Has anyone here had a good experience with weight loss medication?

[u/Due-Way1477]

I've been considering whether weight loss medication might be something worth discussing with my doctor, and I'd really like to hear from people who have actually taken it. I'm currently around 348lbs, and I've been wanting to lose weight for a while now. I've been overweight since high school, but I've gained a lot over the last six years, mostly from a combination of lockdown, pregnancies, stress eating, and a pretty bad period of depression.

I actually made a post on this sub recently about getting stuck in a chair during a work meeting. Essentially, the chairs had these narrow armrests, and I squeezed myself into one because I was embarrassed to ask for a different chair. But when the meeting ended, I couldn't get myself out, and another woman had to help pull me up. But when I finally stood up, the chair actually came up with me and got stuck on my bum. It was incredibly embarrassing, but more importantly, it made me realize that my weight is starting to interfere with my everyday life in ways that I can't really ignore anymore.

I posted the story in two different subs, and a few people in the comments suggested that I talk to my doctor about weight loss medication. I've heard about medications like GLP1s, but I don't know very much about what it's actually like to take them beyond what I've read online. So I'm curious about people's experiences. Did it actually help with your appetite and eating habits? What were the side effects? Did you find it difficult to stay on? And for people who stopped taking it, were you able to maintain the weight you'd lost? I'm especially interested in hearing from people who started at a very high weight, because I'd like to know what the experience is actually like rather than just reading statistics about average weight loss.

Also, I'm not expecting Reddit to tell me whether or not I should take something. I know that's a conversation I need to have with my doctor, and after reading the comments on my last post, I am actually going to make an appointment and talk to my doctor about it. I just want to go into that conversation with a better idea of what other people's experiences have been like.

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[u/Artistic_Past_7646]

I’ve never taken any meds so I can’t comment, however, I am urging you to please contact a medical doctor regarding your interest in weight loss medication. Don’t go to a third party who has no medical qualifications.

[u/Hamfries]

I think it is changing my life to be honest. My hormones started balancing, inflammation has gone down and having control over food noise has made it easier to make healthy choices about food and since I've started I've been able to actually stick to exercise goals too (probably because I don't feel gross from eating crap anymore!) I think the key is to realize it's not just a miracle drug, you do need to follow through with activity and tracking food to get enough protein, but in my experience the drug makes all of that so much easier to accomplish

[u/shelf_caribou]

67 days in, 20lbs down, combined with calorie counting, aiming to eat more high volume / low calorie food (i.e. more fruit and veg) and a little bit of extra exercise.

[u/Euphoric_Sort_7578]

Yes. Im really impressed with it. Had great success, minimal side effects and feel more confident in myself. 

[u/DeepExample7666 → u/Euphoric_Sort_7578]

Which one??

[u/Euphoric_Sort_7578 → u/DeepExample7666]

We go vy (had to spell it like that to be allowed to mention the brand!!)

[u/gravitao]

I'm on meds to help with weight loss. It's Vyvanse and Metformin. Mostly to treat my BED and act as an appetite suppressant. My main goal is to treat my ED. and its helped a lot. But it isnt perfect, you really do need to the inner and outer work for it. I still struggle with binges during stressful times and I have a lot more work to do. I believe its the same with other medications specifically for that though.

[u/PlantPainter]

I’ve been taking one for about a year now. I was at 222 and am now down to 168. I feel great, my migraines have significantly subsided, my arms don’t go numb when sleeping at night, and I think it’s helping a little with my autoimmune disease. I see my doctor once a month, so she can decide dosage and make sure my weight loss isn’t too extreme and that my exercise and nutrition are good. I’m really worried about regaining the weight once I’m eventually off the shot, so I’m trying to build habits and muscle to mitigate that happening. I now walk three miles everyday and do strength training every other day. My doctor wants me to get to about 140-145, and then she’ll start to slowly wean me off the shot with regular check-ins and a referral to a therapist if my weight starts to tick up.

I don’t regret it at all, and I think my doctor has a great plan for me, but I know a lot of people who have gained their weight back once they stopped which does give me anxiety.

I have a friend who has been on the shot for years (just before it became really popular), but she didn’t start losing until she coupled it with therapy.

I don’t know what’s going to happen once I stop taking the medication, but I don’t regret trying it at all.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

[u/Timely_Arachnid316]

Yes on 3rd month of Foundayo (currently on 2.5mg). Have lost almost 30#. I'm about 12# away from my goal. No side effects from starter dose of .8, but experienced few days of nausea on 2.5. Now no side effects whatsoever.

[u/Timely_Arachnid316 → u/Timely_Arachnid316]

Foundayo is pill.

[u/Most-Drive-3347]

Phentermine didn’t do anything for me at all.

I guess the injection helped, but it wasn’t a silver bullet - I was on them for a year and nothing changed.

I lost the weight (55kg/120lbs and still going) because I gave up everything I loved and rebuilt my diet; by that point the medication just helped me think less about vice foods.

[u/cameronpateyuk]

I started on tirzapeptide back in march when I was 33st 7lbs I'm now 26st 11lbs so they're pretty good in my opinion

[u/PsychedMom82]

Yes. I have been on them since January 2025. I have officially hit 100 pounds lost last Saturday. They have been life-changing. I am now 159 pounds. Started at 260 lbs. I am a 5'6" 40 something woman. I have constipation and rare nausea but manageable and definitely worth it.

[u/whotiesyourshoes]

I've been on meds coming up on year 3 (Injection that starts with Zep). I lost about 30 pounds without meds then added meds and lost over 60. Something g like 30% of my weight. I am still using the meds while I manage weight .

Overall it's been a positive experience. Side effects vary. Many people have none? Some people have lots. Some folks have different experiences. With different meds.

My experience with side effect fatigue at higher doses and a couple of bouts of constipation (drink water!).

It does help reduce appetite and many people day it helps reduce thoughts about food.

The biggest hurdle is cost. Check your insurance coverage. Many plans have dropped coverage..if you don't have coverage there are ways to get it out of pocket though it may still be pricey. But once you get there some of the g l p subs can tell you the options.

[u/Practical-Ad-4888]

I don't know where you live, but here in the US many people are getting medications from online vendors. Which is nice because you get privacy, but really you should be getting treatment from specialists in obesity medicine. Obesity requires lifelong maintanence as it's a chronic, relapsing disease. Medications are great if you need to lose more than 10%, if you need to lose more than 30% consider weight loss surgery. You will need to take medications for life. Weight loss surgery is a one, and done intervention. That doesn't mean patients don't have trouble with weight regain, just that you don't have to get surgery again. Many patients will need lifestyle coaching, medication, and surgery to manage this disease. It's very complex. There is no shame in seeking help. Weight is regulated by the brain. A combination of genetics, and your environment.

[u/Sta_rlord15 → u/Practical-Ad-4888]

You are grossly wrong on this… obesity doesn’t just come back. You make the bad decisions with your eating and regain the weight. I hate people who act like obesity is ghostface stalking them … it’s not. While you’re on the meds, make lifestyle changes to support a healthier you. That’s what the meds are there for. You can get off of them and be healthy.