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Anyone on the Ascend Plus trial?

I definitely think I'm on semaglutide. They taste really bitter and I do feel a bit more nausea, I have to remember to eat and some constipation but it's amazing to see my blood levels be in normal person range! I have more energy since starting the trial too... our poor dog has been out with me everyday in addition to her normal walks lol. Gone from 105kg to 99.8 since starting which is good too, but more happy with bloods and am looking forward to my review in October
 
Sally66 said:
Just thought aid start a discussion here for anyone on the Ascend Plus trial by Oxford University.

Started my “Run In” phase yesterday and so far so good. No side affects other than fatigue. How are other folks doing?
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Horrendous. I had nausea and fatigue but carried on to the second bottle. I'm a week or so in and so ill I'm stopping the trial. Constantly exhausted. Acid reflux I've never had before . Can't eat and I'm so weak. I've lost a dress size in the 5 week s I've been in it but I can't do anything including work .
 
I think it affects people differently the worst nausea I've had is if I've eaten something I shouldn't eg chocolate, so avoid it now. I do feel tired in the afternoons but then I'm 64 and have upscaled my dog walking . So sorry to hear others aren't having a good experience sending big hugs
 

Sorry to hear you had such a bad reaction, everyone seems to react differently. I had no adverse reaction except losing about 3lb in weight over the 3 months. I actually felt better more energy acid reflux got better, blood glucose level went down massively. I am now on placebo and blood glucose up, Tired and acid reflux back.
I wonder if it depends on the other medication people take reacting with the Semaglutide.
Hopefully you feel better quickly once you stop taking the pills the treatment is obviously not for you.
 
Hi I think I am on the real stuff as the tablets taste awful and still have little appetite. On my 4th randomised bottle now and apart from losing initial weight this has plateaued somewhat but glucose readings still lower than they were before stating the trial.
The past 2 Mondays I have found myself vomiting all morning every 20 minutes until lunchtime. I cannot put my finger on the reason, not eaten anything different, has anyone else found this cyclic vomiting at all. Apart from the 'perhaps you are allergic to mondays' ha ha, I cannot think of what this can be. Puzzling....
 
Do you do, eat or drink anything different on Sunday perhaps?
 
MrsA2 said:
Do you do, eat or drink anything different on Sunday perhaps?
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Surprisingly no, I currently have very little appetite and nothing takes my fancy. I eat because I have to. It is most bizarre and of course looking forward to the coming Monday with nervousness!
 
I'm on my 3rd bottle of the run in. It's definitely affected my appetite. Eating smaller meals when I do eat and feeling fuller. Missing out quite a few at lunch time.

I've lost about 1/2 a stone. I feel quite queasy. Especially at bed time. Often keeps me awake tbh. Also digestion issues. Had a blood test to check my BS and Dr texted to say B12 is low so get tablets. That may explain the fatigue I'm also experiencing.
I'm preservering at the moment but the side effects aren't pleasant at all.
 
I really wish I knew for sure but I think I am on the drug as I had nausea during the run in, the tablets taste absolutely disgusting and I have lost a stone since starting the trial, something I’ve struggled to achieve for years now. My appetite doesn’t seem particularly suppressed but every time I have a bad eating day I cannot overdo it and I find that my weight drops again inside a few days. Fingers crossed this is the real thing.
 
COCO26 said:
Hi. How are you getting on with ascend plus?
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Hi, well I am preserving!! I have awful nausea three hours after taking it. Stomach pain some days and issues with the loo. Apart from that Im really grateful for it. Ive lost 20kg since April and BMI down significantly as well as HbA1C to 39 but i wont lie, i hardly eat and don’t feel myself..
 
I am on my 4th bottle of the 14mg. I still get awful stomach problems especially when I try to introduce new foods, instead of living of cheese and crackers, and yogurt. I found I am starting to put on on weight during the last two months.
I just wondering does the mg of tablet strength stays at 14mg or does it rise again ?? just want to see how long I can go on with these sided effects.
 
Hi there, 14mg is the maximum for the trial. I have good days and bad days of nausea.. I find a travel sickness (Stemitil) tablet works and take it about 0900 after the trial tablet at 0600.
 
COCO26 said:
Hi, are you still suffering with the symptoms s or they have settled down. I am 3 months on and the symptoms are not getting better/manageable. Thanks
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Hi,
No, they were still bad.
So I made the difficult choice to cut down to a tablet every other day for a week, then come off altogether.
Main reasons for coming off were the symptoms weren't getting any better, and (more importantly) the rapid weight loss.
I'm a retired firefighter, and have maintained my muscle tone even after retirement.
All that has now gone and I was looking gaunt, with ribs showing when lying down.
No doubt my HbA1c readings will shoot up (last one in August was 34, well inside the non-diabetic range), but as long as I can keep them in check, I will be happy.
 
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Hi, thanks for the update on your situation. It’s a shame you are dropping out of the clinical trials. I really want to complete the study thus helping the future diabetes sufferers manage the disease effectively. However, I am struggling with the side effects especially the stomach pains and massive Weight loss. My Skin has started sagging on different parts of my body and it’s not a good sight. I will hang on for a couple of months before I completely give up.
 
How long have you been on the randomised? I'm on my first bottle of 14mg. Terrible taste, have to keep remembering to eat and can only eat a little. If I've had any fatty foods (not that I eat many tbh) I feel really sick but haven't got a gall bladder so could be that... I'm losing weight probably a kg a week. Feel quite tired some days and headachy... bloods are still in normal or below range which is brilliant! I'm going to keep going as long as I can ... It's great that you're sharing your thoughts on here and that some have been on the trial longer so we have an idea of what's ahead. Please keep posting
 
I am on my 4th bottle of 14mg. I am also getting regular hypos especially after exercise. I manage them with Dextro glucose tablets or a mini size mars bar.
 
Hope your side effects ease.
I had no option but to drop out, skin sagging where it was muscle before I started the trial (I have also recently had a total knee replacement, and leg muscles diminishing hasn't helped with recovery exercises), and not wanting to eat regularly isn't the ideal example to set for 2 year old grandson (who is a picky eater anyway).
At least it proved that Semaglutide is an option to lower blood glucose levels, as well as being a fantastic weight loss drug, but needs more research into the dosage prescribed (I think 5-7mg would be better, and may not give such bad symptoms).
 
I've just started my second box of 7mg so still on the run-in.
I think randomisation happens on the first tablets send after the initial ( 28x3.5 &56x7 ).
Originally I was quite nauseous and off food ( my wife said it was like the was when pregnant ! ), but now generally comfortable but noticeably reduced appetite for food. 6Kgs weight loss over the two months so far and my BMI is now 24. Pre-breakfast BG has dropped from about 7.0 to 5.9 or 6.
I guess that the GLP-1 used is Rybelsus.
 
I'm coming to the end of my 2nd randomisation tablets; have lost more then 6kgs and my BMI is now in the healthy range. Does the appetite loss/weight loss plateau? I don't want to lose much more weight and have more than 4.5 years to go.
 
I also am now into first bottle randomisation. The taste is slightly there but a lot milder than the first lot of bottles, they were pretty yucky. Definitely a stronger taste than these. I wonder if they cottoned on to us knowing by the taste & added a little something. My reaction to these tablets are totally different than the others so I think placebo even though there is a slight taste. Anyone else have no taste when swallowed?
 
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