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Anyone on the Ascend Plus trial?

Hi, newbie to this forum. I have started the run in on the Ascend trial and I am just into the 4th week on 3mg. Have experienced some nausea but the most difficult has been the constant burping and “eggy” taste in my mouth. The positive though is feeling fuller sooner and less of an appetite. Have been trying to lose some weight so already trying to eat healthy with cutting out in between snacks. About 6ib lost so far. Don’t yet know how levels have been affected as I don’t test. Get yearly checks with GP/diabetic nursed. Have taken metformin for many years and managed well. Had jardience added about 12 months ago as recommended by diabetic nurse. Levels still ok at last check in January but advised to lose some weight. Great to find this site for support and specifically in relation to experiences with the trial drug.
 
PaulineHarrington said:
Hi, newbie to this forum. I have started the run in on the Ascend trial and I am just into the 4th week on 3mg. Have experienced some nausea but the most difficult has been the constant burping and “eggy” taste in my mouth. The positive though is feeling fuller sooner and less of an appetite. Have been trying to lose some weight so already trying to eat healthy with cutting out in between snacks. About 6ib lost so far. Don’t yet know how levels have been affected as I don’t test. Get yearly checks with GP/diabetic nursed. Have taken metformin for many years and managed well. Had jardience added about 12 months ago as recommended by diabetic nurse. Levels still ok at last check in January but advised to lose some weight. Great to find this site for support and specifically in relation to experiences with the trial drug.
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Hi Pauline, great to see another person on the Ascend Plus trial posting here. It is really helpful being able to share our experiences and tips on how to deal with symptoms. I am 3 weeks into the trial part now.

I think I am on the real thing but it could be a placebo as I should be getting appetite suppression from the keto way of eating anyway, although I definitely do not have the food noise any more, and I feel full much quicker. I didn't really have any symptoms that could not have been caused by something else during the run-in period on the 3mg and 7mg doses.

I have noticed that my pain issues caused by inflammation have reduced dramatically, and my liver results have improved a lot in just a few weeks, which is something that semaglutide is supposed to do.

I spent most of yesterday working online and found that I forgot to eat until much later in the day - what a difference when the food noise has gone.
 
Hi Allie, thank you for your reply. It is really good to hear other people’s experiences for sure. You’re right, it’s difficult to tell what might be as a result of the semaglutide or connected to other things. I too have other health issues and take other medications. Can I ask where you can get further info regarding further benefits of Semaglutide as I didn’t know about inflammation or liver etc. I only knew about blood/sugars, weight loss and the likely longer term cardiovascular/ stroke benefits. Sounds like you are getting great benefits without too many side effects which is great.
 
PaulineHarrington said:
Hi Allie, thank you for your reply. It is really good to hear other people’s experiences for sure. You’re right, it’s difficult to tell what might be as a result of the semaglutide or connected to other things. I too have other health issues and take other medications. Can I ask where you can get further info regarding further benefits of Semaglutide as I didn’t know about inflammation or liver etc. I only knew about blood/sugars, weight loss and the likely longer term cardiovascular/ stroke benefits. Sounds like you are getting great benefits without too many side effects which is great.
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I have been googling to find studies around semaglutide - there are a lot on protective cardiac effects, inflammation and other areas.

www.kcl.ac.uk

Semaglutide treats liver disease in two thirds of patients | King's College London

Semaglutide effectively treats liver disease in two thirds of patients, new research has found.
www.kcl.ac.uk

Anti-inflammatory benefits of semaglutide: State of the art - PMC

Individuals with diabetes often have chronic inflammation and high levels of inflammatory cytokines, leading to insulin resistance and complications. Anti-inflammatory agents are proposed to prevent these issues, including using antidiabetic ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
Hello I’m have started 1st bottle of 7mg and don’t seem to have any side effects at all thankfully. However I have not noticed any diminished appetite and even yesterday had bit of a blowout on food. Bit disappointed by that thought it would help with ‘food noise’ . Only just started checking my blood glucose levels so can’t say whether or not they have improved yet.They are pretty good readings though.
 
moiraw said:
Hello I’m have started 1st bottle of 7mg and don’t seem to have any side effects at all thankfully. However I have not noticed any diminished appetite and even yesterday had bit of a blowout on food. Bit disappointed by that thought it would help with ‘food noise’ . Only just started checking my blood glucose levels so can’t say whether or not they have improved yet.They are pretty good readings though.
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Hi Moira, I will start my 7mg tabs in a few days so we are at about the same place on our journey. Good to have others to compare with. I guess everyone’s experience with side effects will be different maybe due to how long it takes our bodies to process the medication ?. Perhaps once you have been on the7 mg a bit longer it will affect your appetite and “food noise”. Hope you don’t get too much of the other not so nice side effects. Sounds like you have been lucky so far.
 
PaulineHarrington said:
Hi Moira, I will start my 7mg tabs in a few days so we are at about the same place on our journey. Good to have others to compare with. I guess everyone’s experience with side effects will be different maybe due to how long it takes our bodies to process the medication ?. Perhaps once you have been on the7 mg a bit longer it will affect your appetite and “food noise”. Hope you don’t get too much of the other not so nice side effects. Sounds like you have been lucky so far.
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Hi Pauline thanks for your reply .I am probably being very impatient to be honest ,was hoping for dramatic results. The main thing is having better health really. Wishing you luck on your journey have you had any side effects so far?
 
Hi
moiraw said:
Hi Pauline thanks for your reply .I am probably being very impatient to be honest ,was hoping for dramatic results. The main thing is having better health really. Wishing you luck on your journey have you had any side effects so far?
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moiraw said:
Hi Pauline thanks for your reply .I am probably being very impatient to be honest ,was hoping for dramatic results. The main thing is having better health really. Wishing you luck on your journey have you had any side effects so far?
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Hi, had really bad constant burping with a horrible eggy taste in my mouth, this seems to have gone now. A bit nauseous after taking tablet first thing but that seems better and a bit constipated. The last 3 or 4days have been good so hoping side effects have settled. Starting the 7 msg in 3days so might have a return of side effects but hope not. It’s hard not to have high expectations and patience when it’s with regards to our health and wellbeing. Think we have to hang on in there and see how it goes. So glad to find this forum for support, Wishing you well.
 
Hi! I've literally just started the Ascend Plus trial, and took my first 3mg tablet this morning. So far, so good - no side-effects yet! What I am wondering is how other people cope - we have to take the tablet first thing in the morning, and to take nothing more than 120 ml of water with the tablet for half an hour. However, I'm also on Levothyroxin, and am supposed to wait 30 minutes after that before I can have a cup of tea! Having to wait an hour between waking and having a cuppa does feel like cruel and unusual punishment!!! At the moment, I've set an alarm for 06:30 (couldn't sleep last night waiting for it to be 06:30!) and wake up then to take the semaglutide, and then try to go back to sleep for 30 minutes before taking my other early-morning tablets. Is anybody else in the same situation, and how do you manage?
 
Hi, I too find it a pain as look forward to my early morning cuppa in bed. I luckily only have to wait 30 minutes. I take mine at 6.30 too and now seem to wake up automatically, it has got easier to wait it out now it has become part of my routine. No tips I am afraid but hang on in there and hope your one of the lucky ones re side effects.
 
Hi, I have started randomisation today. Think on placebo as no bitter taste at all and pill very smooth. Disappointed but hey ho. However, what is in the placebo? I may have missed a previous post…
 
Mrs Redboots said:
Hi! I've literally just started the Ascend Plus trial, and took my first 3mg tablet this morning. So far, so good - no side-effects yet! What I am wondering is how other people cope - we have to take the tablet first thing in the morning, and to take nothing more than 120 ml of water with the tablet for half an hour. However, I'm also on Levothyroxin, and am supposed to wait 30 minutes after that before I can have a cup of tea! Having to wait an hour between waking and having a cuppa does feel like cruel and unusual punishment!!! At the moment, I've set an alarm for 06:30 (couldn't sleep last night waiting for it to be 06:30!) and wake up then to take the semaglutide, and then try to go back to sleep for 30 minutes before taking my other early-morning tablets. Is anybody else in the same situation, and how do you manage?
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Hello , another newbie here , I'm on my second bottle of 7mg and also take Levothyroxin, I like you have to keep my tablets by my bed and take the semaglutide at 6 drop off for half an hour take the Levothyroxin try nap for a bit and then get up . It does feel like ages till I can have my first coffee though !
 
Hi everyone, I'm Karen a newbie on here I'm just finishing my 7mg tablets and have received my random ones today. I've not had any symptoms on the run in tablets is that normal? How soon do side effects kick in on the random ones ? Is it straight away or after a few days ? TIA X
 
klr said:
Hello , another newbie here , I'm on my second bottle of 7mg and also take Levothyroxin, I like you have to keep my tablets by my bed and take the semaglutide at 6 drop off for half an hour take the Levothyroxin try nap for a bit and then get up . It does feel like ages till I can have my first coffee though !
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I suppose one gets used to it! This morning my husband woke me at 6:15 so I took it then, and did manage to doze off again before my main alarm went off at 07:00. We are agreed that it's all right to come awake any time after 6, but not to wake the other before then.
 
klr said:
Hi everyone, I'm Karen a newbie on here I'm just finishing my 7mg tablets and have received my random ones today. I've not had any symptoms on the run in tablets is that normal? How soon do side effects kick in on the random ones ? Is it straight away or after a few days ? TIA X
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Not everybody gets side-effects, although many do. If you're going to have them on the 14mg, it will usually be during the first couple of days, but as you've been all right so far, you'll probably be all right on them (if you are one of the lucky ones!).
 
Recently invited to give blood, but the nurse on duty was minded to refuse but after he made a call I was able to donate. Feel that I have been on 14mg for several months now, no issues if keep to smaller meals.
 
klr said:
Hello , another newbie here , I'm on my second bottle of 7mg and also take Levothyroxin, I like you have to keep my tablets by my bed and take the semaglutide at 6 drop off for half an hour take the Levothyroxin try nap for a bit and then get up . It does feel like ages till I can have my first coffee though !
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I got so fed up of having to wake up at 06:30 to take my tablet that last night I did a bit of research on-line and discovered several peer-reviewed papers that say that levothyroxin works just as well if you take it at bedtime! So guess what I plan to do from tomorrow (I had to take eyedrops today - had a cataract removed last week - so didn't bother changing it for today)! So I can go back to waking at 07:00, taking the semaglutide then, and waiting the usual half an hour for my cup of tea!
 
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