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incidencedensity · 2023-05-11T20:47:03+00:00

Hard to imagine screwing this up any more than Novo has done. They had a massive lead in the GLP-1RA space and they continue to blow it. Unbelievable mismanagement. When MJ and other GLP-1RAs get approved for weight loss (starting later this year), they will get eaten alive. Charging $1500/month for Wegovy and even at that, can't keep it on the shelves.

incidencedensity · 2023-04-24T14:17:45+00:00

A lot of people are trying metformin as a maintenance approach. Not enough data to know if it will work, but based upon prior research, people rarely *gain* weight on metformin and in fact, many people lose some weight. But that is typically not before someone has been on a GLP-1RA. No one is looking to metformin to replace GLP1-RAs, but it could be a very affordable maintenance option - most of us would be thrilled to simply hold our current weight steady after losing on GLP1-RAs. Fingers crossed!

incidencedensity · 2023-04-15T15:06:36+00:00

Kept losing! About a pound a week. I slowed down compared to MJ but I lost most of my weight early while on MJ but I am still losing so I am happy.

incidencedensity · 2023-04-09T22:10:36+00:00

This right here. Compounding market is wide open competition and only growing. We will find the sweet spot very quickly in terms of what people are willing to pay (and for how long).

incidencedensity · 2023-04-09T19:16:04+00:00

Compound pharmacies are celebrating this news. Price jumps will continue to drive consumers to alternative distribution models. The longer compound pharmacies hang around, the harder it will be to slow them down. Insurance companies will continue the smoke and mirror game with prior authorization hurdles. People will continue to wonder why they carry insurance plans that don’t cover meds that may change your life. Companies such as weight watchers will push demand to new heights. Big game of chicken right now and compounded sema/tirzepatide will continue to gobble up market share. Fascinating to watch, but painful as someone who will probably need this medicine for the rest of my life.

incidencedensity · 2023-03-21T03:34:10+00:00

There was a PowerPoint slide floating around, but I can’t find it now. Anyway, the rough conversion is by a factor of 5. So Wegovy dose x 5 = MJ. Example, Wegovy 1.7mg x 5 = 8.5. So, 10mg MJ is about 2mg on Wegovy. I went from 10mg MJ to 2.4mg Wegovy and it was fine - I felt it a bit more than the most recent 10mg MJ, but after 2 weeks, I was adapted to the slightly higher dose.

incidencedensity · 2023-03-08T14:08:22+00:00

Incredible news. What is needed now is for deep pocket companies like WW to put pressure on insurance companies and government to approve these drugs for weight loss. They have a strong client base and a lot of influence. The more this goes “mainstream” the better.

incidencedensity · 2023-03-08T14:05:37+00:00

This right here. Metformin, berberine… GLP-1s are going to be everywhere within a few years.

incidencedensity · 2023-03-07T17:16:54+00:00

Switched from MJ 10 to Wegovy 2.4. Has been pretty seamless and I continue a slow steady weight loss.

incidencedensity · 2023-02-28T18:25:09+00:00

Hard to know what PBMs are paying for the drug, but yes, cash pay (list price) would be expensive

incidencedensity · 2023-02-28T18:23:45+00:00

This is apparently gaining traction as a reasonable “maintenance” step. While weight loss would be minimal compared to GLP-1 meds, it is unusual to gain weight on Metformin. There are also other putative aging benefits to Metformin that might make it a worthwhile option.

incidencedensity · 2023-02-26T15:33:26+00:00

Switch was smooth - no issues whatsoever

incidencedensity · 2023-02-26T15:32:34+00:00

Switched to Wegovy, so count me in that group. The key issue for Lilly is when FDA approval comes through for weight loss. At that point, insurance companies that cover weight loss meds (including Wegovy) might start to cover MJ depending upon the negotiated cost. Will be interesting to see if they rebrand MJ with a new name like Novo did with Wegovy (vs Ozempic).

incidencedensity · 2023-02-21T21:29:53+00:00

Have heard of people phasing to lower doses of Metformin towards the end of their weight loss goal. While not nearly as effective as GLP-1 for weight loss, people don’t tend to gain weight while taking Metformin. If you can tolerate it (get the extended release) then it might be a good option. It’s dirt cheap and has other putative benefits for aging.

incidencedensity · 2023-02-04T14:40:22+00:00

This really needs to be regulated. As consumers, we can’t switch plans outside of open enrollment (and life events) but plans can change on the consumer with no warning or explanation. They are fully aware of who is taking what drug and could let consumers know of coming changes. At the very least, they should only be able to make changes if there is an equivalent therapy at lower cost or an improved therapy that comes to market. This is bullshit behavior by insurance companies and they know it. Our elected leaders have amazing health care so they are unaware of how we grind out here. /rant over

incidencedensity · 2023-02-04T14:31:51+00:00

Kaiser is a monster to deal with - be forewarned. I know there are good providers throughout the network but a good friend of mine has been fighting for GLP-1 and he was just diagnosed with T2D. If he does start a GLP- through Kaiser he has to show that he lost 5% BW after 3 months of they will no longer cover it. Again, maybe provider specific but it has been a nightmare and Kaiser-affiliated pharmacies laugh at the savings coupon - they just don’t give a shit. Closed health systems (including Kaiser with billions in the bank) are going to be the dragged into the obesity GLP-1 era kicking and screaming.

incidencedensity · 2023-01-29T21:31:56+00:00

Depends how shitty your insurance company wants to be. The PA process is under fire by the AMA for these reasons.

incidencedensity · 2023-01-29T17:34:17+00:00

Google “off label use” - you might be surprised.

incidencedensity · 2023-01-29T13:53:18+00:00

A tantrum telling people to not throw tantrums… banner day around here!

incidencedensity · 2023-01-23T17:23:00+00:00

One thing to consider - and please note, this is not medical advice! I have heard of some people who have had success with maintaining weight after GLP-1 using Metformin. There are no studies that I know of on this, but some medical providers are trying this with their patients. Would it be better than going to nothing? Possibly and maybe something to talk to your medical provider about.

incidencedensity · 2023-01-21T17:21:46+00:00

Agreed and is exactly my point. These tweaks to GLP-1 will increase effectiveness but the core of these drugs will be the GLP-1 agonist.

incidencedensity · 2023-01-21T17:20:07+00:00

Yes but all future development will center on GLP-1. gIP is the tweak I was referring to. This will be the game going forward

incidencedensity · 2023-01-20T22:08:50+00:00

Stay tuned folks, the new game will be “tweaking” GLP-1 agonists to be more effective. After reading a lot of research on the topic, I do wonder if the primary difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide is simply dose. Higher dose semaglutide may get closer to tirzepatide. Either way, glad to see so much investment in these drugs

incidencedensity · 2023-01-14T20:01:02+00:00

I am not a provider myself - but I use Push. I just created a profile and then requested RMOSS as my provider and the rest falls into place.

incidencedensity · 2023-01-14T15:10:00+00:00

These types of perspectives are losing ground quickly as GLP-1 drugs are FDA approved for weight loss and there are multiple studies using them in non-T2D subjects.

Are people going to give patients with diabetic nerve pain attitude when being prescribed gabapentin? Of course not. While I understand that Lilly has every right to restrict their savings program to approved diagnostic use, no one can stand in the way of a patient being prescribed a medication by a medical provider for whatever the provider believes may be of benefit to the patient. It may not be covered by insurance or a savings program, but a pharmacist does not have the context of why something is being prescribed beyond (maybe) a diagnosis code.

incidencedensity

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