Terrified of Weight Loss Drugs

[Anonymous]

I need to lose around 70lbs but have a lifelong phobia about vomiting. I take Zofran if I feel nauseous because panic sets in. I already take an SSRI for anxiety. So are the weight loss drugs out for me?? Anyone else have this phobia/fear and been able to use this weight loss option?

[Anonymous]

You’re not alone. I have gained a substantial amount of weight in the last year and I was already overweight. Now I fear for my health so I have debated asking the doctor about these drugs but like you I have a phobia of vomiting. I’m so afraid to try.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried other methods recently? If not, it might make sense to start with one of the apps like My Fitness Pal that makes it easy to track calories and exercise, or Weight Watchers if you prefer a more formulaic approach.

I have lost 20 lbs since January doing this and plan to lose about 40 more. The first 10 days or so are the hardest while your body is getting used to fewer calories, especially if you are also upping exercise.

I fully recognize that this approach doesn’t work for all, but it may be worth a try given concerns about side effects and (for me anyway) expense of the medications. One way or another keeping the weight off is going to require a permanent lifestyle change, so it seems that tracking calories will be useful long term one way or another.

It’s a slog though, isn’t it? I keep telling myself that it took several years to gain the weight, and it’s going to take some time (hopefully much less) to get rid of it in a sustainable fashion.

[Anonymous]

I think it's worth trying and seeing how you tolerate them and if vomiting is one of your side effects. For me (I'm on Wegovy), side effects have been more diarrhea than vomiting (I have vomited a couple of times but was able to figure out what triggered that, so I limit those things). From what I hear, side effects vary widely, so vomiting may not be a problem for you.

[Anonymous]

Don’t beat yourself up. SSRIs cause weight gain and they can cause/worsen insulin resistance. Yet, it is important to prioritize your mental health. Perhaps you could ask your doctor about something like metformin that is designed to improve/correct your metabolism instead. There’s also a lot you can do without pharmaceuticals. I’d try walking after each meal, which curbs blood sugar spikes, along with getting more sleep. Both of those make you less hungry during the day and contribute to better metabolic health.

[Anonymous]

I have had almost no nausea on Wegovy. Everyone is different. Work with a doctor who is safe and ethical and they’ll take care of you.

[Anonymous]

I have not experienced any nausea or vomiting at all.
Before Wegovy / Ozempic (I have taken both) my doctor made me try metformin which gave me terrible diarrhea but not vomiting.

[Anonymous]

Zepbound has fewer gastrointestinal side effects. I will admit I threw up once but it was my usual premenstrual nausea. One very welcome side effect is the lessening of anxiety for me. If you’re lucky you might get that too. I was afraid to start but my life feels transformed.

[Anonymous]

I think you should do CBT for your phobia. Your weight is killing you. Make yourself puke. You will see it’s not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need to lose around 70lbs but have a lifelong phobia about vomiting. I take Zofran if I feel nauseous because panic sets in. I already take an SSRI for anxiety. So are the weight loss drugs out for me?? Anyone else have this phobia/fear and been able to use this weight loss option?

So do it the old fashioned way and not use drugs

[Anonymous]

No nausea or throwing up on Zepbound in my experience.

[Anonymous]

I've been on Wegovy for about a year and I have only vomited once the entire time.

Some of us get nausea and vomiting on GLP-1s, but many of us don't. As someone who had 70lbs to lose myself (and only 20 left to go!) I say just try it.

I did have plenty of other side effects though. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I need to lose around 70lbs but have a lifelong phobia about vomiting. I take Zofran if I feel nauseous because panic sets in. I already take an SSRI for anxiety. So are the weight loss drugs out for me?? Anyone else have this phobia/fear and been able to use this weight loss option?

So do it the old fashioned way and not use drugs

The "old fashioned way" is not in line with current science. Hence it being "old fashioned."

Take your out-of-date ignorant snark elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been on Wegovy for about a year and I have only vomited once the entire time.

Some of us get nausea and vomiting on GLP-1s, but many of us don't. As someone who had 70lbs to lose myself (and only 20 left to go!) I say just try it.

I did have plenty of other side effects though. YMMV.

What were your other side effects?

[Anonymous]

I was never even close to vomiting. I had some heartburn during the first month or so. Been on it 2 years. I would try it, OP!