Symlin: Hormone Injections For Weight Loss

by Gabriela Cretan

A new study published in The American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that the Symlin hormone, currently used to treat diabetes, can help people feel fuller and reduce the desire to binge and eat high-fat foods.

The study conducted for six weeks put some people in a control group that received only salt water and the rest received the injectable Symlin. The ones that were given the real treatment reported feeling full despite eating less: over a period of 6 weeks they lost an average of 4.5 pounds.

Dr. David Katz (Yale School of Medicine) is less than impressed - "This is not a convenient treatment". The persons in the study required injections several times a day and the cost of such a treatment might be very high.

"I don't foresee a day any time soon when a significant portion of the overweight population is self-injecting multiple times a day,"
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22 Comments

Staci

this seems extreme. it is one thing to one to take a dietary suppliment to speed weight loss, but needles? I'll pass

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Lose Weight With Me

Sounds like a lot to go through to lose 4.5 lbs on 6 weeks, especially when eating sensibly and exercising could help them lose 12 weeks in that same period of time.

Brian

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Claire

The drug is originally intended as a treatment for diabetes- it lowers blood glucose levels after eating, which are traditionally very difficult to control. The weight loss appears to be some kind of convenient side effect.

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Alicia

I have seen a lot of my patients take that stuff and it might help you loose weight but the other side effects that occur when you first start taking it would not be work it. I would want the feeling of morning sickeness. Meaning the smell of food makes you totally queezy.

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Elastic Waist

This doesn't sound like a very effective way to lose weight; expensive, intrusive and unnecessary. And who wants to be stuck with needles on a regular basis? Yikes.

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Mark

Cutting calories, exercising at least 4 times a week and eliminating sugary drinks will be safer, cheaper and more effective than this. Good grief...what next? :)

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DeeDee

This medication is to be used in Diabetics only at this point. It is to control blood sugar. Being a diabetic taking massive quantities of insulin, the insulin makes is darn near IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight. That is why someone in my shoes jumps at the chance. I eat well, and exercise, and can't lose 1 lb for all the insulin I take. I'm on an insulin pump, so my sugars are phenominal, but, the weight is a huge problem. I lose the weight, I drop my insulin - then it's a win-win. The average overweight person should not use for weight loss, in that case, yes, diet and exercise will do the trick!

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julie

is it really worth taking those shots?
it gives you the same results as eating well and excercising, just that people are too lazy to do so.

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Tony Jay

Its amazing the lengths a human being will go to for slimming success.

I can see it may help the dangerously overweight or obese if administered in clinical conditions - but sooner or later this will become the latest vainity fad.

Any excuse not exercise and eat sensibly.

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Kim

I am diabetic on insulin pump and also take symlin. I can say that after ajusting my doseage I have not have no side effects from taking the drug and I lost 12 pounds. My doctor prescribed it to me due to the enormous amount of insulin it takes for me to keep blood sugar under control.

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Rachel

I'm sorry, but I disagree with some of you on this board. I have been trying to lose weight the old-fashioned way with proper diet and exercise for a lng time, and not a thing has been happening. I'm a T1 diabetic and have been so for 15 years, I'm not lazy and I know how to take care of myself.

My endo started me on Symlin yesterday to help lower my insulin usage even more and to help with weight loss. My usual Hemoglobins are in the 5.5 - 6 range. These couple of extra shots per day is worth it to me if it works.

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Mary

My endo has started me on Symlin 4 weeks ago I have lost 15 pounds in 4 weeks. I love that I am losing weight but especially that it decreases the insulin in take. I use to take 45 unit at each meal time down to 10 units. In the long run it cost effectve to me Yes, excerise is great and blance meals are great.. but Even those effort do not reduce my after meal glucoe. Unitl I started Symlin it is worth it. Even though I paying out of pocket my insurance wont cover it. For the most part it worth it just to getting a normal A1C in the future.

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Anthony

Anyway, even if old fashioned way of slimming didn't work for diabetics, exercising alone can significantly!!! improve health conditions of diabetics - the more you move, the less you are "spelled" to suffer from blood sugar uplifting

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fran

you must not be diabetic!!!!!!!

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Tina

I just began a Symlin regimen today after 5 years of dieting, eating good (cut out all chocolate, sugar, soda, and white flour) and 1 year of personal training. If this can help me add 5-10 years on to my life as a healthy weight person, and not an obese one, then the needle pricks are worth it. After all I have had 3 c-sections and have no feeling in my lower abdomen anyway. I do not feel a am vain at all, and the people that leave the negative comments are usually those that don't have medical problems that lead to obesity.

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Robert

This sounds interesting. as a diabetic who exercises 4-5 days/week, and eating healthy; yet I still cannot lose the weight. I would consider it in conjunction with diet and exercise.

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Bridget

I am a 4ft 10inch 57 year old female. I have had a weight problem all my life. Gaining and loosing Lbs of weight my entire life. I became diabetic during my Menopause years. Also coming from a long line of family memebers that are Adult on-set Diabetic's and have heart conditions. Both my father and mothers side had these problems. I was doomed from day one. I was on Metformin(2000mg a day)and Lantus 75 units a nite and about ready to add dosage of Lantus during the day. I was overweight before the Lantus but gained 22Lbs after I added the Lantus. Changing my diet and exercising, swimming and water resistant exericises in the pool 3-4 days a week some times more than that. Still not loosing only gaining. Finally at my wits end my Endo suggested Symlin (my life saver). I started Feb 2007 at 222Lbs and now March 2008 at 180Lbs with A1C of 6.5. Loosing almost 45Lbs I consider this a blessing. Also taking it off slowly is how you keep it off. I will continue to use Symlin and still keep on loosing.

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Isabel

Bridget, after reading your comment I couldn't help but ask - you lost 45lbs in a year period? Reason I ask is cuz my endo. just started me on symlin, and I was wondering if the weight loss was slow...

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Isabel

Bridget, after reading your comment I couldn't help but ask - you lost 45lbs in a year period? Reason I ask is cuz my endo. just started me on symlin, and I was wondering if the weight loss was slow...

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Bridget

Also since using Symlin I have not only lowered my dose of MetForm and Lantus. I have had great weight loss, lower A1c, lower meds, lower weight. It has worked great for me.

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nick

i have perosnal choice insurance but they wont cover symlin because its a non-insulin injectable. Has anyone ever had a problem with this and could anyone give me some suggestions? As i love symlin but its so expensive to pay out of pocket and my docotr isnt much help. Please help me!!

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stewart

As i had heard about injections of the hormone oxyntomodulin 30 minutes before each meal, three times a day lost an average of about 5 pounds over a four-week period but i dont think this is an effective way to lose weight.

Reply

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