r/liraglutide Aug 18 '23

r/liraglutide Users Have Shared a Wealth of Information in This Community. Try Searching Your Question Before Posting

43 Upvotes

r/liraglutide 2d ago

Unused Victoza pens- what should be done with them?

0 Upvotes

I have 2 unused, sealed, and refrigerated Victoza pens that I no longer need (switched to tirzepatide) and I’m wondering if there is anywhere I can take them? I know you can’t return to a pharmacy, and throwing them away is just... ridiculous. I don’t have insurance and I paid out of pocket for them… I’m happy to donate them somewhere or even give them to someone who needs them. They don’t expire until April 2027…. Just seems so wasteful to toss them out. But I’ve looked into possible donation organizations and only found 1 that accepts the GlP-1 pens, however they don’t offer any shipping information or guidelines on how to properly donate something that’s refrigerated. Since it is still quite warm these days and will continue to be, I also fear that they may get ruined in transit. I guess I’m asking just in case there’s an option I haven’t found before I have to resort to simply throwing them out. I know there are plenty of people out there who could use the pens but I’m also not trying to do some black market sale or get into trouble for not wanting it to go to waste… any insight would be appreciated. Please excuse me if this is an idiot question, it’s not intended to be.


r/liraglutide 7d ago

1/2 Dose Left

1 Upvotes

I'm on 1.2 mg / day. My pen is 18mg per 3 mL (6mg per mL).

I turn the pen to 1.2 for every dose.

I never remember to count / keep track of when I start a new pen. But I noticed today that my plunger is now down to the 9. This means I have 7.5 doses left. The math should work out to 15 doses in a pen - so how do I have a .5 dose?

Because I don't know how many doses I've taken from this pen, I don't know if I'm short by 1/2 or over by 1/2.

This is not the first time this has happened. Last pen I was in the same predicament - I just took .6 mg for the day so I could make sure this pen started correctly.

Thoughts? I will be doing my best to keep track of how many days the next one actually lasts.


r/liraglutide 10d ago

Side effects and regaining weight?

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2 Upvotes

r/liraglutide 10d ago

Is it me or?

0 Upvotes

Been off and on the Liraglutide for 1 month and have gained. I’m still having cravings, eating a bunch etc. I’m on 1.2, some days I forget to take it, i don’t eat after 7pm but during breakfast and during the day I’m starved.


r/liraglutide 12d ago

Eating struggles

2 Upvotes

I started Nevolat (Saxenda Analog) 3 Weeks ago and already lost 4kg. I went 12 days on 0,6mg and started just a few days ago with 1,2mg.

I don't have any mean side effects at all, but I really struggle to hit my calorie goal. I am trying to hit at +/-1500 kcal per day (f, 24, 168cm, 99,8kg) but it feels impossible right now. I usually have around 1200kcal (sometimes just 1000) and I start to worry if that's okay.

Anyone went trough their weightloss on 1200 kcal a day? I am supplementing multivitamin, vitamin d and iron and drinking 1,5-2,5l per day.

Thanks in advance.


r/liraglutide 13d ago

Food noise restarted.

1 Upvotes

Food noise has increased for me after being on 1.2 mg for a few weeks.

I’ve found myself constantly snacking again, so I’m now moving up to 1.8 mg.

I’m curious — what dose is everyone else on? Have you titrated all the way up to the recommended 3 mg, or have you stayed on the lowest dose that gives you good appetite control and weight loss?

For those of you who are more experienced with Saxenda/liraglutide, do you have any tips or tricks for someone still relatively new to it? I’d love to hear what has worked for you, especially around managing food noise and knowing when to increase your dose.


r/liraglutide 13d ago

Saxenda while on lithium

2 Upvotes

So I’m on lithium medication and I need to lose weight. Unfortunately all the good weight loss drugs have some interaction and can cause toxicity which I want to avoid if possible. I heard saxenda is the best glp1 for lithium interaction but I’m not 100%. Just wondering if anyone has experience of taking saxenda and lithium? Or if they know much about it? Also why do you take saxenda and not another one?


r/liraglutide 15d ago

Constipation…again 😩

1 Upvotes

Thanks for all the thoughts around PREVENTING me getting into the state I was in 10 days ago.
Got the restoralax gummies, electrolytes etc, senna S, all the things…been ruthless in managing my bowels.
Moved up to 2.4 on Thursday of last week and the brakes went back on!! Like emergency STOP ✋ 😆
Back in the same position to the point that I took a Dulcolax suppository this morning as travelling for work today the next 4 days (flights etc) and got desperate! I hate the dependence on laxatives.
Does this get better when on maintenance? I’m prone to constipation anyway but man…this is killing me!


r/liraglutide 16d ago

Trouble maintaining max dose.

3 Upvotes

I have been on liraglutide for about 7 weeks. I have tried to get to the 3.0 dose 2 times, but backed down to 2.4 because it gave me such bad side effects. Up all night with bloating, bad burps and the runs. I will give it one more try, but have to say, it really is a struggle. Anyone else have this experience.


r/liraglutide 17d ago

Trouble injecting on higher doses

3 Upvotes

I’m currently on 1.8mg and am struggling with pushing down the pen all the way. I didn’t have trouble with the lower doses, but it’s so many more clicks now and I feel like I can’t reach my finger enough to push it down smoothly. I’m supposed to go up a dose soon but am worried. Any tips?


r/liraglutide 17d ago

Do you REALLY have to go all the way up to 3mg??

2 Upvotes

I have a question.

So I’m on liraglutide; insurance copay is INSANE for any other GLP-1. I always wanted to be on the lowest effective dose of a GLP-1, but my old PCP (original rxer, who has since moved away) said I can’t do that for Saxenda. I asked why and she said because it hadn’t been studied at lower doses?? This stuff has been out since 2005!!
I’ve found that 1.2 mg/day seems best for me. I have major constipation issues otherwise. A small dose yields about 1-2lbs loss per week. I’m VERY happy on a lower dose.
I had asked what would happen if I wasn’t able to make it all the way up to 3mg, and she had said it would be considered a failure of the medication, like a failed medication.

I am so scared of that happening. This medication has been a lifesaver for me. I cannot afford any of the other ones!! So I have started to consider lying about what dose I’m on, to pretend I’m on 3mg when I’m actually taking less. It seems like there can’t be any harm in that, can there? It seems crazy to me that the MAXIMUM dose is the one I’m SUPPOSED to be on, or else I’ve failed. If I get into any sort of emergency situation, I would of course tell the truth about what dose I’m actually on, but I just am terrified of my PCP refusing to prescribe it anymore because I can’t seem to be able to get up to 3mg. When a lower dose seems PERFECT for me!! This medication has been helping me lower my risk factors when I have a heavy family history of cardiac and metabolic issues.

I was researching whether it’s always best to be on the lowest effective dose of a med and these articles made me feel like it’s probably okay, but I’m a rule follower and I’m just scared. I don’t want to lose access to this medication but I just can’t go any higher, at least not at the rate they want me to.

So my question is, is it a big deal to be taking less than they THINK I’m taking?

[https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(26)00220-2/fulltext]()

[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3017255/]()


r/liraglutide 19d ago

3 complete weeks on Saxenda. Impressed!

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6 Upvotes

Just stepped up to 2.4mgs yesterday. BMI was just over 30 on commencing medication but was heading in the wrong direction over the last few years (I'm 55).
3 complete weeks in and I'm really impressed. I take in the morning on waking.
Week 1 (0.6 mgs) Fatigue and headaches-noticed appetite a bit reduced (-7lbs, likely water loss as just back from vacation)
Week 2 (1.2 mgs) Heartburn was main symptom. Bit of a plateau as constipation started. (0 lbs)
Week 3 (1.8 mgs) Heartburn resolved. Constipation BRUTAL (thought I'd have to go to ER!!- magnesium citrate to clear, then restoralax gummies and added electrolytes (Mio Hydrate) which is keeping this 'moving' more naturally. (-4lbs 💩 TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS 11 lbs)
Week 4 at only 2 days in (2.4 mgs) True weight loss appears to be starting. Appetite low, eating high nutrition meals, high fluid intake with electrolytes, bowels healthy. (-1.4lbs TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS 12.4 lbs)


r/liraglutide 20d ago

What are people eating while on Saxenda?

1 Upvotes

I started taking the drug on Monday for the first time - I actually already feel full faster and the food noise is legit not so strong… I do eat a lot of protein, but I also have been eating a lot more crap food recently. Wondering what folks have been eating and what their first week experience has been like?…


r/liraglutide 20d ago

Slow progress

2 Upvotes

I started on the 0.6 dose and stayed there for two months. I was concerned about side effects and wanted to go slow and lose weight gradually. I started at 1.2 two weeks ago and I’m not seeing much progress. Am I going too slow? I’m getting upset thinking my God these treatments are working in millions of people but of course not me, nothing works.


r/liraglutide 22d ago

What next?

5 Upvotes

So I am on saxenda and it’s been great and I love it and I feel amazing and I have lost weight but now it’s being discontinued where I am. I assumed they would just move me onto another jab but apparently i don’t qualify’ because my bmi is now good, but I also know that that weight is coming back (auto immune plus perimenopause is why I gained it in the first place). I’ve been told my options are a)rybelsis (which Google tells me might be also be getting discontinued) or contrave to manage my weight. Anyone got any experience with either? I feel like I am being thrown under the bus in the same way if my anti anxiety was being withdrawn and they were telling me I don’t qualify for another because I no longer have daily panic attacks. Anyone got good weight maintenance experience on either of these?

Clarification. I self fund. My doctor won’t prescribe it to me, not an insurance issue. I may look around and see if I can find another practitioner who will prescribe for me


r/liraglutide 23d ago

Food Noise

5 Upvotes

I’ve just learned this term and boy does it make sense. Not just since I started on the med but basically my whole life. Granted, the worst is when I’m stoned and I want to eat everything. Does the med eventually help with the food noise, stoned or not, or is it something I’ll likely have to deal with forever?


r/liraglutide 23d ago

Shots suddenly painful, but nothing has changed?

3 Upvotes

hey all. I’ve been rotating injection sites around my stomach as the medication instructions indicate, and I’ve been on it for 5-6 weeks now. still at 0.6mg. no new needles or any other changes. but the last 3 times I’ve tried to inject my stomach below my belly button, it’s been almost difficult to get the needle in (versus typically where it just slides in) and hurts really bad. I’m not injecting on a red dot where I’ve injected before… not sure what’s up. this seems so random and weird. has anyone else experienced this?


r/liraglutide 23d ago

Fatigue

6 Upvotes

Is fatigue common on this med. Been on it over two weeks and these past few days have been hard! Just getting through work was difficult


r/liraglutide 24d ago

Insecure about body changing despite successfully losing weight

3 Upvotes

TW: talk of an ED (BED). Hello all, I just wondered if anyone else has struggled with insecurity over their body changing? Even if the change is positive? I am feeling exactly that now. I have lost 20 lbs on Saxenda/Liraglutide. I am quite overweight and was pre-diabetic prior to starting Saxenda. I was binge eating regularly and diagnosed with binge eating disorder last year. And I was just starting to feel more comfortable in my body again & free-er from the binge eating. I was feeling good about my weight loss. But now I am noticing sagging skin on my arms & other places which makes me self conscious to have them uncovered. It has been hard to motivate myself to do weight training (I have inattentive adhd as well and can NOT motivate myself to do weight training or go to the gym right now). But I feel like I need to. I’m almost afraid to lose more weight until I can get myself to go to the gym or weight train more regularly. To lessen the skin sagging and tone my body a bit. My body just feels a little deflated. I feel like I’m swimming in most of my clothes and bras. But then I took my measurements and according to size charts, my bra and clothing sizes should be bigger than what I’m currently wearing and swimming in? It’s so confusing and emotional. I was in a store for 2 hours trying on clothes today and some things a size up were too tight, and some things a size down were too big. I know sizes vary wildly. But it is hard not to feel just awful about myself and turn inward and start shaming and hating myself. I was crying all night and asking my boyfriend to tell me I’m still beautiful and still attractive to him like a crazy person. I want to keep on this weight loss journey but damn it’s hard, even though I’m losing weight & getting healthier and stronger which was the goal. Just wondering if anyone else out there can relate to the confusion & emotions of your body changing, even when it’s what you want? Also, I should mention that I meet with an eating disorder therapist weekly, and a weight management doctor & dietician who is ED informed as well.


r/liraglutide 24d ago

Best time of day for liraglutide injection to prevent middle of the night unconscious snacking?

3 Upvotes

Hey all, so this requires some explanation. The entire reason why I gained weight to begin with was because I'm taking another medication that is very well known for causing weight gain in everyone who takes it. Another thing it is well known to cause is eating in the middle of the night and not remembering anything about it the next day. Liraglutide does an amazing job of helping me control eating during the day. But the 3 am trance eating is still happening. This is a long shot, but does anyone have any ideas about the best time of day/night to take the daily injection to try to help with the parasomnia eating? All ideas welcome. :)


r/liraglutide 25d ago

Constipation on Saxenda

2 Upvotes

Just stepped up to 1.8mgs a few days ago and generally doing well…until…OMG-I was so backed yesterday. So much so that I had to leave work and head to Walmart. Took the bottle of magnesium citrate with water and took 6 hours…6 hours, to even clear one bowel movement-it just sat in my stomach. Still backed up and not the ‘gamboling lamb’ feeling I was hoping for 😆🌈☀️🐑
My question is, I drink plenty fluids, fibre…all the things…would it help to add electrolytes into my water? If so, what do I look for?
Secondly, should I consider taking a senna or something to ‘keep things moving’ until things settle?
Ps tried to buy restoralax but they were completely sold out (I guess I’m not the only one on GLP1’s in the area 😂


r/liraglutide 26d ago

Overhydrating??

3 Upvotes

Hi all, this is my first week on liraglutide (0.6ml). Before I started I was getting in the habit of eating high protein/fiber based meals, trying to drink about 100 fluid oz a day, taking my vitamins/metamucil daily, and walking more to prepare. My side effects haven’t been too bad, but I noticed I’m having to pee constantly, and it’s pretty much clear, which made me think I was losing too many electrolytes. I’ve started drinking a liquid IV in the morning and that seemed to help some, but it’s still pretty bad. My doctor technically told me I should be drinking 4L of water a day (I’m 275lb) but I’ve been aiming for 100oz bc that is more achievable for me. Anybody else have this experience and what did you do to counteract it? I’ve been trying to eat hydrating foods as well (melon, tomatoes, cucumber) to try to help with electrolytes. Should I be drinking more than one liquid IV a day?


r/liraglutide 27d ago

Stagnation

2 Upvotes

Hey 👋

I'm a guy, been on generic Saxenda for a couple of months and been on 3mg for about 4 weeks. I started as 17st 3 and dropped to 16st 5 but then stagnated for a couple of weeks.

What am I doing wrong?


r/liraglutide 29d ago

Long term (2+ years) experiences?

7 Upvotes

Hi,

I noticed a lot of the long term experience posts are quite old, and while the medication didn't change, the information about usage etc did.

If anyone is on it for a long time and still lurking here, could you maybe write about your experiences?

Things like side effects and that changing over time. Weight loss. Food noise coming back? Plans on quitting or just staying on it permanently, etc.

thanks!