I am now on the randomised phase. As a test when I got the randomised pills I took one of my 7mg and one of my randomised and bit each of them in tun and gave them a crunch. They tasted exactly the same, horrible bitter. So, a good sign? However since I have been on the alleged 14mg ones I have had only one day of stomach nausea. Could this be because I have just gone cold turkey on the real pills or could it be the effect of moving up to 14? I am unsure still because each jump before, nothing to 3mg then 3mg to 7mg had me feeling sick as a dog for three days or so. This has not happened, as I say, with this "jump". I am not especially hungry but, again, is this because I am on the real or because my body, and stomach, has reacted to the pills already and is settling down to wanting less food because the stomach has got used to it? Bloody confusing.
Anyone on the Ascend Plus trial?
- Thread starter Sally66
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When Victoza (liraglutide) was 'stolen' for weight loss, I was switched to the tablet form by the name of Rybelsus which is semaglutide, and so far, my results have kept stable with HbA1c of my usual 6.3%. It has been a stable 6.3% for the past 15yrs I had been injecting Victoza
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Hi, I started the randomised treatment today but it's so obvious it's the placebo (no bitter taste). Kind of thinking what is the point of carrying on. The previous tablets were very bitter.
i thought I was def on placebo as taste totally different and no side effects. Now nearly 2 months in to 14mg ( or not?!), I still have diarrhoea, blood sugars much reduced, dont really need to lose weight but have put on slightly, haven’t a clue what I’m on!
Well over a week into the toss of a coin real or fake I realise I am definitely on the real thing. The acid test was the family gathering when the full fare of the Chinese takeaway was spread before me. Normally I would have had my trotters firmly in the trough and gorged. Now? A couple of spoonfuls of rice, a sweet and sour ball and a couple of duck pancakes. I have very little appetite. Eating even one normal portion of food makes me feel not great, full and nauseous. And then I weighed myself. I have had, at the same time, a spinal operation to replace a disc. I decided as I was going to be sick and unable to do anything anyway I might as well do the trial too as I was already on sick leave so bad days wouldn't be an issue. I know, masochistic. And the result. This miracle pill (yup, I said it) has made me lose two stones in 9 weeks SITTING ON THE SOFA UNABLE TO REALLY MOVE! I am a bit concerned about what the lack of healthy food is doing so I am popping vitamin pills and a lot of hydrating but...its going great!
Hi, I have just finished the run in as well. The run in tablets tasted disgusting, but I have been struggling with my sugar levels for a while, whilst on the run in they dropped pretty much constantly to 5.5,- 6.0, I’ve now started the trial proper and am convinced I’m on the placebo. No taste to them and sugar levels have shot through the roof. I thought the whole idea of a blind trial was that you did not know what you were taking!
Just finished run in, tablets tasted disgusting but did control sugar levels brilliantly. Now on trial proper and am convinced the tablets are placebos, no taste and sugar levels gone through the roof. Thought the whole idea of a blind trial was that you didn’t know what you are taking, I’m 99.9%. Sure they are a placebo
They do not seem to rush anything. Took ages for mine to arrive, similarly any follow up letters take an eternity but the researchers are brilliant, helpful, polite, friendly and very knowledgeable
Scubastu
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- Type of diabetes
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Start of week 3
Hi
I started the trial 2 weeks ago so I am on my third week of 3mg, I had no side affects for the first week then started to feel queazy, belching and gone off food. sometimes feel a little light head and mild headache but i guess that is due to not eating. I am forcing myself to eat because I know I have to put some fuel in the tank. My BMI is in the healthy zone but it wouldn't be the end of the world to loose a stone but do not want to carry on loosing the way I have this last week, 5lb lost in one week is unsustainable. I know it is a weight loss drug but does the issue with queasiness and lack of appetite wear off as you become more used to the drug?
I feel a little better this week queasiness not as bad this morning but still not interested in food and when I do eat i feel I'm full for the day even if I just eat a sandwich at lunch time.
I have noticed my blood sugars have gone down which is to be expected I guess as not really eating that much and I have had a couple of Hypo's during the night. 1st one was quite mild but 2nd one was a little more severe and although I took glucose tablets etc went through about 10 minutes of dropping levels no matter what i ate. Not good when your appetite is zero and you don't want to eat. I am on Metaformin and combi insulin so I am learning what amount to take due to the lower food intake.
I am worried about not eating and not getting enough nutrients and vitamins etc does any one else worry and are you taking supplements?
I'm glad I have found this forum chat finding that I am on this road with others sharing their experiences and will try and update my journey as it unfolds. At this point i want to carry on but if the symptoms persist I may not be able to sustain it. I am not looking forward to doubling the dose to 7mg in 2 weeks time.
I am quite surprised that Ascend have not been in touch and delved a little deeper into what my starting point is weight, blood sugar and Hba1c levels etc. Also asking whether I am experiencing side affects etc and maybe giving advice on duration and help or tips to reduce them.Has anyone had any of there surveys yet? What do they ask?
For the record I started the trial weighing 14st and I am down to 13st 9lb today.
Hi
I started the trial 2 weeks ago so I am on my third week of 3mg, I had no side affects for the first week then started to feel queazy, belching and gone off food. sometimes feel a little light head and mild headache but i guess that is due to not eating. I am forcing myself to eat because I know I have to put some fuel in the tank. My BMI is in the healthy zone but it wouldn't be the end of the world to loose a stone but do not want to carry on loosing the way I have this last week, 5lb lost in one week is unsustainable. I know it is a weight loss drug but does the issue with queasiness and lack of appetite wear off as you become more used to the drug?
I feel a little better this week queasiness not as bad this morning but still not interested in food and when I do eat i feel I'm full for the day even if I just eat a sandwich at lunch time.
I have noticed my blood sugars have gone down which is to be expected I guess as not really eating that much and I have had a couple of Hypo's during the night. 1st one was quite mild but 2nd one was a little more severe and although I took glucose tablets etc went through about 10 minutes of dropping levels no matter what i ate. Not good when your appetite is zero and you don't want to eat. I am on Metaformin and combi insulin so I am learning what amount to take due to the lower food intake.
I am worried about not eating and not getting enough nutrients and vitamins etc does any one else worry and are you taking supplements?
I'm glad I have found this forum chat finding that I am on this road with others sharing their experiences and will try and update my journey as it unfolds. At this point i want to carry on but if the symptoms persist I may not be able to sustain it. I am not looking forward to doubling the dose to 7mg in 2 weeks time.
I am quite surprised that Ascend have not been in touch and delved a little deeper into what my starting point is weight, blood sugar and Hba1c levels etc. Also asking whether I am experiencing side affects etc and maybe giving advice on duration and help or tips to reduce them.Has anyone had any of there surveys yet? What do they ask?
For the record I started the trial weighing 14st and I am down to 13st 9lb today.
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Hi, I guess I was lucky, I completed the run in and have been taking the follow on drugs now for about six weeks. I did not have any side effects at all apart from a very very slight drop in my appetite, my sugar levels were superb, I didn’t have any hypos, probably because before the trial my blood sugar levels were really high, on the run in they were down to 6’s and 7’s. Unfortunately I must be on the placebo because my sugar levels have shot back up again. With regard to the survey team, I have found them very helpful and knowledgeable, depending on what you phone them about you speak to either one of the doctors or a clinician/nurse. On my over the phone interviews with them they were quite thorough, they wanted to know what my existing medication was , explained about hypos,(as if you didn’t already know)! The one brilliant piece of advice the nurse gave me (I explained I kept a pack of glucose tablets) was to ditch the glucose tablets and use jelly babies, I haven’t had to use them yet!
Hi all. I have only read back on some of the comments and like others am not sure if I am on the placebo or the real thing. The questionnaire they send out once in a while seems very simple, just asking about strokes and heart attacks, but I guess that's all they want to know. At the end of the last one I asked whether they will tell us at the end whether we are on the placebo or not and they kindly phoned me up to say yes, they will, although they haven't worked out how yet. The guy sounded like a proper medical chap rather than a call centre type person and he said the study will be five years (I thought four).
Hi, I am also on the ascend plus trial although I am somewhat confused when I read that some participants don’t know if they are on the placebo or the ‘real thing’. I completed the run in 6 weeks ago and am 1 million % sure I am now on the placebo. for the first 3 months,( I month in 3mg and then 2 months on the 7mg) the tablets tasted absolutely disgusting, however my sugar levels were brilliant. Normally they are about 10 or just under, on the run in they were a fantastic 5 to 6. Now that I am on the tablet proper, my sugar levels have shot back up to pre run in levels and there is absolutely no taste whatsoever. So as I say I am absolutely certain I’m on the placebo and knowing that I’m not sure if that is going to have any effect on the trial!
Scubastu
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- Type of diabetes
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Start of week 4
Hi,
Over the past week my queasiness went and my appetite came back although not to pre trial levels, still belching and bringing up wind though. My blood sugars are still good around the 6 to 7 mark and no more hypos, thankfully, as i have now adjusted my insulin to the food intake better. Now only taking 16 or 18 units a day, 6 with a sandwich at lunchtime and 10 or 12 with my evening meal. Weight loss seems to have slowed 13st 8lbs this morning so only 1lb lost.
I wasn't looking forward to upping the dose but now I seemed to have got used to the medication i'm not too worried.
Other side effects I have noticed through the last week started getting quite a bit of cramp in my calves and I used to suffer with painful feet after a long walk or if I have been on my feet all day Plantar Fasciitis is it medical name I believe, over the last week I have noticed it has nearly gone away.
Has anyone else noticed any side effects or benefits not listed as known for the drug?
Hi,
Over the past week my queasiness went and my appetite came back although not to pre trial levels, still belching and bringing up wind though. My blood sugars are still good around the 6 to 7 mark and no more hypos, thankfully, as i have now adjusted my insulin to the food intake better. Now only taking 16 or 18 units a day, 6 with a sandwich at lunchtime and 10 or 12 with my evening meal. Weight loss seems to have slowed 13st 8lbs this morning so only 1lb lost.
I wasn't looking forward to upping the dose but now I seemed to have got used to the medication i'm not too worried.
Other side effects I have noticed through the last week started getting quite a bit of cramp in my calves and I used to suffer with painful feet after a long walk or if I have been on my feet all day Plantar Fasciitis is it medical name I believe, over the last week I have noticed it has nearly gone away.
Has anyone else noticed any side effects or benefits not listed as known for the drug?
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I’ve been keeping a log from the start of the trial. I thought I’d share today’s entry which is a bit of a summary. Thanks to all others who contributed, its helped a lot
Day 4 after start of randomised phase
BS 6.9 pre breakfast
BS 8.0 1hr after breakfast
So far……
Confused! My trial tablets have no taste (are they coating them now to make them taste same as placebo? They are a bit heavier). No stomach issues, constipation, diarrhoea, mild nausea which I had occasionally with 3&7mg tabs. BS seems higher in morning vs lead-in tabs, I seem to be getting around 7 instead of 5. Rest of day similar readings to trial so far. Feeling hungrier though and not feeling full mid meal. Weight stable just now at 105kg ish. I had already lost weight before trial start, maybe lost a kilo or 2 during lead in.
So it’s looking likely I’m on the placebo. Disappointed if I am, I felt really well in lead in phase, brighter, less joint ache.
Semaglutide is already proven to reduce weight and manage BS levels so to me it’s a no brainer that it will reduce heart attacks and strokes (which is the stated aim of this trial). Why wait and make people on placebo suffer and maybe die while waiting 5 years for result? If we’re just kicking the can down the road because of costs, surely in the long run costs will be reduced by helping people to get healthier now. Even so, this trial has to be a good thing I suppose.
Even if in the unlikely event I am on the “good stuff” I feel for everybody who has missed out on this opportunity (and for those who can’t tolerate semaglutide).
Day 4 after start of randomised phase
BS 6.9 pre breakfast
BS 8.0 1hr after breakfast
So far……
Confused! My trial tablets have no taste (are they coating them now to make them taste same as placebo? They are a bit heavier). No stomach issues, constipation, diarrhoea, mild nausea which I had occasionally with 3&7mg tabs. BS seems higher in morning vs lead-in tabs, I seem to be getting around 7 instead of 5. Rest of day similar readings to trial so far. Feeling hungrier though and not feeling full mid meal. Weight stable just now at 105kg ish. I had already lost weight before trial start, maybe lost a kilo or 2 during lead in.
So it’s looking likely I’m on the placebo. Disappointed if I am, I felt really well in lead in phase, brighter, less joint ache.
Semaglutide is already proven to reduce weight and manage BS levels so to me it’s a no brainer that it will reduce heart attacks and strokes (which is the stated aim of this trial). Why wait and make people on placebo suffer and maybe die while waiting 5 years for result? If we’re just kicking the can down the road because of costs, surely in the long run costs will be reduced by helping people to get healthier now. Even so, this trial has to be a good thing I suppose.
Even if in the unlikely event I am on the “good stuff” I feel for everybody who has missed out on this opportunity (and for those who can’t tolerate semaglutide).
I am now just over a month on my final 14mg ones and I am sure they are thre real thing not placebo. I have in fact become anaconda man. I do not mean I have grown scales and started to hang about in swamps. No, it is the eating. I seem to feel sort of weakly normal hungry occassionally , which is good else I would continue to feel no hunger and die. But what happens, hence the snake reference, is I am hungry, eat a normal sized meal and then for the next couple of days am only ever slightly hungry and eat like a little bird again. It seems to be a three day thing. So I am still losing weight but it is slowed down a great deal. I don't feel bloated or anything after the normal sized meal, no shape of a small pig inside me as I lay on the sofa gasping, but it is strange and something to get used to. I can live with it, slow weight loss to get me down to what I once was when I could have been a contender Charlie (I am a broken ex sportsman hence the weight gain) will suit me fine. The final nice superise is the new wardrobe of clothes I now have...those that fit me again, it really is like buying a load of new clothes!
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COCO26
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How are you getting on with the clinical trial? The forum has gone quiet. I have continued with the trial. Due to too much weight loss, my dose has been reduced from 14mg to 7mls. So far so good. Thanks
You need to get your protein levels up maybe? I now take a protein shake in the morning as I'm not eating properly and was feeling shakey and quite unwell.....and my bottom muscles are definitely suffering....there is no stuffing anymore in there to put it mildly lol.
Scubastu
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Start of week 5
Continued to keep bringing up wind and appetite is ok if not a little subdued. still feel full part way through a meal and not wanting to eat for quite a long period of time after eating . Blood sugars are remaining low averaging around 6mmol, not sure if this is due to reduce amount I am eating or semaglutide or a combination of both. I have reduced the amount of Insulin i take to 6units if I have a sandwich at lunchtime and 12 units with an evening meal, no more hypos this week thankfully. Continued to loose weight now down to 13st 3 1/2lbs.
Starting with the 7mg dose Tuesday I hope it doesn't make me feel queasy.
Continued to keep bringing up wind and appetite is ok if not a little subdued. still feel full part way through a meal and not wanting to eat for quite a long period of time after eating . Blood sugars are remaining low averaging around 6mmol, not sure if this is due to reduce amount I am eating or semaglutide or a combination of both. I have reduced the amount of Insulin i take to 6units if I have a sandwich at lunchtime and 12 units with an evening meal, no more hypos this week thankfully. Continued to loose weight now down to 13st 3 1/2lbs.
Starting with the 7mg dose Tuesday I hope it doesn't make me feel queasy.
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Hi all great to read all your feedback, I am definitely on placebo blood sugars went straight up when I came off trial.
I personally had no side effects on the run in pills and blood sugars were 5 - 6 mmol now 9 - 10 mmol or occasionally higher.
I asked GP to prescribe Semaglutide but no was the answer. It’s very disappointing that this drug is available for overweight people (I am definitely not overweight in any sense) but not for diabetes.
In the run in I lost 4 lbs then stayed at same weight so I am guessing it could be used for diabetes in patients that do not need to lose weight.
I would be interested to hear if any of the placebo trial participants do get their GP to prescribe this medication.
I feel so frustrated that there is a medication that can help me but I cannot have it
I personally had no side effects on the run in pills and blood sugars were 5 - 6 mmol now 9 - 10 mmol or occasionally higher.
I asked GP to prescribe Semaglutide but no was the answer. It’s very disappointing that this drug is available for overweight people (I am definitely not overweight in any sense) but not for diabetes.
In the run in I lost 4 lbs then stayed at same weight so I am guessing it could be used for diabetes in patients that do not need to lose weight.
I would be interested to hear if any of the placebo trial participants do get their GP to prescribe this medication.
I feel so frustrated that there is a medication that can help me but I cannot have it
