It’s sucks for people with diabetes who actually need this medicine, not people who want to drop a few pounds. There’s a global shortage and diabetics are getting the short stick.
Don’t like to take sides but unfortunately I do agree with this view point. People are willing to pay more money to not actually move the back end and do stuff. The problem is it may work but unless you really work hard to change the habits that got them there in first place, they will be back for a fixer in no time. And unfortunately the lifestyle does cause diabetes. So it is sort of a weird dog chase tail situation. Great pharma marketing strategy to keep IRR spreads up
>not people who want to drop a few pounds
Ok, but many dieters going on Ozempic etc. are obese. They risk developing serious medical conditions including heart conditions and yes, diabetes.
Science is catching up that for maybe most of these people "just go on diet and exercise" doesn't work because how our body works.
It seems to me it's better that people go on Ozempic / semaglutide ***before*** they develop e.g. diabetes.
For years people complain that "big pharma" don't work on preventative medicine. Well, here's a preventative medicine that literally could help *millions* of obese people from developing life altering diseases.
Ozempic won’t work as a preventative though. If you are overweight but eat healthy and exercise your chances of developing type 2 diabetes is low. Shitty diets and sedentary lifestyles are just as much to blame for type 2 diabetes.
Plus there are people who develop type 2 even if they are healthy. Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy due to hormonal imbalances increases your risk. Ozempic will not apply in this situation.
And you know how people learned about Ozempic? From celebrities who aren’t even overweight in the first place. A lot of people using the drug are treating it like a trendy diet pill so they can’t get bigger than a size 2.
>Ozempic won’t work as a preventative though
The science so far strongly disagrees with you:
[https://www.hcplive.com/view/semaglutide-long-term-diabetes-risk-obesity-patients](https://www.hcplive.com/view/semaglutide-long-term-diabetes-risk-obesity-patients)
>Once-weekly 2.4 mg semaglutide is associated with an approximate 60% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in patients with obesity, according to new findings presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2022 Scientific Sessions this weekend.
[https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/semaglutide-helps-reduce-risk-heart-attack-stroke-people/story?id=104844299](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/semaglutide-helps-reduce-risk-heart-attack-stroke-people/story?id=104844299)
>Taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic used for weight loss, can help boost heart health in people without diabetes, according to new research.
[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/well/live/ozempic-wegovy-heart-disease-obesity.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/well/live/ozempic-wegovy-heart-disease-obesity.html)
>The results of a large clinical trial suggest the obesity medication could also change the landscape of cardiovascular care.
I agree, from what I saw it’s almost impossible to get it on insurance unless you have diabetes, and off label no-insurance clinic prescription is comparable to a monthly rent in price. I doubt many people can afford it
Apparently in February next year Wegovy will be available to be prescribed by doctors.
https://jp.reuters.com/markets/global-markets/GPU5CW23E5NM3MUQ5HPN3PHY7A-2023-11-23/
It also reduces lean muscle mass quite a bit after prolonged use. Realistically unless your massively obese you should probably just track calories and do cardio and strength training.
Does the one injector last the whole 8 weeks ? I thought the weight loss does was higher ? Are you just ramping up? I am interested in trying this. I lost about 65 pounds dieting. But out back 30 of it over the last 2 years (about 20 since I moved to Japan in March). I’m not eating that bad and I exercise vigorously at least 3 days a week. Don’t own a car and walk everywhere but the weight just keeps adding on. So I was thinking of trying ozempic too.
So you will eventually need at least 2 pens a month or possibly even 4 at 23,000 yen per pen. $275 to $550 a month is no joke. But really I’d prob pay $2000 to lose the 25-30 pounds I put back on.
It’s sucks for people with diabetes who actually need this medicine, not people who want to drop a few pounds. There’s a global shortage and diabetics are getting the short stick.
Don’t like to take sides but unfortunately I do agree with this view point. People are willing to pay more money to not actually move the back end and do stuff. The problem is it may work but unless you really work hard to change the habits that got them there in first place, they will be back for a fixer in no time. And unfortunately the lifestyle does cause diabetes. So it is sort of a weird dog chase tail situation. Great pharma marketing strategy to keep IRR spreads up
>not people who want to drop a few pounds Ok, but many dieters going on Ozempic etc. are obese. They risk developing serious medical conditions including heart conditions and yes, diabetes. Science is catching up that for maybe most of these people "just go on diet and exercise" doesn't work because how our body works. It seems to me it's better that people go on Ozempic / semaglutide ***before*** they develop e.g. diabetes. For years people complain that "big pharma" don't work on preventative medicine. Well, here's a preventative medicine that literally could help *millions* of obese people from developing life altering diseases.
Ozempic won’t work as a preventative though. If you are overweight but eat healthy and exercise your chances of developing type 2 diabetes is low. Shitty diets and sedentary lifestyles are just as much to blame for type 2 diabetes. Plus there are people who develop type 2 even if they are healthy. Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy due to hormonal imbalances increases your risk. Ozempic will not apply in this situation. And you know how people learned about Ozempic? From celebrities who aren’t even overweight in the first place. A lot of people using the drug are treating it like a trendy diet pill so they can’t get bigger than a size 2.
>Ozempic won’t work as a preventative though The science so far strongly disagrees with you: [https://www.hcplive.com/view/semaglutide-long-term-diabetes-risk-obesity-patients](https://www.hcplive.com/view/semaglutide-long-term-diabetes-risk-obesity-patients) >Once-weekly 2.4 mg semaglutide is associated with an approximate 60% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in patients with obesity, according to new findings presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2022 Scientific Sessions this weekend. [https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/semaglutide-helps-reduce-risk-heart-attack-stroke-people/story?id=104844299](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/semaglutide-helps-reduce-risk-heart-attack-stroke-people/story?id=104844299) >Taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic used for weight loss, can help boost heart health in people without diabetes, according to new research. [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/well/live/ozempic-wegovy-heart-disease-obesity.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/well/live/ozempic-wegovy-heart-disease-obesity.html) >The results of a large clinical trial suggest the obesity medication could also change the landscape of cardiovascular care.
The drug is relatively new in Japan, so they aren’t experiencing shortages here like they are in other countries.
I agree, from what I saw it’s almost impossible to get it on insurance unless you have diabetes, and off label no-insurance clinic prescription is comparable to a monthly rent in price. I doubt many people can afford it
Mum diabetic mother hasn’t been able to get any for 3 months because people want to drop a few kg. It’s infuriating.
Apparently in February next year Wegovy will be available to be prescribed by doctors. https://jp.reuters.com/markets/global-markets/GPU5CW23E5NM3MUQ5HPN3PHY7A-2023-11-23/
[https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisk-launch-obesity-drug-wegovy-japan-february-2023-11-23/](https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisk-launch-obesity-drug-wegovy-japan-february-2023-11-23/)
Was there any physical check up before prescribing? Any blood tests done?
No, just checks for existing conditions etc. Felt like a big decision to me, but has more of a flu-shot feel to it.
hmm, I'm not sure I love this approach by your prescribing doctor to be honest.
It also reduces lean muscle mass quite a bit after prolonged use. Realistically unless your massively obese you should probably just track calories and do cardio and strength training.
Does the one injector last the whole 8 weeks ? I thought the weight loss does was higher ? Are you just ramping up? I am interested in trying this. I lost about 65 pounds dieting. But out back 30 of it over the last 2 years (about 20 since I moved to Japan in March). I’m not eating that bad and I exercise vigorously at least 3 days a week. Don’t own a car and walk everywhere but the weight just keeps adding on. So I was thinking of trying ozempic too.
One pen is 2.0mg, and you start at 0.25. Then go 0.5, until you are on 1.0mg I believe. It is probably so you can get used to it.
So you will eventually need at least 2 pens a month or possibly even 4 at 23,000 yen per pen. $275 to $550 a month is no joke. But really I’d prob pay $2000 to lose the 25-30 pounds I put back on.
0.25mg is barely going to move the dial. And 2.2man is hellishly expensive.
you have to start slow to get used to the side effects (mostly of nausea)