What's your experience with Ozempic or Saxenda for weight loss?

I struggled for many many years to lose any weight at all. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, going forward, almost every doctor visit included a discussion of the need to lose weight. Try, I might success as a limited. I finally had a specific discussion with my primary care doctor about weight loss medication’s and the first thing he told me was to discuss it with the Oncology department first to make sure that such medications would be appropriate. I met with Oncology and was told that because my breast cancer was hormone positive. The new wonder drugs were not for me. The newer medication’s according to the oncologist are all hormone based, the worst medicine to give to an ER positive PR positive breast cancer patient. The oncologist said as long as my primary care doctor could locate a medication that was not hormone based it would be OK. So back to the primary care and he said I had two options, phentermine. I can’t remember the name of the second one. He told me that phentermine doesn’t work for everyone, but it would be a good start to find out. Cautions were nervousness, feeling hyper, etc. I had very good success with phentermine. Over the first course, which was a three month window. I lost 12 pounds. For me that was huge. so for the past 18 months, I take phentermine for a three month window, take a break, and repeat the three month window. I have now lost, if I use my weight when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer 5 1/2 years ago, over 40 pounds. If I can lose another 20 pounds I will easily be within normal weight. With the oncologist told me was the hormone, suppressant medication, Anastrazole was not causing me to gain weight, but was making it almost impossible to lose weight.. As continuing on anastrozole is the wise course to prevent a recurrence of my cancer, the use of phentermine to help me lose and maintain a better weight is probably what I will have to continue doing. I was actually shocked to find out these new medication‘s are hormonal. They never mentioned it in any of the ads, they never talk about people with certain conditions should not be taking these medications. They truly represent them as wonder drugs! And I’m sure for many people that’s absolutely true, but I wonder if there will be an uptick in hormone positive breast cancer patients in the future. It certainly has made me question. What types of medications I am being given, are they hormonal? If I get a yes response I know that I need to first run it by Oncology going forward. That probably doesn’t apply to every form of cancer, but certainly hormone positive breast cancer is one that will require special vigilance to make sure that the medication is OK for you. I really don’t know about all forms of cancer and hormonal status, but I think it’s a really good question to ask your oncologist just to make sure.

Is it true that if you start taking ozempic you cannot stop?
Do you inject yourself?
How much does it cost?

I am glad to read success stories on weight loss drugs but mine is not one. I am going through the phases of WEGOVY strength injections and 4 months later no success. I started with .25, .5, 1.75 just finishing the 1.75. The next level is 2.75 but I am questioning continuing and my PCP and I are going over alternatives at our next appt.

Back in June I caught COVID (first time and took all shots and boosters) that developed into serious sinus infection and then into bronchial infection. My throat was so sore I tried everything to ease the pain and ate soft ice cream and chocolate. Of course was not doing my regular exercising for 1-2 hours every day. This sickness lasted 3 months and took 3 more months to get back to being close to my exercise schedule.

I gained 25 lbs during my COVID disease, sinus, and bronchial infections. I went back to my prior eating habits (no ice cream and choclate) and slowly got back to my 1-2 hours of exercise a day and gained more weight. I discussed with PCP and he suggested WEGOVY. Four (4) months later not one single lb. lost.

I have read that some other weight lost drugs have more chemicals that have additional affect on brain appetite. But I am not exceeding my prior eating habits and being under 200 lbs (I am 238 now).

I do know WEGOVY slows down your digest and makes you feel full. Problem is I don't eat much for breakfast as I exercise afterward including swimming. So when I go for lunch I am really hungry and appetite enormous. For dinner I do not eat as much as prior to WEGOVY. I believe this is because lunch digestion is slowed down and thus at dinner I am not as hungry and get fuller quicker.

I am trying now to regulate how much even further and what I eat and not rely on WEGOVY. I did experience the constipation and did not like that at all. In the past very very regular. The Miralax does work but read you should not be on it long term.

Bottom line I think my bout with COVID affected me biologically. My PCP has set up a complete blood test along with thyroid. I do take .25 tablet of Thyroid pill but all recent test show normal thyroid fuction. Something is wrong though and not buring calories or able to get weight off like I did before.

My hat is off to those who did great on these weight loss drugs and you should be very proud of your accomplishments.

@dfcox3

You might take a look at this article on Ozempic, it may answer some of your questions.
https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/ozempic
Have you discussed taking Ozempic with your provider?