40s M, 5’11, SW 255, GW 200?
I’ve been overwieght almost my entire life. One summer in elementary school my weight shot way up and it’s been high ever since. I’ve been on every diet, have always done sports, hit the gym regularly, and am generally active, but I’ve never been able to keep it off long, or even make it down to a “normal” BMI, generally floating somewhere between overweight and obese. Over the last two years, my weight has started climbing at a pound or two a month and I haven’t been able to stop it.
I took my first dose of semaglutide tonight, after trying to get a hold of it for the last six months. My insurance denied me said I had to join Weight Watchers for six months. Then, two months ago I was laid off. But, a couple of my friends have had success with one of the compounding pharms, so I though I’d give them a try. My partner also did the same thing, and took their first dose last week. Here’s hoping that this is the change I’ve needed!
My employer has a plan exclusion for GLP meds for weight loss so I’ve been on tirzepatide from henrymeds since November. I’m a little disappointed with the refill process. What compounding pharmacy are you using?
I’m also using Henrymeds, but since I’ve just started taking it I don’t know what the refill process is like. What has been the issue?
That’s the first issue. They don’t really explain that anywhere.
I was under the impression that at week 6 I would have a followup appointment with the prescriber. She mentioned that she would hear from her in about 6 weeks. That’s not what happens. So at week 6 I started to wonder what was up so I called. They told me that the first vial contains enough tirzepatide for 8 weeks, 4 weeks at 2mg and 4 weeks and 4mg. The also said before my 8 weeks are up I should get a follow-up form via email.
At week 8 when I took my final 4mg dose, Friday the 5th for me, I got an email with a link to a followup form. I filled it out and hit submit, and didn’t hear anything back. When I didn’t get a tracking number today I called them up again and explained that next dose is due tomorrow, and I don’t have a refill. The guy said that the providers have fallen behind on processing refills. He said he would expedite my refill and gave me a $50 credit. If my refill get approved Friday and submitted, I still have to wait for the pharmacy to send it to me. That probably won’t happen until Tuesday since Monday is MLK day. Then add 1-2 days for shipping. I guess I should expect to get my refill on Thursday or Friday. Maybe Wednesday if the pharmacy sends it overnight.
It’s not the end of the world, but it still annoys me that they didn’t consider the holidays. It also annoys me that they are really tight in the refill process. 7 days from the form being sent to you, and your next dose really isn’t a lot of time. If they start the counter to send the refill form out starts on your delivery day does this mean that my next refill will now be pushed out a week.
Overall I get a lot of low profit margin vibes from them. Businesses like that tend to be too cheap when it comes to this operational stuff and errors happen. I’m glad they are not the ones actually running the compounding pharmacy.
Though, compounding pharmacies have their own set of issues. This is the place that filled my prescription.
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/pharmcore-inc-dba-hallandale-pharmacy-605569-03112020
It looks like they took care of the issues.
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/pharmcore-inc-dba-hallandale-pharmacy-605569-05032022
I think I’ll end up switching to the brand name stuff soon.