Will a doctor prescribe Ozempic for weight loss?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious why on earth doctors refuse to prescribe it? Especially for people who are truly overweight. It’s baffling.

With a BMI ranging between 27 and 28, my doc didn't think I was overweight enough. We ran the blood work and I was no pre diabetic either. She wanted me to talk to a dietician and actually try to lose weight on my own rather than go on a new drug that I might theoretically have to be on my whole life and where we don't know the full long term side effects. I was disappointed at first but have since tried Noom and have been pretty pleased with my weight loss so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you actually 25 pounds overweight or do you just want to lose 25 pounds?

OP here - whats the difference? I am heavy for my height 5'7" and need/want to lose 25 pounds. I had 3 kids and have not been able to lose the extra weight. I gained 60 pounds when I was pregnant each time. I have never weighed this much in my life. I was 125 when I got married and would like to get back to that.

There have been shortages of the medicine. Overweight people are mad at people using it to lose "vanity weight". Diabetics are mad at overweight people for using it for weight loss.

I do work out (I walked 5 miles, biked for 15 minutes and did 20 minutes of weight lifting yesterday) and eat less (today I had coffee, an egg for breakfast and will have a salad with 1/4 cup of salmon for lunch) but the weight isn't budging. Is there another type of drug that I can use to help? Or surgery? I am literally willing to try anything at this point - OP here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most weightloss clinics are using semaglutide now in their programs. Wegovy and Ozempic are brand names, but the md is available in off-brand. You don't have to go through your pcp for this medication. Cost will be between $200-$500 month. Insurance isn't going to pay unless you have a great plan and you're significantly overweight or are pre-diabetic (or already have diabetes). I am trying to wrap my head around paying $350 (my clinic's charge) for the rest of my life (if that's what it takes??). I guess I spend that much on other silly stuff, so if I have to do it, I suppose I will.

What clinic do you go to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you actually 25 pounds overweight or do you just want to lose 25 pounds?

OP here - whats the difference? I am heavy for my height 5'7" and need/want to lose 25 pounds. I had 3 kids and have not been able to lose the extra weight. I gained 60 pounds when I was pregnant each time. I have never weighed this much in my life. I was 125 when I got married and would like to get back to that.

There have been shortages of the medicine. Overweight people are mad at people using it to lose "vanity weight". Diabetics are mad at overweight people for using it for weight loss.

I do work out (I walked 5 miles, biked for 15 minutes and did 20 minutes of weight lifting yesterday) and eat less (today I had coffee, an egg for breakfast and will have a salad with 1/4 cup of salmon for lunch) but the weight isn't budging. Is there another type of drug that I can use to help? Or surgery? I am literally willing to try anything at this point - OP here.

Call a weight loss clinic in your area. Or Calibrate. There are several medications available and they can help you decide which would work best for you. My friend and I both started semaglutide at the same time (about 4 months ago). I think it's a miracle, have lost 30 lbs and am amazed daily at what "normal" (food thoughts) feels like. She doesn't get the same effect and has only lost a few pounds. She's going to try mounjaro, as some people have better results on that. My neighbor is using a Phentermine product and thinks it's great. I'd tried phentermine once and it just made me nervous and jumpy. Anyway, my point is there are many meds and are really individual. Surgery seems really extreme for 25 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most weightloss clinics are using semaglutide now in their programs. Wegovy and Ozempic are brand names, but the md is available in off-brand. You don't have to go through your pcp for this medication. Cost will be between $200-$500 month. Insurance isn't going to pay unless you have a great plan and you're significantly overweight or are pre-diabetic (or already have diabetes). I am trying to wrap my head around paying $350 (my clinic's charge) for the rest of my life (if that's what it takes??). I guess I spend that much on other silly stuff, so if I have to do it, I suppose I will.

What clinic do you go to?

I am out of state, but see a gynecologist/menopause specialist in a woman's health clinic. I called my husband's lifestyle doctor and found he also does the program for about the same cost. BTW, a lifestyle doctor is one whose practice prescribes hormone therapy, nutritional supplements. They focus on anti-aging, regenerative medicine, full body health and wellness. Frankly when my husband first started going for T supplementation, I thought the doc was a quack. I'm opening my mind to them as I start understanding more, but I also recognize these are doctors/clinics that not everyone can easily afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious why on earth doctors refuse to prescribe it? Especially for people who are truly overweight. It’s baffling.

I'm on Ozempic because I'm about 100 lbs overweight. While I wouldn't begrudge anyone getting help to lose weight (better to lose 25 than 100) I can tell you that while very effective, these meds are no joke. I was sick as a dog for about 2 months after I started them. it's not without cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious why on earth doctors refuse to prescribe it? Especially for people who are truly overweight. It’s baffling.

+1 I don't get waiting until someone is 100 pounds overweight instead of getting in front of it when someone is 30 pounds overweight and gaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most weightloss clinics are using semaglutide now in their programs. Wegovy and Ozempic are brand names, but the md is available in off-brand. You don't have to go through your pcp for this medication. Cost will be between $200-$500 month. Insurance isn't going to pay unless you have a great plan and you're significantly overweight or are pre-diabetic (or already have diabetes). I am trying to wrap my head around paying $350 (my clinic's charge) for the rest of my life (if that's what it takes??). I guess I spend that much on other silly stuff, so if I have to do it, I suppose I will.

Is it only injectable, or is there an oral dose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious why on earth doctors refuse to prescribe it? Especially for people who are truly overweight. It’s baffling.

I'm on Ozempic because I'm about 100 lbs overweight. While I wouldn't begrudge anyone getting help to lose weight (better to lose 25 than 100) I can tell you that while very effective, these meds are no joke. I was sick as a dog for about 2 months after I started them. it's not without cost.

That stinks, but it's really not true for everyone. My sister had barely any symptoms at all. I had a little nausea and headaches, so started giving myself the shot before bed with a couple motrin. I do still have constipation, but it's a probably self-imposed as I do not drink enough fluids.

[Anonymous]

My doctor wouldn't prescribe it. She said she doesn't prescribe meds for off label use. She prescribed Saxenda because it's a weight loss drug but my insurance wouldn't cover it. I am 80 lbs overweight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you actually 25 pounds overweight or do you just want to lose 25 pounds?

OP here - whats the difference? I am heavy for my height 5'7" and need/want to lose 25 pounds. I had 3 kids and have not been able to lose the extra weight. I gained 60 pounds when I was pregnant each time. I have never weighed this much in my life. I was 125 when I got married and would like to get back to that.

Because if you’re not overweight it’s not clinically indicated. If you were overweight it would be easier to get it prescribed.

[Anonymous]

No. Ozempic is for those who are diabetics or pre-diabetics. It's only given to a certain dose, I think 1mg. Saxenda/Wegovy is the same medication, but is approved for weight loss, and given up to 2.4mg. Doctors are not going to prescribe Ozempic for weight loss, as that's not what it is approved for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you actually 25 pounds overweight or do you just want to lose 25 pounds?

OP here - whats the difference? I am heavy for my height 5'7" and need/want to lose 25 pounds. I had 3 kids and have not been able to lose the extra weight. I gained 60 pounds when I was pregnant each time. I have never weighed this much in my life. I was 125 when I got married and would like to get back to that.

You are aiming for the low end of the weight range for your height, and based on the meals you described in another post, you are not eating much. Maybe you should consider raising your goal weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Ozempic is for those who are diabetics or pre-diabetics. It's only given to a certain dose, I think 1mg. Saxenda/Wegovy is the same medication, but is approved for weight loss, and given up to 2.4mg. Doctors are not going to prescribe Ozempic for weight loss, as that's not what it is approved for.

You are very wrong. I and many others without diabetes are prescribed Ozempic off label for weight loss. It is approved for up to 2.0 mg.

[Anonymous]

Do you really think your Dr is going to prescribe you a weight loss drug when you aren’t actually overweight? Just take adderall and drink black coffee art day the the rest of women that want to be size 2