Heart disease and Wegovy

Hi @nanahatton65
Since your cardiology team and insurance recommended Wegovy for both your heart disease and weight, it might help others know how to comment if you shared a little more. What part concerns you most? Are you worried about side effects, how it might affect your heart rate or blood pressure, or simply starting a new medication?

As you wait for others to comment, meet @llynch17056 that may have experience with Wegovy to share.

I am full of questions and I do have one more. What has your cardiologist told you to expect during the first few weeks on Wegovy, and is there a monitoring plan for your blood pressure and heart symptoms after you start?

I am a candidate for these weight control medications. I had gone through the process of starting at lowest dose (injected) and then the process of increasing each month. I was okay (with little reduction in appetite) until hit the highest dose.

With that one got nauseated about an hour after injection. I vomited 2 times and was given an acute visit to Mayo. At Mayo they told me because of other medications I take they could not give me anti nausea medication and would have to let the drug slowly leave my body. So came home and vomited 2 more times.

So the next few week I was on mashed potatoes diet as the only thing I could find to not cause nausea.

I then thought with the new pills could maybe do this again. But talking to myself we did not agree. I take 14 different medications. I asked about this to my pharmacist (Mayo has appointments with pharmacist) as these medicines slow your digestive system. I was told could be an issue. The problem with these new drugs is there is no long term studies.

I have VTAC, PVCs, PACs, and take a lot of medications for them. Pharmacist said take with food although most of them say can be taken with or without food.

If my digestion is slowed down my question was could this affect my medications, yes the pharmacist said. I also take Synthroid. You have to take by itself and wait 30 minutes before you eat to allow medicine into your system. If my system is slowed down does it affect other medications as well. You can see all the questions and no long term studies to answer them.

So you can see I am jealous of others success on these drugs but from my experience I have a lot of apprehension (my personal reaction to high dose, and all my medications) and have been trying the old fashion way with a little success but more of a yo-yo success.

@jlharsh thank you

@jc76 I couldn’t take Wegovy. It made me feel terrible and nauseated. I had to stop. Instead I have been doing Terzepitide for about a year with no adverse side effects. It is also for heart disease. It helps me keep my weight at a good stable place. I don’t do a high dose and I’ve never increased the dose. I also take Nexletol. I am statin and Repatha intolerant.

@jlharsh CC
I’ve not started the Wegovy yet. A little skeptical, my main concern is having a stroke because my blood pressure is so up and down. My cardiologist said if I lose weight it would help. I was in the hospital for 4 days with pleurisy and got sepsis. Blood pressure was 215/124. My cardiologist keeps regulating my medication. I see him again in 2 weeks. You want to listen to your Dr but seems like we’re going in circles

@llynch17056 I have 10 stents and have had a heart attack. I’ve been on tirzepatide for 2 years with zero side effects l also have never gone above the lowest doze. . I’m down 100lbs.

I wish you well. ❤️

@nanahatton65 It sounds like your biggest concern isn’t really the Wegovy, most immediately it’s your blood pressure and feeling like you’re still searching for the right combination of treatment. After seeing a reading of 215/124 and being hospitalized with pleurisy and sepsis, I can understand why your confidence has been shaken.

The good news is that you’re seeing your cardiologist again in two weeks, and it sounds like they’re continuing to adjust your medications rather than giving up. Sometimes it can take several adjustments before blood pressure becomes more stable, especially after a serious illness.

I think if it were me, I’d make sure to bring a log of home blood pressure readings and write down questions about Wegovy. Since weight loss is one reason your cardiologist recommended it, you might ask what they expect it to do for your blood pressure, how they’ll monitor you after you start it, and what symptoms would warrant calling the office sooner.

I’m curious…have they identified why your blood pressure has been so difficult to control, or are they still trying to sort that out?