First Person Review of Ozempic / Wegovy for anyone interested

So, it isn't called "Ozempic" if using it for weight loss. The weight loss formula is marketed under Wegovy and is a bit stronger than the Ozempic but essentially the exact same thing, just a bit stronger, from what I understand. You're prescribed a month's supply at a time via auto-injectors, (like epi-pens). You begin at a very low dose the first month, like .25mg, dialing up each month. .25mg in month one. .50mg in month two, 1mg in month three, 1.7mg month four then the final increase and ongoing monthly dosage of 2.7 in month five and ongoing.

I'm a strong guy, other than weight have never had any issues. No diabetes, no cholesterol, strong heart. Never been a smoker, never a drinker, etc. It has been incredibly rough on me, especially this last round. My experience is not the same as everyone of course but I've considered stopping due to the side effects. I really don't want to do that though because my next choice is surgery if I don't get this embarrassing problem under control. The medication slows your metabolism. In my case, within 24 hours of my dose, my stomach feels swollen with gas. I'm nauseous. About three weeks ago, right after going up to the 1mg, I projectile vomited all over my office, out of the blue. It was intense. The sensation for me is essentially that over the first few days of a dose, the food you eat just sort of sits in your stomach. Your metabolism slows and I've gone up to three days without pooping. I'll admit though that I'm not shot-gunning salads, and i should be. But you don't feel much like eating on this stuff. Which is great. Your appetite is dramatically changed because you just don't feel hungry. I'll catch myself wanting to eat something and realize I'm not hungry. Any junky stuff I have in the pantry, (I love the single-serve cups of Lucky Charms cereal and I love 2% milk), but any of that stuff I might crave, I just don't. Throughout the week, it seems to ease up a little, but so does the feeling of not being hungry. So I'm currently trying to determine if the nausea and stomach issues outweigh the benefits. I don't mind going through it if those issues diminish, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm due to jump to the next dose, which I would take this coming Sunday. And instead of being excited, I'm sort of terrified of how bad it may be.

I have a rower and bike at my house and want to start working out some again, but I'm honestly too sick each day. I'm lethargic/tired, feel spent most of the day. If I get a burst of basic energy it's usually later in the day or evening but lately, I've been leaving my partner to watch TV by 7:30pm while I go up to bed. But, I'm told that will wear off. So far, it hasn't.

Don't stop, OP.

this is interesting.

question: what metric changes are you seeing?

weight? waist? sleep...?

thanks, OP. I'm leery of anything deemed a wonder drug--especially one that rejiggers your system as much as Ozempic. I've been wondering about real-world stories on side-effects.

It gets better op - been on Ozempic for about 2 years now (diabetic here). Was only like 15 lbs overweight, so didn't need to lose that, but it did help with my A1C. The only thing I would caution you on is don't stay on it too long, because any weight you lose comes back with a vengeance.

Thank you OP. This is very generous to post such information and so clearly.

Interesting, thank you for the review. Didn't know it hits you energy levels that hard. I wonder if this affects former fitness people more than those who never much dabbled in exercise in the first place. Hopefully it works out for you in the end, no one should be saddled with being a fat whore if science can help it.

[quote]So, it isn't called "Ozempic" if using it for weight loss.

It is when you have the money and an unethical doctor who'll prescribe Ozempic for off-label use, even though that might cause a shortage for diabetics who actually need it. But that's kinda moot anyway, since Novo Nordisk has now solved the shortage issue. I'm afraid the Ozempic name has stuck on DL for comedic purposes and that probably won't change at least until Eli Lilly's competing product (the weight-loss version of Mounjaro) comes out next year.

R2 - I have big-time sleep issues. Have tried it all. That stupid, irritating CPAP thing helps me sometimes but rarely. But if anything, sleep has improved because it's made me so fking tired.

Current State Metrics: Please don't make me do that. ;-) Really. I'm fat. Medically classified as obese. And that's the first time I've said/written that out loud. It's my own fault though. I don't blame it on my depression, or mommy, or job etc.. It is all my own doing. But of course, it's also a challenging medical/psychological problem. I remember the times I used to tell fat friends or people I would help to train things like "You JUST gotta do it! Just take a walk once a day! Just push the food away!".... Nope. it doesn't work that way. It is so much more complex and psychological. But I digress,

I have weighed myself only twice in three and a half months. I dont' want to do weekly weigh-ins until I'm doing some form of physical working out each day. My weight is down though, without putting in any effort. I don't believe in losing weight and being "healthy" without sweat equity. But I've just been physically unable to go to the gym or jump on a rower or Peloton. I have all the tools I need, I have friends, a partner etc.. So I know that if even I have these problems, I can only imagine how hard it is on people who don't have access to as much as I do. Anyway, technically down about 14lbs, since February 23. But that's pretty easy to do when you're overweight and just starting. But again, that's with zero sweat/working out. I'd really like to be an example of a guy over 50 who was able to recreate his body without weight loss surgery. But again, easier said than done, isn't it?

Oh, I'm trying to ignore the "the weight will come back once you stop" arguments I see. That may be the case for many, but there isn't yet a lot of evidence and certainly not a long enough history of this particular therapy to know if that's true. Of course, the weight will come back if you're a fat slob. The whole point of this, at least for me, is to help me get back to a baseline again, or close to it. Then, eventually, get off it and take it from there, with lifelong discipline. That doesn't seem so impossible to me. I know one thing, if I ever do get this weight off, there is no way I'll ever come back. Ever. This weight has been too painful and adversley life-altering to come back to it. Not even sure how people let themselves do that after losing a hundred or more pounds.

R6, I'm not sure but at this point, I would think prescribing Ozempic to someone without Diabetes, instead of prescribing the Wegovy would put any physician's license at risk due to the shortage issue. The company has paused shipment of the starter doses until September in order to slow things down. Those of us on it at higher doses will continue to be able to get our dose. But they're trying to stop new prescriptions for the time being in order to catch up.

r8 B.C. had to restrict Ozempic exports to the States recently because so much of it was going towards off-label use. You need to report a physician first before an investigation into improper practice can proceed, and no one's gonna do that.

In any case, that won't be an issue anymore next year and going forward. I'm sure the costs will slowly come down as well.

Didn't mean to offend OP - but from what my friend who stopped Ozempic told me (and a few others), is that they felt like they were starving. Instead of always feeling full, they always felt like they were hungry. Which, given what Ozempic is designed to do, makes sense. Am not telling you this to make you upset, but just to prepare yourself.

This youtube review gave me pause. Proceed with caution. Sounds awful to me.

OP: pics, please.

Hey, OP.

I asked the intrusive question about metrics.

your answers are so forthcoming ... and i feel you.

i just hope everything balances out for you.

and thanks for sharing your journey ... so far.

OP — Checking in. How’s it going?

I've been on Ozempic since July for diabetes. I have since lost 40 lbs (and could stand to use more). No major side effects. I do feel full much quicker and for much longer which makes think I'm constipated but the occasional mild laxative fixes that. The 'lost energy' for me comes from the full feeling. If I make the effort to move more I get more energetic. If i don't I get sleepy like after a turkey dinner. Sleep is fine. No cramps or nausea or diarrhea. The appearance of the extra toe was a surprise but it makes a great conversation piece.

just kidding about the extra toe. No one wants to see it.

So basically the shot clogs your gut, forces vomiting, and helps one starve.

Cool.

R15, or OP, or anyone else-- how did you go about getting the prescription? Did you talk to your doctor? Did you ask them or did they bring it up? Or did you find a telehealth thing online?

I have a doctor appointment next month for my regular checkup. A few years ago, my doctor brought up Mounjaro by name, but said it was really expensive. I had never heard of it at that time.

How bad is the fatigue? I have thyroid disease and I can't afford to feel less energetic than I already do. Does it go away over time? Does the energy gained from weight loss balance or triumph over the fatigue at some point?

Yes, that's exactly why it's so popular r16.

r17 My doctor suggested it when I was diagnosed with diabetes and I initially declined. I felt that diet and exercise were the way to go. At my next appointment he brought it up again saying he felt it was a definite game-changer, He said the side-effects are temporary for most and that we could stop at anytime, though the first month might be rough and I should stick with it for at least two months before deciding. The first month wasn't that rough and I don't regret it. Again, for me, any decline in energy comes from feeling full. It's easily rectified by a little effort to get active. Many people on ozempic work out and exercise with no difficulty. I've had no nausea, no vomiting and am used to feeling full for longer.

Thanks very much, R19.

It’s really the TrimSpa of put time.

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