Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What side effects are you worried about?

I see a real doctor (but normally an NP) at Inova, and I take branded meds. I happen not to have side effects. But I don't think that my doctor is preventing side effects, that is magical thinking.

How often does the NP require you to see her? I go through INOVA and my DO requires a consult every 4 months while on it (one being my annual). So 3 additional visits (video)/year even though I’ve been stable on it the whole time (abt 20
Months).

Yes, quarterly visits seem to be the norm. I think it's for insurance purposes as much as anything.

My insurance has now started requiring participation in online weight loss counseling in addition to the doctor visits, which sucks (if counseling worked I wouldn't be on meds) so TBD on how many more additional video visits I'm looking at.

My real doc prescribes Wegovy, and I have zero side effects either than losing weight. It's been 3 years and I have lost 45 pounds and am now on a maintenance dose

Anonymous wrote:What side effects are you worried about?

I see a real doctor (but normally an NP) at Inova, and I take branded meds. I happen not to have side effects. But I don't think that my doctor is preventing side effects, that is magical thinking.

How often does the NP require you to see her? I go through INOVA and my DO requires a consult every 4 months while on it (one being my annual). So 3 additional visits (video)/year even though I’ve been stable on it the whole time (abt 20
Months).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, what's your A1C? Because, yes, this medication should be managed by a real doctor, not some joker playing one on the interwebs. Diabetes is a serious disease.

This is the weight loss forum. Zepbound and Wegovy are for weight loss, not diabetes.

They are absolutely for people with diabetes.

They help lower that AIC and insulin production is important ......

You're thinking of Ozempic, no? Zepbound was formulated specifically for weight loss and is not FDA approved for diabetes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, what's your A1C? Because, yes, this medication should be managed by a real doctor, not some joker playing one on the interwebs. Diabetes is a serious disease.

This is the weight loss forum. Zepbound and Wegovy are for weight loss, not diabetes.

They are absolutely for people with diabetes.

They help lower that AIC and insulin production is important ......

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone who experienced bad semaglutide side effects use a real doctor? (I.e. not someone you found on the internet but someone who has a long term relationship with you and who you can call if you are having problems with the semaglutide.) And did anyone experience bad side effects on the branded medication (not compounded)? I'm considering going on semaglutide but am afraid of the side effects. But it's hard to know whether people with stories of bad side effects are using the real drug or the compounded drug and whether they used their regular doctor who knows them well or just someone who spit out a prescription at maybe too high of a starter dose.

Yep

I have an endocrinologist that is fabulous who prescribed mine.
Metformin made me so sick took for about two weeks. No go for me.

Wegovy first lowest dose. Side effects, bad from lethargy to constipation to everything else even pancretitis. Was on it for six months lost 4 pounds. I stopped it cold turkey so glad I did.

Zepbound have been using it for about 5 weeks. I doubt I wlll be able to continue. It is not a bad as Wegovy for me however I lose about two days a week to side effects which is not something I am willing to do. Dr. Suggests I try it for 12 weeks to see if my body adjusts but i just left an exercise class ten minutes in because I was so sick to my stomach. I will say Zepbound as a product for me is better cost wise as well. Side effects are bad not as bad as the wegovy were.

I am short, in my 60s and about 30 lbs over weight. Diabetic type 2 which I have tried to lower with diet and excercise did not work. UGH Hence the GLP.

I am seriously considering just being fat LOL not worth it to me even with Diabeties.

I use branded Zepbound through Ro. So, no, not a "real doctor" in the sense you asking about, but it is the brand name medication picked up from my local pharmacy, so I do not believe the fact that an online doc wrote it makes a difference in that sense. I will say they tried to up my dose after 1-2 months, because that was the standard progression, but I was losing 2lb a week and had zero desire to lose faster than that so I continue to request the lowest dose.

If I did not do any research about it, and if I did not know safe/appropriate rates of weight loss, and I followed their dosing schedule I might have absolutely had more side effects. But the drug itself is identical to whatever I'd get from my PCP's scrip.

I am using a MD and getting Wegovy (name brand - not compounded) from CVS every month and haven't had any side effects (going on 5m and have lost 30lbs.)

DH (different insurance...long story) is on compounded trizepitide via mail order with no side effects (going on 9 months and has lost over 60lbs.)

Seems to be more person specific than brand/type specific.

Anonymous wrote:Well, what's your A1C? Because, yes, this medication should be managed by a real doctor, not some joker playing one on the interwebs. Diabetes is a serious disease.

This is the weight loss forum. Zepbound and Wegovy are for weight loss, not diabetes.

Well, what's your A1C? Because, yes, this medication should be managed by a real doctor, not some joker playing one on the interwebs. Diabetes is a serious disease.

What side effects are you worried about?

I see a real doctor (but normally an NP) at Inova, and I take branded meds. I happen not to have side effects. But I don't think that my doctor is preventing side effects, that is magical thinking.

Used Zepbound prescribed by my internist and procured via Lilly Direct. I had minor side effects, but I was also checking in with my doctor and we were discussing things like when to step up in dosage etc so she would have been able to help me navigate any major issues. I realize that it may be a little more expensive to go this route, but for me, it was worth it. My doctor also did bloodwork and connected me with a nutritionist who has been awesome.

PS. Definitely start at the lowest available dose, regardless of which one you end up using.

I use(d) Zepbound, shipped directly from Eli Lilly. Not only is it fairly reasonable, it's easy to use. Anecdotally it has fewer side effects than some of the others. I had 0.

Ask your doc for Zep? That would be my advice. And order direct from Lilly. Comes once a month packed in some serious cooling.

Did anyone who experienced bad semaglutide side effects use a real doctor? (I.e. not someone you found on the internet but someone who has a long term relationship with you and who you can call if you are having problems with the semaglutide.) And did anyone experience bad side effects on the branded medication (not compounded)? I'm considering going on semaglutide but am afraid of the side effects. But it's hard to know whether people with stories of bad side effects are using the real drug or the compounded drug and whether they used their regular doctor who knows them well or just someone who spit out a prescription at maybe too high of a starter dose.