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Anyone on the Ascend Plus trial?

filly said:
Just started Randomisation last week. I am sure I am not on the placebo as sickness and constipation got worse. Also struggling to eat some foods. Also feeling full quite easily.
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I am on my 2nd month of randomisation and convinced I am on the placebo. No weight loss at all. Whilst taking the run in tablets I did lose my appetite, felt nauseous and tired. 2nd month of randomisation and I have no symptoms at all! I am hungry too. I had a knee replacement last year, followed by ruptured quads on the knee replacement, which my operation was 25th November- so, I have been quite immobile, however, last 4 weeks I am doing 3 aqua classes 2 big walks and pilates every week, so doing plenty of execise, not lost an ounce. I don't think they tell you if you are on the placebo or not, not looking forward to 5 years of setting my alarm for 6am so I can give it 30 mins before I can eat or drink. I will persevere, maybe I am a slow starter!
 
Currently on 7gm, felt very tired for a few weeks, but also do wake up early around 5 30 to take the tablet before breakfast. Definitely feeling less hungry and it does feel uncomfortable to have a large meal. Although I do have a metallic taste in my mouth and the tablets do taste bitter. Completed the next survey and will be on the randomisation stage. Would like to lose a couple of stone so hope continue with the real thing.
 
Hi
I‘ve started on the 3mg run in today and so far so good. I found I didn’t tolerate metformin very well, but it improved slightly after they changed to the slow release version. The stomach cramps were really bad to begin with but did settle down after a while. My BS levels had gone up at my last review so they then put me on Forxiga 10mg and just one metformin a day because of its Cardiovascular benefits.
Really hoping I tolerate the ascend pills and I can shift some weight on them!
Can I ask if others noticed an immediate reduction in appetite and felt full for longer or does it take a while to kick in?
Also, my Diabetes nurse told me not to test my BS levels myself and just have them done at the reviews So I’ve never done one, but should I now for the trial surveys?
Thanks
 
“Also, my Diabetes nurse told me not to test my BS levels myself and just have them done at the reviews” @Devondumpling59 , I would ignore this advice from your diabetic nurse. How can you possibly know what your blood sugars are doing, if you don’t test. And getting your blood tested just at your yearly review, well that‘s breathtakingly inadequate. They want people to take control of their diabetes, bang on about life style changes and then tell you not to test%! Quite frankly, this advice is bad advice. I’m not sure what’s behind it, other than if they tell you to test they would have to supply you with meter, lancets and strips, which they cannot afford to do, so they tell you not to test. Test away @Devondumpling59 .

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Melgar said:
“Also, my Diabetes nurse told me not to test my BS levels myself and just have them done at the reviews” @Devondumpling59 , I would ignore this advice from your diabetic nurse. How can you possibly know what your blood sugars are doing, if you don’t test. And getting your blood tested just at your yearly review, well that‘s breathtakingly inadequate. They want people to take control of their diabetes, bang on about life style changes and then tell you not to test%! Quite frankly, this advice is bad advice. I’m not sure what’s behind it, other than if they tell you to test they would have to supply you with meter, lancets and strips, which they cannot afford to do, so they tell you not to test. Test away @Devondumpling59 .

ed spelling
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She said it was because I wasn’t on insulin so my diabetes was apparently controlled. This is despite it having gone up since I was last tested ( hence being given the Forxiga)
I told her I’d been approached to do the trial but would prefer I was prescribed semaglutide but she suggested I give it a go and that I would soon know if I was on the placebo and they would then look at my meds again.
she said there is a best practice they have to follow with metformin being first, then Forxiga before prescribing any of the expensive stuff!
It’s all down to cost isn’t it!
I dont have a clue what my sugars are like now. They were in the 60’s up from the 50’s last time she tested 3 months ago and I was told this isn’t too bad and to lose a couple of stone.
I’ll buy a test kit!
 
I started Ascend Plus 3 weeks ago. Last year I lost 50lb in weight and my weight has been stable for the last 6 months, this weight loss and lower carb, higher protein/veg/berries/fibre diet and more exercise has reduced my Hba1c from 59 to 45. However, I was constantly craving food and would love to lose another 1-2 stone and drop my blood glucose further, which hopefully would help reduce how many illnesses I catch a year.

I started the tablets and had a little bit of nausea, burping etc which disappeared quickly. I always take water to bed with me, so take the tablet when I wake up in the morning, then return to bed. I drink a lot of water and try to have fibre at each meal, yet my stools were firmer and occasionally I have felt slightly constipate. I found that the food noise has reduced in the mornings, not at lunch time (my biggest cravings time) and a bit in the evening (with me leaving some of my dinner). I have lost 3 lbs in weight which I am pleased about because I had put this on from taking steroids for a chest infection. These steroids and being ill had meant my pre breakfast blood sugar daily test was averaging over 7.5, now it is averaging 5.7 with 0.2 variation. I have returned to my pre illness activity level so I would have expected my previous blood sugar level of 6.2 with 0.5 variation. So I definitely think the rybelsus is improving my blood glucose levels.

I am slightly nervous when I have to increase my dose at the 28 days time frame.
 
WJK said:
Currently on 7gm, felt very tired for a few weeks, but also do wake up early around 5 30 to take the tablet before breakfast. Definitely feeling less hungry and it does feel uncomfortable to have a large meal. Although I do have a metallic taste in my mouth and the tablets do taste bitter. Completed the next survey and will be on the randomisation stage. Would like to lose a couple of stone so hope continue with the real thing.
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I have felt tired on the 3mg. Have you noticed any impact to your blood glucose and weight?
 
I’m on day 5 now of the 3mg run in. Felt a bit nauseous and very burpy on day 2 but that seems to have settled. I’ve had a bit of a headache every day too, but I’m prone to them anyway, so might be nothing to do with the pills.
I’ve lost a couple of pounds already which is great. I’m eating smaller meals but haven't noticed a massive reduction in appetite. So I am having to make a conscious effort to eat less rather than feeling unable to if that makes sense. I‘m hoping that this will change given time, as it’s always been the willpower to stick at diets that’s let me down in the past, so fingers crossed!
 
Devondumpling59 said:
I’m on day 5 now of the 3mg run in. Felt a bit nauseous and very burpy on day 2 but that seems to have settled. I’ve had a bit of a headache every day too, but I’m prone to them anyway, so might be nothing to do with the pills.
I’ve lost a couple of pounds already which is great. I’m eating smaller meals but haven't noticed a massive reduction in appetite. So I am having to make a conscious effort to eat less rather than feeling unable to if that makes sense. I‘m hoping that this will change given time, as it’s always been the willpower to stick at diets that’s let me down in the past, so fingers crossed!
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The nausea mainly disappeared. The headaches stopped after I made a conscious effort to drink more water throughout the day. Initially my appetite reduced but as this month on 3 mg continued the appetite returned.
 
After being randomised into what I believe to be the placebo last April, I continued to take the tablets. I got an appointment with my GP in December to discuss the possibility of being prescribed the semaglutide tablets as in the 16 years I had been taking Metformin (in different brands, strengths and fast/slow release) they had always caused me diarrhoea and urgency problems.

After having another HBA1c done showing that my levels had increased, and my weight didn't meet the criteria (it was lower than the guidelines) I was expecting difficulties getting semaglutide prescribed, but to my surprise, my GP said yes and prescribed them (I had to stop taking the placebo). I have now been taking them for two months. I contacted the study team to withdraw from the trial but agreed to continue completing their questionnaires.

Before seeing my GP, I completed an online e-consult with all my arguments for being prescribed the semaglutide, so they would have it all written down and I wouldn't forget something which I felt was important.
 
I was convinced at Christmas that I was on the placebo, then I started suffering horrendous stomach cramps and diarrhea which stopped when I stopped the semaglutide. The trial thought I was taking too much so put me back on the 7mg. Back on that now but no change in bs levels. Can't believe a placebo would cause that but I must be on it as the original worked so well.

Anyone else have symptoms like this on the placebo?

Off to see if the Dr can prescribe or I will have to buy it somewhere!
 
I also thought I was on the placebo but was suffering from severe constipation. Had to stop the tables and bowel went back to normal.
I want to go back on and take Fybogel. Since stopping Blood sugars risen, especially the early one. Also weight. Not feeling happy.
 
Anyone on the randomisation phase and feel may be not on the placebo. Bitter taste in mouth and not enjoying drinking coffee, more tired but waking early with little burps during the day. No significant weight loss but levels are down since the start.
 
I think I might have to stop the trial. I'm on week 7 and I swing from having awful constipation to chronic diarrhoea. I'm increased my water intake and am drinking even when I'm not thirsty but I'm having awful squeezing-type headaches on the top of my head. This week I've had poor sleep because I'm woken every few minutes with muscle spasms and twitches across my mouth and lower jaw. A quick google suggests electrolytes for the spasms. Lastly, because it takes longer to digest food, I feel as though my stomach has moved up towards my chest and it's interfering with my ability to breathe. It's a horrible sensation. I think semaglutide might not be for me.
 
Chris Morrow said:
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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You have a way with words :)
 
Diane60 said:
Got an invite today and am carefully considering it. I have a BMI of 22 so not interested in losing weight but I do struggle to control blood sugar due to a chaotic lifestyle. Also have Gastro problems in the form of severe Ulcerative Colitis, so the stories of stomach problems are giving me concern.
How long did the side effects last for you all?
Thanks
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Synexus Clinical Research is another trial for U colitis
 
ukken said:
Synexus Clinical Research is another trial for U colitis
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I had awful burping and nausea for 5 - 6 days when I started on 3 mg but it’s fine now unless I eat too much. I’ve been a bit constipated but eat a few dried prunes or apricots each day and that seems to sort it out. I’ve been on 7mg for 3 days and its not affected me. I get diverticulitis but no problems so far touch wood. I’ve lost 10lbs but that’s most likely because I’m dieting. One thing I have noticed though is that I’m sleeping much better!
 
Hrich said:
I am interested in responses as just started taking the 6mth supply and I too noticed that the new tablet, 14mg, is tasteless, like you noted the initial tablets were bitter?
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I’m the same - just started my randomisation tablets and they have no taste to them at all, yet the trial had a very bitter taste. I believe I’m on the placebo too
 
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