Poll: New Weight Loss Drugs - Ozempic etc

bargain huntress on 27/12/2023 - 00:51

It's been suggested to me to take it by a pharmacist. I don't qualify under the pbs.

The known side effects scare me. The possible unknown side effects scare me more.

I have a relative who needs it for t2 diabetes and qualifies for pbs but can't get it, because no one ever has any stock. Was told supply issue would be fixed by now but it hasn't. I've heard stopping and starting it isn't good for you.

Is this because all the rich celebrities are buying it all?
Imagine if there is an unknown devastating side effect, Hollywood and the rich will be wiped out.
Also have you noticed how many have had sudden huge weight loss in the last few years and then lied about how.

Personally I would prefer to lose weight in a healthier way with good diet and exercise. On the other hand that has never worked my whole life. I will keep trying.

I have some medical stuff contributing to sort out as well but if that doesn't help I might have to try these. Scary.

Poll Options

  • 9
    I've tried them and like
  • 1
    I've tried them and dislike
  • 6
    Want to try but can't afford
  • 9
    Too scared of side effects to try
  • 4
    I can't get a reliable supply
  • 37
    I lost weight another way
  • 3
    I need for my health but I can't get because of all the people buying it for their appearance
Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Benoffie on 27/12/2023 - 01:00
    +12

    I understand off label use but I detest people using a drug for something as weight loss (which has a wide range of both medical and non medical alternatives) robbing those who require it to live.

    On that basis alone, I will never touch it and frankly, no pharmacist should be recommending it for off label use.

    It's now at a point that, because the TGA can't get the off label under control (or they don't want to), they are recommending no Ozempic for diabetics unless there is no alternative 🤔

    The TGA and PBS should make any Ozempic script a mandatory call in permission script so no one can off label prescribe it.

    https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-ma…

    • bargain huntress on 27/12/2023 - 13:43

      The TGA and PBS should make any Ozempic script a mandatory call in permission script so no one can off label prescribe it.

      Why havent they done that already?!

      • Trance N Dance on 27/12/2023 - 14:49
        +1

        Because they don't have the authority to do so.
        The link Benoffie posted even says that the TGA as no authority to prevent clinicians prescribing off-label. The TGA only ensures the drugs imported into or made in Australia meets federal legislation. The PBS is just a scheme that outlines when and how drugs are covered by the government so costs are minimal or nill. (Under the PBS Ozempic is already not covered for off-label use.)

        Prescription restrictions are made by state legislation. So if it's really a concern we need to be talking to state MPs and the state branches of the AMA to lobby their respective state governments to modify legislation. However that will raise the issue of clinical freedom for practitioners.

        • bargain huntress on 27/12/2023 - 16:06

          Well i have to go through the pain of getting special scripts for several medicines, so why cant they? I guess I should get my relative to write to local member?

  • AustriaBargain on 27/12/2023 - 01:01

    I'd try it if it were approved for that use in Australia, or even off label use approved by medical associations. I've gotten a bit fat this year. I think I'll just starve myself though, well it feels like starving to diet when you're used to eating like a hog.

    • Protractor on 27/12/2023 - 10:22
      +1

      People rarely use the word fat any more, because the denial industry dominates the discussion.
      We have a denial problem in the west.It makes big dollar bucks.It's all costing the earth. Literally.

  • freefall101 on 27/12/2023 - 01:56
    +3

    Firstly, I won't take it because I'm not the target audience. I dunno who all these doctors are handing it out like candy but they should have their licenses stripped away. Like those parents getting vaccine exemptions, I'm betting we can find a small number of doctors prescribing this a lot.

    Secondly, I'm sure it'll be as common as candy in a few years and we'll have more info - because anecdotally what I've heard is that it suppresses hunger so people stop eating as much, but once they stop taking it that hunger comes back with a vengeance because the body is basically starving itself. So it's a brand new battle to fight. Unless you're a millionaire who can hire a fitness instructor and dietician to keep it under control, old habits will just kick back in.

    If they get the recipe right (and there's new drugs coming out all the time) and there's plenty of supply, I'll take it eventually. But what's the rush if it's just for vanity? I see no problem with taking a drug to help lose weight, it means a longer life and a happier life. Who cares about doing it the "natural" way of diet and exercise, we do nothing the natural way anymore.

    • taradavey on 27/12/2023 - 08:18
      +4
      • "I dunno who all these doctors are handing it out like candy but they should have their licenses stripped away."

      Your whole comment is uneducated.

      It can be prescribed for diabetics or prediabetics, which a lot of overweight/obese people fit into.
      "Ozempic" is not approved by the FDA for weight loss, but "semaglutide" is approved under FDA for weight loss. Ozempic has semaglutide in it. Saying those doctors should have their licenses stripped is ridiculous.
      Plus, your comment contradicts itself: "Firstly, I won't take it because I'm not the target audience.", "If they get the recipe right (and there's new drugs coming out all the time) and there's plenty of supply, I'll take it eventually".

      "it suppresses hunger so people stop eating as much, but once they stop taking it that hunger comes back with a vengeance because the body is basically starving itself"
      Yes and no. While the body does counteract starvation by eating more, after a significant period of time people's appetite has shrunk, their stomach size can shrink, and their brain may have learned some new habits of regulation of eating and appetite/satiety.
      As with any weight loss approach, if it's not a lifestyle change it will not last. These drugs may encourage a person to help make that lifestyle change.

      • freefall101 on 27/12/2023 - 09:18

        This is Australia, so you should refer to the TGA.

        Plus, your comment contradicts itself: "Firstly, I won't take it because I'm not the target audience.", "If they get the recipe right (and there's new drugs coming out all the time) and there's plenty of supply, I'll take it eventually".

        Why I shouldn’t write messages late at night. I won’t take it yet, not while there are supply issues. There are also different drugs that are better at weight loss than Ozempic.

        As with any weight loss approach, if it's not a lifestyle change it will not last. These drugs may encourage a person to help make that lifestyle change.

        How is that different to what I said in my “uneducated” post?

        • Trance N Dance on 27/12/2023 - 15:03
          +1

          Because when a clinician has evidence of a drug being effective for a certain use that their scope covers, they have (if they feel comfortable) the autonomy and independence to prescribe it for that use; even if it's considered off-label. Prescribing Ozempic off-label in Australia under these conditions effectively just means the script will be a private script and the PBS won't cover it.

          The uneducated part of your comment was the second sentence.

          I dunno who all these doctors are handing it out like candy but they should have their licenses stripped away.

          On face value doctors prescribing Ozempic for weight loss off-label is perfectly fine. It's only an issue if they don't discuss the fact it's an off-label use and whether there are better options out there.
          You'll be surprised how often medicines are used perfectly fine off-label for a variety of different reasons. One of those is simply lag between literature and regulatory body red tape (and the TGA is a red tape nightmare).

  • upended on 27/12/2023 - 06:31
    +6

    Poll: New Weight Loss Diabetes Drugs - Ozempic etc

    FTFY

  • EightImmortals on 27/12/2023 - 07:22
    +7

    "Personally I would prefer to lose weight in a healthier way with good diet and exercise. On the other hand that has never worked my whole life."

    Why not?

    Did diet and exercise not work or did YOU not stick with it? Remember, 'diets' don't work, lifestyle and thinking changes coupled with a bit of self disciplne do. And honestly it's not that hard. I lost 4kg last month just by stopping eating bread and sweets and cutting out the sugar in tea, and I wasn't trying to lose weight, just to get more shit out of my diet. I'm assuming you've already ditched ALL soft drinks, junk 'food' like McDonalds, KFC, etc? And that you drink a couple of litres of clean water every day. The basics?

    A quick google on Ozempic deaths should be enough to motivate you to do it properly.

    • BeamMeUp on 27/12/2023 - 07:57
      +1

      đź‘Ť FWIW i agree, lifestyle, discipline and routine are key ingredients to shedding some kegs. I eased off on beer, less after dinner snacking and a 3 gym sessions per week routine, 5kgs down. I acknowledge the beer and snacking reduction was hard, the gym routine has been easier to maintain its just the effort to get the routine established.

    • bargaino on 27/12/2023 - 08:53
      +2

      Losing weight can happen. But you'll almost certainly put it back on again. It is a long term battle, and the odds are not good.
      We spend billions of dollars on weight loss, and if you want to know how well it really works long term, just look around.

      Semaglutide works, but only as long as you keep taking it. Maybe in the future we will have as many people on these drugs long term as we do on statins and blood pressure drugs now.

    • bargain huntress on 27/12/2023 - 13:52
      +1

      Why not?

      Possibly i have an endocrinological issue - i dunno my drs are more confused than i am. I am gonna try one last specialist

      I'm assuming you've already ditched ALL soft drinks, junk 'food' like McDonalds, KFC, etc? And that you drink a couple of litres of clean water every day. The basics?

      Yes, for most of my life

  • mapax on 27/12/2023 - 08:07
    -3

    How much weight do you need to lose?

    Zero carb/carnivore for 3-6 months to heal your body, then clean keto until goal weight and then balanced diet with kj counting for maintenance.
    This method will even work without exercise, but you should exercise even if it’s just moderate cardio and functional lifting.

    Do you know how many KJ you should be eating for weight loss and also for maintenance?

    • McSquintus on 27/12/2023 - 09:38

      Not sure why you got negged, similar worked for me. Keto diet with a heavy focus on meats and kept my workouts the same. Got so lean from it.

      • Protractor on 27/12/2023 - 10:34
        +1

        Every neg to posts here,pointing out reality, are coming from the dark,dank corners of reality denial.

    • bargain huntress on 27/12/2023 - 13:55

      What electrolytes do you use for carnivore and keto?

      Hardest thing i find about kj counting is working it out for home cooked food. Do you weigh everything?

      • mapax on 28/12/2023 - 11:50
        +1

        I was just using a homemade mix, plenty of recipes around, and my blood tests showed it was doing a good job.

        I used to weigh everything, but now that I’ve been on the balanced diet part for a long while I don’t need to.
        When on zero carb and clean keto with only whole foods it’s very easy to weigh everything as there are only a few components to each meal. I used my fitness pal to record all food and it makes it easy to keep track of your macros and kj intake.

  • JIMB0 on 27/12/2023 - 08:18

    You can also chop off a limb.

    • mapax on 27/12/2023 - 08:21

      Might need to be 2 limbs if OP needs to lose 40kg…

      • JIMB0 on 27/12/2023 - 08:24
        +1

        Might just get to 40kg with an arm and a leg. Losing both legs would send your BMI through the roof.

        • mapax on 27/12/2023 - 08:31

          Lol, long enough prosthetics for the legs and it would make for a low BMI.

  • Sinnerator on 27/12/2023 - 08:34
    +3

    Ozempic is NOT a weight loss drug, it's a diabetes type 2 medication
    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=is+ozempi…

    • bargaino on 27/12/2023 - 08:57
      +4

      That's like saying viagra is not a boner pill, it is for hypertension. Ozempic is just a brand name for semaglutide, which does indeed work for obesity, with far fewer side effects than past treatments.
      I'm merely overweight, but would consider trying it when available again, if the non-subsidised price does not go through the roof.

  • Nugs on 27/12/2023 - 09:16
    +6

    Eat less, do more
    .

  • Protractor on 27/12/2023 - 10:00

    Poll option MIA>

    Should I exercise more self control ?

    PS Also ignore the last Australian of the Year who IMHO, is an obesity enabler.

    Also,>
    Heaping blame on rich celebrities ignores the fact that the lions share of those wanting it for weight loss are 'generally' looking for an instant fix. Most of whom who have a lifetime to stop or reduce pushing too much, or low nutrition food in their mouths.
    THIS! really is a first world problem

  • CatGrandma on 27/12/2023 - 10:51
    +1

    I have taken Saxenda which is a related drug that doesn't seem to have the same supply issues as Ozempic. To be prescribed it you need to be either obese, or be overweight with weight related health issues. I doubt you could get it prescribed just for vanity weight.

    It's not magic. You still need to do the work of maintaining a calorie deficit. It just makes sticking with the calorie deficit easier because you are less hungry. Side effect wise all I had was mild nausea for the first few days. Anecdotally, it also helped a bunch with the few ulcerative colitis symptoms I was still getting in remission. I think it's been worth it for me. It's useful more as a push to get started rather than as the magic solution media seems to portray it as.

  • Fredfloresjr on 27/12/2023 - 10:59
    +2

    TLDR.

    Count your calories and hit the gym.

  • Tomcruise on 27/12/2023 - 11:40
    +1

    RETATRUTIDE is from the same Family but less Gastro/Nause etc. compared to Sema/Wag.

  • everydollacounts on 27/12/2023 - 11:51
    +1

    Phentermine

  • Slinky0111 on 27/12/2023 - 14:07
    +2

    Just order through https://www.yoursolutioncompounding.com/ no shortages for compounding. They offer postage and one of the cheapest places to get it if you don't qualify for PBS.

    • bargain huntress on 27/12/2023 - 14:10

      Thank you. They wouldnt do pbs for my relative though do they?

      • Slinky0111 on 27/12/2023 - 21:47
        +1

        Not sure to be honest. You need to upload a script but have never seen PBS prices on their website

  • jsediv on 27/12/2023 - 14:40
    +1

    Get on the dexies and you wont even think about eating

  • Empharand on 27/12/2023 - 21:51
    +1

    Some people want to pay for a drug (with side effects) to lose weight, when they can achieve the same results by eating less garbage and going for a long-walk (or short run) every day…. Saves a lot more money in the long run….. or go to a gym, whatever floats your flabby boat.

    [Disclaimer: Some People = Those that don't necessarily require the drug to lose weight, are able-bodied and can explore more natural means of losing weight and are just using it as a quick-way to lose weight. I fully understand there are people that can't do that (eg. those with disabilities)]

  • ForkSnorter on 28/12/2023 - 08:25
    +1

    Every study and all information I’ve seen to date indicate exercise is not a reliable way to lose weight The most reliable way is calorie restriction, in other words diet.

    For example, if an overweight person continued their current eating habits, 30 minutes of exercise a day for 1 year would have a negligible effect on their weight. Of course, the exercise would be good for their health nevertheless.

    But if they changed their diet massively and restricted their calories consistently, 1 year of this diet would have a significant effect, substantially reducing their weight.

    There is no harmful effect from calorie restriction within reason. The average person consumes far more calories than they need. In fact, eating less is consistently correlated with longevity and lack of disease.

    Sorry, I don’t know anything about drug-induced weight loss.

    • Anthonese on 28/12/2023 - 14:46

      Yes - exercise is only good for weight maintenance (not loss) and overall health

  • isthisreallife22 on 18/01/2024 - 23:12

    I would love to try this for weight loss. I hope that in the future there is plenty of supply for everyone and well understood avoidance of side effects

  • streetsmart on 23/06/2024 - 22:54

    I have an officemate who tried this and she had to stop it on the 3rd month. She said the cramping is unbearable because the drug delays food digestion (?, not sure pls research) and so she becomes constipated which causes bad cramps. She was always unwell I remember she was always on sick leave during that period. Maybe stick to calorie deficit method? Happy to ask her more details if anyone is interested.

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