This... is just awful. Does it get better?!

I'm about 6 weeks into this journey at a dosage of 0.4 mg. I'm increasing gradually, but I feel terrible. My appetite is nonexistent, my energy levels are zero, and I'm constantly battling nausea. I'm diligent about hydrating, taking probiotics, and supplementing with magnesium. I also prioritize protein intake and try to stay active. I'm trying to avoid relying on anti-nausea meds because of the potential for constipation, but I have them on hand. I thought I'd see some progress on the scale considering how little I can stomach, but the numbers haven't budged. (Yes, I'm meticulously tracking calories.) The mental obsession with food is gone, but it's been replaced with constant nausea and fatigue. Why does it have to be this way?! I was prepared for side effects, but this is impacting my quality of life significantly. Does it improve? I'm feeling discouraged. I was hoping I would have been further along by now. I really need some encouragement and advice.

Oh, girl, I completely understand. Month two on that stuff was a nightmare for me. The constant feeling of wanting to , no energy to do anything but lie around, and the scale just staying the same... it's so discouraging. A couple of things that helped me get through it, because it DOES get better for most people:

* The nausea was actually worse if I didn't eat enough, which sounds crazy. Even small amounts, like a few spoons of oatmeal or some crackers with nut butter, helped. And cold foods were easier for me to handle than hot foods, for some reason.
* The scale was a mind game early on. My body held onto everything for about a month and a half, then one day I was down 3 lbs out of the blue. These meds can be weird; it's not always a consistent decline. Try not to obsess over the daily number.

I also switched from Brand X to another one around month 3 because the nausea was relentless, and the new one was much better tolerated. Just something to keep in mind if things don't improve.

You're not failing! You're doing the hard thing by showing up, so you're stronger than you think. This part is temporary, even though it feels endless right now.

Hang in there! It gets better for most of us!

I also experienced significant side effects. Changing my injection site to my thighs made a dramatic difference. If you're injecting into your abdomen, you're likely experiencing the full impact of the medication. I continue to have burps, nausea, and occasional constipation, but it is much better than before. Worth a try. Best of luck.

If you're feeling that bad, maybe go back to 0.25mg. Stay at that level until the adverse effects are gone, then wait at least a month with no weight loss before increasing the dosage again.

Many individuals experience improved tolerance by the third month. Consider split doses. Administer half the dose on day one and the remaining half on day four. This approach can mitigate nausea and other adverse effects by providing a more consistent distribution of the medication throughout the week, compared to a single weekly injection. You will need additional needles for split dosing.

It did improve for me, but I still often feel blah, just without the vomiting. Clementines and dried plums have helped me. At the first hint of nausea, I think, "dehydration or low blood sugar?" and grab a clementine or some grapes and drink some water. Refreshing and helps the yuck feeling. Eating too many refined carbs makes me feel worse. Prunes are great for regularity. 3-5 a day keeps things moving and reduces misery. VERY slowly increase dosage and I even split my dose in half over a couple days until recently. I'm 10 months in, down about 25 pounds, and at 0.5 dose with my A1C improving from 6.9 to 6.1 last check.

Just offering moral support... I feel pretty awful but if I force myself to eat something in the morning it's better.

Thanks for the other advice people! Like splitting doses. What needles should I get for the blue pen from Novo Nordisk?

The lack of energy is from not eating enough, not from the medication itself. Your appetite is reduced, but your body still needs fuel. I had to force down 1,200 calories on the worst days or I'd crash by mid-afternoon. Keep track of your worst days. Are you tracking your calorie intake?

I had a similar experience with Brand X. It was a tough year, but I did see results (around 25lbs). I switched to Brand Y and it's been a much better experience. I had awful side effects with Brand X, but almost none with Brand Y. Something to think about. Good luck!

Same! It's like it drains your life force. Food = energy, and I can't eat much on this. I think it's a terrible solution that won't last long because it steals your joy. It works, but I'm only doing one more month. I've been on it for three and I'm miserable. I have zero desire to do anything, literally.

I had a similar experience, and it did not improve for me. I was prescribed Brand X for type 2 diabetes - the diabetes was already impacting my appetite and eating patterns. The Brand X completely eliminated my capacity to eat. I wasn't hungry. I could only manage a few bites before feeling like I would vomit. Despite the supposed reduction in "food noise", I was constantly preoccupied with the thought of needing to eat something.

Because I was eating so little, what I did manage to eat passed very quickly and urgently. Like, a very short warning before something happened. It was not a solid something.

I also suspect that it elevated my anxiety and decreased my interest in activities, but I can't be certain. It may have been due to the constant thoughts about food or the sleep deprivation from multiple bathroom trips at night.

While I understand the importance of managing diabetes, I've worked really hard to improve my mental well-being, and that was the final straw.

I said I'd try the 0.25 dose, since that seemed tolerable, but I'm finding it difficult to consistently take it. I have been avoiding it.

I've also seen people mention that they get really cold. Wonder if that's related to reduced calorie intake, or something else with how the drug works?

The-AF said:

I've also seen people mention that they get really cold. Wonder if that's related to reduced calorie intake, or something else with how the drug works?

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Omg yes! I'm always cold now! Before the meds, I was usually fine in a t-shirt while others were bundled up. Now I'm wearing layers all the time.

PeptideGal902 said:

Omg yes! I'm always cold now! Before the meds, I was usually fine in a t-shirt while others were bundled up. Now I'm wearing layers all the time.

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That's interesting... I hadn't connected the two, but you're right, I'm freezing all the time now. I'm going into my seventh week. I hope that doesn't last forever!

I'm only about two months in and I'm already seeing a difference in my face, even though the scale hasn't moved as much as I'd hoped. I'm trying to stay at 0.5 for a little longer to see if the nausea goes away! Here's a link to a Reddit thread with before and after pics that are encouraging!

philly_gal82 said:

Same! It's like it drains your life force. Food = energy, and I can't eat much on this. I think it's a terrible solution that won't last long because it steals your joy. It works, but I'm only doing one more month. I've been on it for three and I'm miserable. I have zero desire to do anything, literally.

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I'm sorry you're feeling that way. It's a tough decision to make, but your mental health is important. Maybe try switching to a different type?

Thanks!!! You'll make it, just takes time and showing up.

Just complaining - why do protein powders taste so bad and artificial? Honestly I'd rather drink prep solution than this stuff. Shakes are better but too pricey for daily use.

Tried oxytocin once with limited dosing info. It has like a six minute half life so that's tricky. Felt okay briefly then warm then hot like a way amplified flush then just tired. Next day felt sick with headache and down the whole day. Probably not for me but maybe nasal spray form is different.

I let it out through movement or finding stuff to tackle. Take it as my body releasing stored energy and that's welcomed.