Weight Loss Injection Opinions

[ElizabethT]

Friends of mine who had to stop the injections (usually because their insurance stopped covering it) gained the weight back in a few months. So it is a long term thing but so are many medications--my husband takes Humira injections for psoriatic arthritis and has been told her will have to do that the rest of his life to keep the disease in remission.

Yes, that would be as it would seem from what I've read. The cost is the 1000 pound gorilla in the room then, yes? Perhaps over time the cost will drop as competition arises. Otherwise it almost seems cruel to give hope, then snatch it away due to non sustainability of cost.

 

[Gallaher]

Wait 10 years and see how those taking it fare.

If this is a comment concerning safety, exenenatide/Byetta (first in class) has been on the market close to 20 years, lots of good safety data.

Regarding cost, the companies that develop these drugs, take the risk deserve a reward. I’ve met John Eng the doctor who isolated extendine 4, the precursor to exenenatide. He told me he begged companies to develop the molecular and take it commercial. No company was interested till Amylin took the risk.

Let’s also consider, what is your health worth? Plenty of people pay a personal trainer $500 a month. Even more make a $500 a month car payment. Why not pay $500 a month to manage weight?
Being brutally honest here, if one is clinically obese, they own at least a part of it.

I worked in pharma 30 years, not a big fan. I decided before I was thirty I was going to try to put them out of business. Today at 65 I take no prescription meds. I know I’m fortunate but I also have always watched diet and exercise.
All circumstances are different. But I bet most people who committed to vigorous exercise, five days a week for the last 30 years have a different view on these drugs and the cost.

 

[MarieIG]

Wait 10 years and see how those taking it fare.

Unfortunately, there are those who can't afford that time to wait.

 

[Koolau]

Am I correct, however, that all of the currently available injections work for only as long as you remain on them?

So, what is the long game plan then, for maintaining the weight loss once one goes off the drugs?

That seems to be the issue none of the drug companies are addressing. Short term success, yes, clearly evidenced. But long term? I'm not seeing any studies supporting sustained loss. Most seem to be showing that the weight returns, because the behaviors that created the excess weight return as well once people stop the injections.

I take drugs that I have to keep taking (thyroid replacement drug - heh, heh, I no longer have a thyroid), BP meds - I'm well controlled but would damage my heart and or kidneys if I stopped taking the drugs.

Lots of drugs are "for life" and I don't see the issue (other than the cost) but YMMV.

 

[Koolau]

If this is a comment concerning safety, exenenatide/Byetta (first in class) has been on the market close to 20 years, lots of good safety data.

Regarding cost, the companies that develop these drugs, take the risk deserve a reward. I’ve met John Eng the doctor who isolated extendine 4, the precursor to exenenatide. He told me he begged companies to develop the molecular and take it commercial. No company was interested till Amylin took the risk.

Let’s also consider, what is your health worth? Plenty of people pay a personal trainer $500 a month. Even more make a $500 a month car payment. Why not pay $500 a month to manage weight?
Being brutally honest here, if one is clinically obese, they own at least a part of it.

Well said. I've often stated here that there are few things more important to spend on than ones health. Doing it the natural way (diet/exercise) may not be enough and sooner or later, we all become less well. The evil, money-grubbing drug companies (God bless 'em) have allowed us longer, healthier lives. I think they deserve to be paid - and nothing stops us from buying their stock!

 

[aja8888]

Three of my ROMEO friends are Type II and have been for years. None of them are overweight and two play golf with me regularly. One fellow takes Ozempic and the other two take Jardiance(sp?). These are 70+ year old guys who have been diabetic for decades. We talked about the effectiveness of these drugs a while back and they said that their A1C's have dropped in the 6 - 7 range from a higher number. No one mentioned any bad side effects.

 

[street]

If this is a comment concerning safety, exenenatide/Byetta (first in class) has been on the market close to 20 years, lots of good safety data.

Regarding cost, the companies that develop these drugs, take the risk deserve a reward. I’ve met John Eng the doctor who isolated extendine 4, the precursor to exenenatide. He told me he begged companies to develop the molecular and take it commercial. No company was interested till Amylin took the risk.

Let’s also consider, what is your health worth? Plenty of people pay a personal trainer $500 a month. Even more make a $500 a month car payment. Why not pay $500 a month to manage weight?
Being brutally honest here, if one is clinically obese, they own at least a part of it.

I worked in pharma 30 years, not a big fan. I decided before I was thirty I was going to try to put them out of business. Today at 65 I take no prescription meds. I know I’m fortunate but I also have always watched diet and exercise.
All circumstances are different. But I bet most people who committed to vigorous exercise, five days a week for the last 30 years have a different view on these drugs and the cost.

The drugs have been a game changer for many even the hate for drugs they have saved lives and all drugs have side effects. Even an aspirin has side effects. The people that need these drugs has been life changing for them.

 

[harley]

The issue of being on the drugs for life is a legitimate concern, but as someone pointed out there are a lot of drugs we are on for life. My wife is going to look into decreasing to a maintenance dose, which will hopefully decrease any side effects. There's also some research into making it in pill form, which will hopefully help limit side effects, cost, and fear of tiny needles. DW did have a few issues with nausea, and while that has faded she does burp a fair amount. A small price to pay. I know there are other, more potentially serious side effects, but so far we haven't seen any indications of it.

Someone mentioned buying compounded versions to save money. From what I've read, due to the increased availability of the name brands, the compounding pharmacies are being shut down.

While the weight loss aspect of the drugs are amazing and incredibly beneficial, there's also a lot of evidence that they can be used to help with other addictive tendencies. There's been studies that show that it can help people stop alcohol and opioid abuse.

One of my concerns is that since the effects of the drugs decrease the need for many other treatments, Big Pharma will find some way to shut them down. If millions of people no longer need all the other drugs that obesity can lead to, that would cut into their profit margin pretty significantly. That's my personal conspiracy theory.

 

[Koolau]

One of my concerns is that since the effects of the drugs decrease the need for many other treatments, Big Pharma will find some way to shut them down. If millions of people no longer need all the other drugs that obesity can lead to, that would cut into their profit margin pretty significantly. That's my personal conspiracy theory.

We need to see which drug companies are the biggest winners and which the biggest losers (based on your theory) and then buy or short the stock.





(Just kidding)

 

[street]

People are on diabetic meds for many many years and if you look at the side effects of those drugs is an eye opener. A person has to weigh the odds and decide what they want.

 

[folivier]

A good friend has been very overweight for quite a few years. Think over 300#, even with him being 6'2" he has had other health problems, knee replacments, afib, blood clots in his lungs. These problems affected his mobilty and health in negative ways, including depression. Last year his doctor put him on one of these injections. He has lost about 100# and his overall health has improved considerably. He is one of the couples coming along on our Alaska motorhome trip this summer. A year ago he couldn't even dream about a trip like this. So in his case it has truly been a positive life changing event going on the drug. The cost for the drug in his case is priceless.

 

[jgrdarrash]

People are on diabetic meds for many many years and if you look at the side effects of those drugs is an eye opener. A person has to weigh the odds and decide what they want.

Plus the end effects of diabetes are well known: kidney failure, blindness, amputations and cardiovascular (stroke, heart attack). So that also is a consideration.

 

[rodi]

My sister is in process of weaning off of ozempic after a year. A year ago she has a physical that put her I'm the pre diabetic range and showed high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Her doc suggested ozempic and a statin. She has lost just over 50 lbs. Her blood work is now in the normal range across the board. That meant insurance would no longer cover ozempic. She was super intentional about changing her diet as well... Eliminating adding sugar and processed foods. Just this morning I asked her about the weaning process and she says it's going well... But she finds herself hungry more often. She only has 2 quarter doses left.

I have been overweight/obese my entire adult life. There was a thread here in January or February about how hard weight loss is. My weight is a contributor, I'm sure, to hip pain that I suspect is osteoarthritis. I decided to get serious about weight loss in mid January mainly because of my hip. No drugs, just cutting carbs, increasing protein (but not full keto) and limiting calories to about 1200/day. I've lost 27 lbs .. but still have a long way to go.

My goal in life is to avoid daily or weekly meds for as long as possible. No statins, no BP meds, etc. I know age will catch up with me but I'm keeping pharma out if my life for as long as possible.

 

[brett]

My sister is in process of weaning off of ozempic after a year. A year ago she has a physical that put her I'm the pre diabetic range and showed high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Her doc suggested ozempic and a statin. She has lost just over 50 lbs. Her blood work is now in the normal range across the board. That meant insurance would no longer cover ozempic. She was super intentional about changing her diet as well... Eliminating adding sugar and processed foods. Just this morning I asked her about the weaning process and she says it's going well... But she finds herself hungry more often. She only has 2 quarter doses left.

I have been overweight/obese my entire adult life. There was a thread here in January or February about how hard weight loss is. My weight is a contributor, I'm sure, to hip pain that I suspect is osteoarthritis. I decided to get serious about weight loss in mid January mainly because of my hip. No drugs, just cutting carbs, increasing protein (but not full keto) and limiting calories to about 1200/day. I've lost 27 lbs .. but still have a long way to go.

My goal in life is to avoid daily or weekly meds for as long as possible. No statins, no BP meds, etc. I know age will catch up with me but I'm keeping pharma out if my life for as long as possible.

That was exactly my goal when, at just shy of 60, I was approaching the cliff. I had retired 10 months earlier.

I was fortunate. Border line obese, not so great blood work. Exercise was going from the car to the house or car to the office.

I had a great physician who took the time to spell out in detail what might in be in store for me from a health perspective should I not change my regime. His last words to me were 'it is entirely up to you'. I listened.

Thirteen years later the only thing recommended by my physician is vitamin D. Cannot remember the last prescription I had filled. I would seem that I have inherited 'good genes'.

My older sister went the other way. Obese, poor diet, no exercise. Now she can hardly move about. She made all sorts of excuses why she could not follow even the most basic recommendations of her physician, and her multiple specialists. Always excuses, nots and commits to change....but never ever moves forward with the change. She has become a good friend to her pharmacist.

I feel very sorry for her but there is nothing I can do for her if she is unwilling to take the advice or follow the direction of multiple health and lifestyle experts over the past 20 years or so. For her, it is a case of you reap what you sow. She has recently been prescribed Ozempic but as yet we have not noticed any substantive change.

 

[Koolau]

My sister is in process of weaning off of ozempic after a year. A year ago she has a physical that put her I'm the pre diabetic range and showed high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Her doc suggested ozempic and a statin. She has lost just over 50 lbs. Her blood work is now in the normal range across the board. That meant insurance would no longer cover ozempic. She was super intentional about changing her diet as well... Eliminating adding sugar and processed foods. Just this morning I asked her about the weaning process and she says it's going well... But she finds herself hungry more often. She only has 2 quarter doses left.

I have been overweight/obese my entire adult life. There was a thread here in January or February about how hard weight loss is. My weight is a contributor, I'm sure, to hip pain that I suspect is osteoarthritis. I decided to get serious about weight loss in mid January mainly because of my hip. No drugs, just cutting carbs, increasing protein (but not full keto) and limiting calories to about 1200/day. I've lost 27 lbs .. but still have a long way to go.

My goal in life is to avoid daily or weekly meds for as long as possible. No statins, no BP meds, etc. I know age will catch up with me but I'm keeping pharma out if my life for as long as possible.

Yeah, I take a hand full of pills daily. Your way is better. I thank God for the Pharma industry, but know I should have taken better care of myself early on. BUT, at least the drugs I take have been very effective - not cheap either, so there's that.

 

[MarieIG]

My sister is in process of weaning off of ozempic after a year. A year ago she has a physical that put her I'm the pre diabetic range and showed high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Her doc suggested ozempic and a statin. She has lost just over 50 lbs. Her blood work is now in the normal range across the board. That meant insurance would no longer cover ozempic. She was super intentional about changing her diet as well... Eliminating adding sugar and processed foods. Just this morning I asked her about the weaning process and she says it's going well... But she finds herself hungry more often. She only has 2 quarter doses left.

I have been overweight/obese my entire adult life. There was a thread here in January or February about how hard weight loss is. My weight is a contributor, I'm sure, to hip pain that I suspect is osteoarthritis. I decided to get serious about weight loss in mid January mainly because of my hip. No drugs, just cutting carbs, increasing protein (but not full keto) and limiting calories to about 1200/day. I've lost 27 lbs .. but still have a long way to go.

My goal in life is to avoid daily or weekly meds for as long as possible. No statins, no BP meds, etc. I know age will catch up with me but I'm keeping pharma out if my life for as long as possible.

It sounds as if you are both doing a great job. Regarding your sister, I have heard some patients micro dose. I listened to podcast from a doctor a while back, which unfortunately I won't be able to find again, as to how she saves her patients money with the micro doses.

Unfortunately, I am not pharma free. I have arthritis and psoriasis and use topicals for my psoriasis, but have refused to move on to the oral immune suppressors and pain relief medications (other than occasional aspirin), due to the plethora of side effects. I do find that my diet effects my symptoms - for better or for worse. I try to stay low carb, as high carb foods don't like me.

My cholesterol is a little high, but precisely no one (neither my cardiologist nor my PCP) is interested in putting me on a statin, which is fine by me. I have had cardio work-ups over the last eight months due to chest pain, and for surgery clearance, but doctors have not been particularly concerned about my results (normal stress test, normal ejection fraction, no blockages found). My last BP reading at my PCP about two weeks ago was 113/63 and that is my typical range.

 

[boilerman]

I’ve been on a compounded version of Zepbound for a year. Lost 50 pounds and now doing a low dose for maintenance. My BP has dropped to normal, triglycerides and cholesterol have dropped to normal and I have less knee pain. I consider it a miracle drug and expect to be on it forever. I had be off it for a few weeks due to some minor surgery and the cravings and hunger came back big time.

Although the decrease in appetite was helpful, the bigger help for me was to eliminate the desire for sweets and carbs. I would walk right by the bakery without the slightest desire for donuts. My diet is high protein, low sugar, lean meats, vegetables, and yogurt. And I’m completely satisfied. For me that’s a miracle.

 

[Kwirk]

I've been using Zepbound for 28 days and I'm down 9 lbs without much food craving. I'm hoping to stay on a low dose and aim for -1 lb/wk. I expect to be using it indefinitely.

Many insurers are cutting back on their limited coverage for the drug, changing their formulary midyear, and causing much consternation among patients who have been doing well.

Obstructive sleep apnea is now an indication for Zepbound.

 

[Koolau]

I’ve been on a compounded version of Zepbound for a year. Lost 50 pounds and now doing a low dose for maintenance. My BP has dropped to normal, triglycerides and cholesterol have dropped to normal and I have less knee pain. I consider it a miracle drug and expect to be on it forever. I had be off it for a few weeks due to some minor surgery and the cravings and hunger came back big time.

Although the decrease in appetite was helpful, the bigger help for me was to eliminate the desire for sweets and carbs. I would walk right by the bakery without the slightest desire for donuts. My diet is high protein, low sugar, lean meats, vegetables, and yogurt. And I’m completely satisfied. For me that’s a miracle.

Sounds like my diet but I don't use Zepbound. What I found was that eliminating sugar and most non-complex carbs was tough for about 3 days. After that, the cravings pretty much went away. I allowed myself to eat whenever I was hungry - within the bounds of protein/fat and complex carbs (veggies, primarily).

I can watch others eat cookies, pie, chocolate, etc. and I'll have just a bit of wistful recollection of how good those things taste, but I don't really crave them now. I know that if I bought a bag of chips and started eating them, I'd probably finish the bag and be "off to the races" with the carbs again.

Whether I can remain on my current eating regimen for the rest of my life, I do not know. I've lost over 60 pounds in two years (enough that my PCP was concerned). Heh, heh, no way would he put me on Zepbound now! I kinda proved I don't need it, I guess.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Just wondering if any one has an opinion on them or would you take the shots? I don't have the issue with weight in my life now but what I have read and heard they seem to really work and may help other health issues.​

Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound​

My wife and I have both been on Wegovy for about 1.5 years. We lost weight slowly as it was not straight Wegovy but a cocktail that included vitamins and such.

We both lost about 50 pounds over the course of a year and have kept it off and now just do a "maintenance" dose which we are slowing weaning ourselves off of.

It has been a life changer for us, we both feel so much better, are more active, have a much better love life and both just like the way we look now. We had both gained weight slowly over the almost 2 decades I had been out of the Marine Corps.

We have had no side effects at all.

 

[brett]

I believe that one of the issues that many people want a quick, painless solution for everything....medical and otherwise. Without putting any personal effort in. Just like the TV and media adverts claim. This is usually a bit of a mirage to say the least.

Fast, easy, results yesterday? Really?

Attaining good health and sustaining good health that one might otherwise not have usually requires effort, balance, and common sense for most people.

It took me years to realize this. Slow learner.

 

[aja8888]

I believe that one of the issues that many people want a quick, painless solution for everything....medical and otherwise. Without putting any personal effort in. Just like the TV and media adverts claim. This is usually a bit of a mirage to say the least.

Fast, easy, results yesterday? Really?

Attaining good health and sustaining good health that one might otherwise not have usually requires effort, balance, and common sense for most people.

It took me years to realize this. Slow learner.

I think divorces don't fit this thought model/

 

[Koolau]

I believe that one of the issues that many people want a quick, painless solution for everything....medical and otherwise. Without putting any personal effort in. Just like the TV and media adverts claim. This is usually a bit of a mirage to say the least.

Fast, easy, results yesterday? Really?

Attaining good health and sustaining good health that one might otherwise not have usually requires effort, balance, and common sense for most people.

It took me years to realize this. Slow learner.

I'm not disagreeing with you in principle, but if you've ever experienced persistent obesity that defied your best efforts at dieting, at some point you are willing to try something as radical as a medical intervention - and that intervention with the injections is SO much less dangerous and intrusive than bariatric surgery which carries at least some risk of death or long-term health issues.

I'm sure for folks who've never suffered obesity, it's simple to say "just eat less." I'm in the middle of significant weight loss "the old fashioned way" but I really fear that I'll revert at some point because, like most "addictions," you are always addicted - you simply no longer "DO" the addictive behavior (unless you relapse). I'm praying for no relapse - this time. I guess we'll see.

 

[euro]

I'm rooting for you, Koolau - what you say is so, so true.

 

[Bluenose]

I am in the UK and on Mounjaro. Lost 40lb and feel great.
The arthritic like pains in my ankles went from week One and blood pressure has gone from high to normal.
Feels like a miracle to me.

Not sure why so expensive in USA. I can get it in UK for $135 for 2.5mg going up to $195 for 15mg.
Don’t think I could afford it if lived in USA and didn’t have health insurance.