I did this for a month when I was on the highest dose of a compounded version of Ozempic. In addition to having to stick myself twice a week, I’m not sure it lessened the side effects much. I was concerned about whether splitting the dose was as effective and like you said, there are no trials.
In the end, I decided to switch to Zepbound, which I get direct from Lilly. I’ve been on the lowest dose for a few months and have seen a steady weight loss without the nausea that I had on all the dose levels of Ozempic.
On another note, had a virtual visit with my PCP yesterday about the new pill versions of the GLP-1. She said the marketing is somewhat deceiving and that the projected percentage of weight loss from the pill version is significantly less than the shot version (and that’s at the highest dose level of the pills). She pointed out that I’d have to take the pills much longer than the shot in order to reach my weight loss goals. She also anticipates that the cost of the shots will come down in an effort to compete with the release of the pills, which are cheaper.
Yeah, when I realized it’s not the same medication as Zepbound and not as effective, I was not interested.
Right now I’m trying to figure out a maintenance plan, figuring also that I am now going to be self–paying. Can I ask you about the Lilly Direct program? I know I have my doctor send them the script–does she need to send a new script for changes of strength, or can she send one that covers all strengths? I’m not sure where I’m going to land as a permanent plan so I’ll be experimenting with dose strengths and lengthening out my schedule.
Also, did you consider compounds rather than Lilly, and if I might ask, what was your thinking about that. Thanks!
My provider told me that it’s hard to take the pills correctly. They must be on a completely empty stomach (so first thing in the morning) and then you can’t eat for a period of time after (it was at least a 1/2 hour, but can’t remember specifically). This includes drinking. Even water. Because of these restrictions, it’s very hard to take properly and constantly, so levels likely aren’t maintained like they would be with taking the shot once a week.
Yes, your doctor will need to send the script to Lilly Direct and they will contact you via text & email to let you know that they have it and are sending it to either your local pharmacy of choice or to the fulfillment company that does the mail order (you can designate which). It happens very fast - my doctor sent in a new prescription yesterday to up my dose and Lilly texted me within minutes. It them takes a day or two for the mail order company to contact you via text (Lilly uses Gift health). Lilly sends a link for payment and I usually receive my order within 3 days after I pay.
I do believe your doctor would have to send in a prescription for each strength but once they have it, it will be on file (I noticed that there’s a drop-down menu for strengths when I go to renew each month). I’m guessing your doctor will advise you on maintenance dosages but my doctor has several Zepbound patients on maintenance and she said some are injecting the low dose every other week and some are only doing it once per month.
I used compounded Ozempic for 4 months through a 3rd party (online GLP-1 company). I definitely lost weight but had significant nausea even on the lowest dose. I had been wanting to jump over to Zepbound for a while because it was showing better results. I finally decided in December to make the jump. The lowest dose of Zepbound from Lilly direct was the same cost as the highest dose of the compounded Ozempic I was taking.
I’ve had good results on the 2.5 Zep but I wouldn’t say I am as satiated on the low dose Zep as I was on the highest Ozp, but it’s curbed my hunger enough to continue to weight loss and I have no side effects other than being cold. I did decide to bump up to the next level Zep dose and try it for a month to see if there is a big enough difference to justify the extra $100.
Apparently, Lilly Direct is also offering the pens at the same price as the vials, so I am trying the pens this time.
Thanks for the detailed answer! As far as local pharmacy, I’ve read it’s only Walmart, correct? I’d love it if they could do Costco, as the nearest Walmart is a lot farther away from me. But I think they don’t.
By pens you mean the four dose Kwikpen? I’d be interested to hear how that goes.
I did not know this! I’ve been doing the Zepbound vials from Lilly Direct since last July, with pretty good success. I started on 2.5 and moved to 5 after a few months, and I have no plans to go up from that. Even now I stretch it and do the injections every other week. I find that if I go three weeks, though, I feel gross for the first couple days after doing the shot. (Mostly headache, mild nausea, sometimes stomach upset.)
The vials are pretty easy, but if the pens are the same price, I’m going to try. Does the doctor have to send in a script for the pens specifically, or just a dosage?
I really want my 18-year-old son to try the pills, as he would not be able to do the shot himself. (Motor skills disorder) But he would benefit so much – he’s got low muscle tone, sensory issues, has no cap to his appetite, and he’s away at college and just eating nonstop. He’d feel so much better if the pills gave him some control.
My understanding is it’s not the same as the single dose pens. It’s a four dose Kwikpen, you need to attach a new needle each time. Sounds a little complicated but probably not any moreso than vials.
This device looks similar to the Lantus insulin pen I use to inject my cats. The needles are very easy to switch. I buy my cats’ needles from Amazon in packs of 100. Much, much easier than drawing liquid from a vial.
Yes, it’s the Kwikpen. To be honest, I’m a little nervous about using it. I watched the video and there are multiple steps involved, but I will give it a try. I’m not sure if your doctor has to specifically prescribe the Kwikpen - I still had the vials as a choice when I filled the prescription yesterday. Also, both the 2.5 and the 5 were available for me to choose but I assume you’d have to have active refills available for both. Not sure about the pharmacy choices since I always pick home delivery. I did blank and not order the needles, not realizing that they are sold separately from the pen (I thought they were the vial needles), so I’m going to do a chat with Girthealth and get those added as well.
Thank you all for the info! I refilled yesterday, and the Kwikpen was not option, just the vials. Please report back on how it is to use, and I’ll ask about it next time.
So, as I think i talked about here, I changed insurance with the new year and lost access to my zepbound. My last injection was January 6th (full strength, no more room to increase dosage). I had to wait until March 13th to get anything else approved - so much drama. Eventually insurance approved Wegovy, but the pill and at the lowest dose since so much time had passed.
In the three months since I went off the meds, I’ve gained 17 pounds. I’m still 34 down from where I started, but even with the wegovy pill for the last three weeks, no weight loss. I don’t know if it’s that Zepbound was a better fit for me, if it’s going from highest dose to lowest dose, if the pill isn’t as effective as the shot or a combination of all three. But now, on the lowest dose of wegovy pill I see no effect - no silencing of the food noise, no feeling full, nothing.
I had a doctors appointment today and she thinks we have enough information now to try Zepbound again and potentially get it approved this time. We’ll see, because this is not a good solution for me.
My insurance rolled out a new program at the beginning of the year. In order to have your GLP-1 prescriptions continue to be covered, you had to enroll in this program.
I didn’t want to lose my coverage, so I enrolled, and THOUGHT I was doing everything needed. Then I was notified by my pharmacy this weekend that my Wegovy is not covered by my insurance provider.
I checked this morning, and turns out that the stuff needs to be completed ON THEIR APP, and if you use their website (same account/login) that it doesn’t count. So I’ve been fulfilling all the requirements in the wrong place.
I have a nice computer display with 3 large monitors and find using that is often easier than doing things on my phone.
I’m not a happy camper. Hopefully I can get it changed to covered quickly.
It’s almost like they want any excuse not to cover it.
Tell them you don’t have a cell phone and your ancient computer can’t download apps!
Uggghhh…sorry…pet peeve of mine…this having to have and use a cell phone to be a customer (or a national park visitor) is out of control, imo.
At the very least, I would consider a complaint to your state insurance commissioner. I have done it a couple of times. Takes 10 minutes to fill out the form.
I also have to use the app and have been trying… but it still says I need to do two things and I’m all “OK, how?” Like, I thought i did that, yet you list it as incomplete. Does that mean that insurance is going to stop covering? I’ve got the mandatory nutritionist conversation scheduled for Friday, so hopefully she can help me figure out what to do with all of this.
Which app is it? Mine is requiring me to use Vida. It was a PITA to set up, but once I did it wasn’t so bad. I gave them hell for making me go through them, rather than my doctor that I actually have a relationship with, when they don’t know who I am.
Then I realized that my NP actually knew a lot more about these meds than my doctor, so I was happy with the change. Only to find out that I was the last appointment with my NP before she left. So, now I have a new person. We’ll see how it goes. It seems insane that this is the set up.