Post by nowimnothing on Jun 21, 2023 8:19:35 GMT -5
Wherein nowimnothing tries yet another faddish weight loss solution.
I started to look into Wegovy early in the spring as it started to really hit the news. I quickly found the troubling news about shortages caused by off label use of the diabetic medication Ozempic. I also found that most insurance does not cover Wegovy which can run around $1,000/month in the U.S. I figured that was the end of it unless I could find it cheaper from some international pharmacy and make sure I was not depriving diabetics of the medicine they need.
On a lark I started to look into clinical trials. I was a guinea pig for an early Covid vaccine in 2020, so why not this? I found a couple promising trials by Novo Nordisk on clinicaltrials.gov/
After a few calls and emails to find a local clinic performing the trials I was set up with an appointment two weeks ago. This trial is testing a mix of Cagrilintide and Semaglutide called Cagrisema. In the double blind 50% of the participants receive weekly shots of Cagrisema, 15 % receive Semaglutide alone, 15% receive Cargrilintide alone and 20% receive a placebo.
I was on board immediately. 80% chance of getting at least one very expensive weight loss drug not only free, but they would also pay me $75 per monthly visit. Plus since it is not on market yet, there is less concern about taking from a limited supply. Even if I got the placebo, there are regular meetings with a registered dietitian.
I had my first shot on Monday morning. By noon I was slightly nauseous and had a very minor headache. In general I felt full all day and was not too interested in food. The headache and nausea have lessened but the full feeling and disinterest in food has remained. I started logging my calories yesterday and I was around 1,800 for the day, which is 400 under the goal of 2,200 set by the dietician for a 1 lb per week loss. One example: I got a chicken sandwich yesterday from Wendy's and I could only eat half before I felt like I was going to burst so it ended up being my lunch and dinner. There is still a chance I got the placebo but the effects so far are lining up with what I have read about other's experiences.
The trial lasts for 18 months and people on Wegovy tend to gain back the weight when they go off the drug so I am hoping by then that the insurance companies and competition starts to bring the price down so regular people can afford it.
Starting weight: 252 lbs
Novo Nordisk:
Semaglutide - GLP-1 receptor agonist
Ozempic - Semaglutide weekly shot approved by FDA for diabetes
Wegovy - Semaglutide weekly shot approved by FDA for weight loss
Rybelsus - Semaglutide daily pill approved by FDA for diabetes (in trials for weight loss)
Cagrilintide - GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by FDA for diabetes
Cagrisema - mix of Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in clinical trials for weight loss
Eli Lilly:
Mounjaro - GLP-1 receptor agonist and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide weekly shot approved by FDA for diabetes
Orforglipron - GLP-1 receptor agonist daily pill in clinical trials for weight loss
Pfizer:
Danuglipron - GLP-1 receptor agonist twice daily pill in clinical trials for diabetes and weight loss
I started to look into Wegovy early in the spring as it started to really hit the news. I quickly found the troubling news about shortages caused by off label use of the diabetic medication Ozempic. I also found that most insurance does not cover Wegovy which can run around $1,000/month in the U.S. I figured that was the end of it unless I could find it cheaper from some international pharmacy and make sure I was not depriving diabetics of the medicine they need.
On a lark I started to look into clinical trials. I was a guinea pig for an early Covid vaccine in 2020, so why not this? I found a couple promising trials by Novo Nordisk on clinicaltrials.gov/
After a few calls and emails to find a local clinic performing the trials I was set up with an appointment two weeks ago. This trial is testing a mix of Cagrilintide and Semaglutide called Cagrisema. In the double blind 50% of the participants receive weekly shots of Cagrisema, 15 % receive Semaglutide alone, 15% receive Cargrilintide alone and 20% receive a placebo.
I was on board immediately. 80% chance of getting at least one very expensive weight loss drug not only free, but they would also pay me $75 per monthly visit. Plus since it is not on market yet, there is less concern about taking from a limited supply. Even if I got the placebo, there are regular meetings with a registered dietitian.
I had my first shot on Monday morning. By noon I was slightly nauseous and had a very minor headache. In general I felt full all day and was not too interested in food. The headache and nausea have lessened but the full feeling and disinterest in food has remained. I started logging my calories yesterday and I was around 1,800 for the day, which is 400 under the goal of 2,200 set by the dietician for a 1 lb per week loss. One example: I got a chicken sandwich yesterday from Wendy's and I could only eat half before I felt like I was going to burst so it ended up being my lunch and dinner. There is still a chance I got the placebo but the effects so far are lining up with what I have read about other's experiences.
The trial lasts for 18 months and people on Wegovy tend to gain back the weight when they go off the drug so I am hoping by then that the insurance companies and competition starts to bring the price down so regular people can afford it.
Starting weight: 252 lbs
Novo Nordisk:
Semaglutide - GLP-1 receptor agonist
Ozempic - Semaglutide weekly shot approved by FDA for diabetes
Wegovy - Semaglutide weekly shot approved by FDA for weight loss
Rybelsus - Semaglutide daily pill approved by FDA for diabetes (in trials for weight loss)
Cagrilintide - GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by FDA for diabetes
Cagrisema - mix of Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in clinical trials for weight loss
Eli Lilly:
Mounjaro - GLP-1 receptor agonist and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide weekly shot approved by FDA for diabetes
Orforglipron - GLP-1 receptor agonist daily pill in clinical trials for weight loss
Pfizer:
Danuglipron - GLP-1 receptor agonist twice daily pill in clinical trials for diabetes and weight loss