17, 2024 17:39:16 GMT -5 kiminky said:

For those using weight loss injectables, how have you changed your diet since starting? Was that part difficult? Also, have many experienced constipation? How have you dealt with that?

I’m new to this, just took my 6th shot of mounjaro. I did have bad constipation the first week. I started taking Metamucil and Senokot. I took 2 pills of each/day, that is the beginning dose. It’s like I won’t go to the bathroom for 5ish day, and then go 3-4 times in one day. I take the day I go off from the meds. 

ETA: Also drinking a ton of water, but I always did that.

Your post reminded me that I did have constipation at first. I took miralax for maybe two weeks and stepped the dose down as things evened out. I also just had to get used to having to go way less and having less ahem volume. I have found drinking a lot of water to be really helpful as well.... If I'm traveling and don't drink as much I notice.

[shauni27]

Jan 17, 2024 17:39:16 GMT -5 kiminky said:

For those using weight loss injectables, how have you changed your diet since starting? Was that part difficult? Also, have many experienced constipation? How have you dealt with that?

I did not change my diet per say; I just eat a fraction of what I did before. Nothing is "off limits" I just feel satiated with a few bites, so I do not need more, you know?

As for constipation, I find that the first few days after the shot I have the opposite problem, but then the last few days before the next shot I have constipation. I have it figured out pretty well now and I take MiraLAX and eat prunes and that seems to do the trick, lol. 

Jan 17, 2024 17:59:55 GMT -5 AJL said:

I had some really unpleasant side effects from my last shot (10mg) after being on that does for months with no issues. My endocrinologist suggested that I spread out my shot days from every 7 days to every 10 days. I take it tomorrow and I'm really hoping that my side effects will have gone away or are greatly diminished. 

I'm still losing but not as rapidly and I'm ok with that. I have diabetes and my main concern has been blood sugar stabilization. But a 58 pounds loss is also really nice, too.

I had a similar issue just one time after 5 doses of no issues. It was terrible, to the point that I went to the ED. I was nervous to do the next shot but never had those issues again. Fingers crossed it is the same for you!