Basic Questions. New to GLP-1.

[GoldenSam]

I'm 40 years old and totally new to this whole GLP-1 thing. My doctor mentioned it before and I've been trying to research but honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed with all the information out there.

I'm mainly wondering about the side effects everyone talks about. How bad is the nausea really? And does insurance usually cover these medications or am I looking at paying out of pocket? Any basic advice for someone just starting to look into this would be awesome. Thanks!

 

[christa_channing]

I mean this in the nicest way, but the thing to do is read the information already here. Everyone started at nothing and found their way. There are countless threads on how to start, if insurance covers it, and how bad side effects are.

 

[Calm Logic]

And does insurance usually cover these medications

If they did, I wouldn't be here. I started with compounding pharmacies, mostly Brello Health, which still only charges $499 for three months of tirz.

Any basic advice for someone just starting to look into this would be awesome. Thanks!

Keep reading 🙂

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

Read everything, if you want simple and good no insurance option. BRELLO Health for 399 or 499 depending on drug for a 3 month supply is good value. Good for total newbies.

If you step up to ordering powdered vials, mixing, figuring dosing, and some extra work you can save more.

 

[Calm Logic]

Brello ships to 25 states, including NY. Even at $499 for three months, I was still saving money sooner than later compared to buying more healthy, expensive food for daily "grazing."

Of course, I would never go back to compounding since it costs a lot more, but it was a good way to get started without being in a rush.

 

[Sun_Seeker]

Some insurance does cover GLP1s. Did you dr prescribe one for you? Have you checked with your company? If not, there are options available to you. As far as side effects go... everyone is different. I personally have experienced zero nausea or stomach issues, although I have had some back pain (which went away in about 2 weeks), and some mild constipation. I think it depends on the drug and the individual.

 

[Calm Logic]

It seems Ro will even call your insurance company for you:

https://ro.co/weight-loss/glp1-insurance-checker/

To complete your personalized results report, Ro will contact your insurance company by phone to only collect information on your eligibility for coverage – nothing else. We will not submit any request for treatment nor write any prescriptions.

Regarding nausea, this experience seems pretty typical of the anecdotal evidence, with sema more likely to cause nausea than tirz:

For me Tirz got rid of the food noise and my desire to binge eat but didn’t give me nausea and food aversion like with the Sema so it doesn’t feel as noticeable.

My pharmacist thinks people should start with tirz for the greater weight loss. I think most docs are saying the same.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

If insurance does cover, don't forget the copay assistance programs from the drug manufacturers. They waive something like up to $225 or so of the copay, regardless of income level for most people. Fill out online and take certificate to pharmacy. I paid zero for a year, then it went to $726 per month (500 with copay card) that was when I switched to Brello.

 

[MsGizmo]

I'm 40 years old and totally new to this whole GLP-1 thing. My doctor mentioned it before and I've been trying to research but honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed with all the information out there.

I'm mainly wondering about the side effects everyone talks about. How bad is the nausea really? And does insurance usually cover these medications or am I looking at paying out of pocket? Any basic advice for someone just starting to look into this would be awesome. Thanks!

My experience is with semaglutide only (ozempic and wegovy)
COST - Both my husband and mother take ozempic for their diabetes and it is covered by insurance. My mother has Medicare with Humana and currently pays about $45 for a 4 dose pen. My husband is charged a $25 co-pay for the same pen. No insurance plan in my state covers GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity without being a diabetic so I paid $500 per month for wegovy for myself since I am severely obese. This price is unsustainable for us .. so here I am.
SIDE EFFECTS - All of us followed the recommended method of starting with a low dose and then stepping up gradually. My husband, who has never been overweight, has had no side effects at all. Ozempic is doing a fantastic job controlling his diabetes. My mother, who is obese, has only recently complained of stomach discomfort after several months taking the 1 mg dose. I have a hard time pinning the issue solely on the drug due to many other possible causes that my mother is dealing with. Hard to say with her. She's in her mid 70s and not doing the best job of taking care of herself. As for me .. I had some cramping with bowel movements at the lowest dose. I think it happened maybe 4 times in total. It wasn't too bad really. Certainly nothing that would make me want to give up .. it just encouraged me to drink more water and to try adding more fiber to my diet. I am currently at the 0.5 dose and doing well.
WEIGHT LOSS - My mother lost 30+ pounds in 8 months or so. My husband lost no weight, but he didn't need to lose any. I have lost 17 pounds in 2 months.

 

[Ozgirl]

I was also with Brello. Got enough experience with them (3months) to know that it was working for me! Now, time to learn more!

 

[GoldenSam]

I mean this in the nicest way, but the thing to do is read the information already here. Everyone started at nothing and found their way. There are countless threads on how to start, if insurance covers it, and how bad side effects are.

You're absolutely right. I should have done more reading first! I guess I got a bit excited and jumped straight to posting. I'll spend some time going through the existing threads. Thanks for the gentle nudge in the right direction.

 

[GoldenSam]

Read everything, if you want simple and good no insurance option. BRELLO Health for 399 or 499 depending on drug for a 3 month supply is good value. Good for total newbies.

If you step up to ordering powdered vials, mixing, figuring dosing, and some extra work you can save more.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm definitely in the "total newbie" category so Brello sounds like a good starting point. The powdered vials and mixing stuff sounds way over my head right now, but maybe something to consider down the road once I figure out the basics.

 

[GoldenSam]

My experience is with semaglutide only (ozempic and wegovy)
COST - Both my husband and mother take ozempic for their diabetes and it is covered by insurance. My mother has Medicare with Humana and currently pays about $45 for a 4 dose pen. My husband is charged a $25 co-pay for the same pen. No insurance plan in my state covers GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity without being a diabetic so I paid $500 per month for wegovy for myself since I am severely obese. This price is unsustainable for us .. so here I am.
SIDE EFFECTS - All of us followed the recommended method of starting with a low dose and then stepping up gradually. My husband, who has never been overweight, has had no side effects at all. Ozempic is doing a fantastic job controlling his diabetes. My mother, who is obese, has only recently complained of stomach discomfort after several months taking the 1 mg dose. I have a hard time pinning the issue solely on the drug due to many other possible causes that my mother is dealing with. Hard to say with her. She's in her mid 70s and not doing the best job of taking care of herself. As for me .. I had some cramping with bowel movements at the lowest dose. I think it happened maybe 4 times in total. It wasn't too bad really. Certainly nothing that would make me want to give up .. it just encouraged me to drink more water and to try adding more fiber to my diet. I am currently at the 0.5 dose and doing well.
WEIGHT LOSS - My mother lost 30+ pounds in 8 months or so. My husband lost no weight, but he didn't need to lose any. I have lost 17 pounds in 2 months.

This is exactly the kind of real-world info I was hoping for! It's really helpful to hear about different people's experiences with the same medication. The insurance coverage difference between diabetes and obesity is frustrating but good to know upfront. $500 a month is definitely not sustainable for most people. Your side effects sound pretty manageable compared to what I was worried about. And congrats on the 17 pounds in 2 months. That's awesome progress! Thanks for sharing all the details about your family's experiences.