Back in April, I wrote about my journey with the weight loss drug Saxenda. I haven’t updated about it since then, but I have decided to take myself off the drug.
When I started this drug, my doctor said that I needed to decide if the side effects outweighed the benefits. The problem is, I haven’t seen much in the way of benefits. Yes, I lost 10 lbs pretty immediately, but the medication made me feel so nauseous, I couldn’t eat, so, yeah – anyone who starves themselves will lose weight! And, sure, the no sugar cravings is nice – but guess what? I still have cravings!
To be honest, I’m getting a little tired of jabbing myself every single day. And for what? Starving myself and milder sugar cravings? I don’t want to be on this long term, and if I’m not getting the benefits of being on it now, why be on it at all? I’m at the max dosage, so it’s “as good as it gets”.
So, what are the additional side effects I’m having?
Yes, I still get the nausea. I’m sensitive to spicy foods. It makes me constipated – and if I eat something the disagrees with having no gall bladder, I get diarrhea, and it is all sorts of not fun! I feel like I’ve been bloated for months (possibly still from the surgery).
No matter how I look at it, whether my GI issues are from Saxenda or from having no gall bladder – I can eliminate the one possibility, so it’ll be much easier to manage.
Plus, there’s been stories of Ozembik (sp?) and the other drug, which is the weekly injection similar to Saxenda, which is showing the possibility of some people getting stomach paralysis. Yes, I’m sure a lot of it is being sensationalized – just as it was last year as the “quick fix wonder drug”, however, it does bring up the question of long term side effects. How much do they really know?
So, if I don’t NEED to be on it, why be on it?
Yes, my doctor would like me to lose weight, but I would love like to address my perimenopause symptoms – which includes weight gain.
I won’t be stopping Saxenda cold turkey. It took me 4-5 weeks to get up to the highest dosage, so I’ll be doing the same in reverse. I’m getting down to the end of my prescription, so figured it was perfect timing to cease. I’d been thinking about it for a few weeks, I talked it over with my husband, and he supports me.
Another reason I want to cease it is because I’ve decided to become recertified as a Personal Trainer. This is something I’ve been thinking about, honestly? Months. I want to focus heavily on mental health, reforming thoughts around food and exercise, and specializing in women in my demographics; perimenopause and menopausal women.
However, doing it while on Saxenda feels wrong and misleading – even though I’ve been completely transparent about it. It will give me an insight on it if someone asks, but it’s just not for me.
When I go back to work on Monday (I’m currently on holidays) I’ll be back to full time, so I’ll be going to the gym 4 days a week, plus hubby and I will be looking at doing yoga/spin a few times a week, so it’s not like I’ll be sedentary.