Not happy about starting Reductil...via Band

[bumpybean]

I have been trying to lose weight for the last 15 years and have tried healthy eating,VLCD's and each time I lose weight and always end up putting it back on plus more.I currently weigh nearly 22 stone,I visited my GP to enquire about having a band fitted on the NHS on Friday.I live in a very small village in Wales and in the last 5 years my GP has put two other patients forward for bands and each one has been turned down by the PCT.She was honest and said that it doesnt look hopeful but will support me 100%
She has given me a prescription for Reducil 10mg and I will be starting these tomorrow.She has said that I have to show the PCT that I have tried all ways to lose the weight before she will put my name forward.Has anyone tried these tablets as from looking around it seems the views are a mixed bags.Many thanks xx

 

[LizzieBee]

The Dr prescribed Reductil for me last year. The lower dose (10mgs, I think) made me feel a bit weird the first day I took them but did nothing after that. The higher dose (15mgs, if I remember rightly) pushed my blood pressure right up and I had to go for weekly checks. That lasted a week as I was very concerned re: strokes etc and stopped taking them. I went back to the Dr and told her, she was totally fine about it and suggested Orlistat - no way! A friend of mine used to leak poop when she had the slightest sniff of some fat, I wasn't going to risk sitting in my office doing that!
I am sure someone will be along who got on with Reductil just fine, it just didn't suit me. Good luck with the referral, I hope it happens sooner rather than later for you.
Lx

 

[fatbutnot4eva]

HI
I am on Xenical (Orlistat) and have also been on reductil.
I found reductil did nothing for me and I got quite depressed so was teken off them and put "Back" on xenical which I have been taking for about 4 years now. These pills I have to say dont work for me I am a few months away from a Band and hope that you get your band to. I have to say the gp's PCT's and hospitals etc.. lke us to jump through hoops before giving us anything.
I am sure that the cost of being on xenical and reductil for over 4 years cost more than giving the band in the first place.
2 of my family lost over 4 stone each on reductil though and did not cvhange their ood at all - hence as soon as they topped all the weight came back on and more.
Good luck with them - just take them and do what your GP says and at least you will ahve tried everything xxxxx
i am sure that there are some success stories x

 

[serenitylove]

reductil worked well for me i lost alot of weight quiet quickly you have to tell yourself there going to work if you know what i mean, i think you have to be really positive its a step to help you, do be carefull with blood pressure tho they are good for pushing it up

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

i was also on reductil but had it taken off me as it made my bp sky high. i also had to of shown id tryed all other avenues of trying to loose weight b4 i could be refered as the gp's see it as a last resort.

 

[gingernutter]

My PCT wont even look at you unless you have tried the drugs.

I tried Reductil which made me ill. I was a nervous wreck. My blood pressure went up. I had to come off them after 3 months.

Xenical. I tried this for about 2 years. I lost almost 7 stones. Sadly I have regained it all plus more. I did have a problem with leaking at first but I quickly learnt to avoid FAT then you wont have that problem. This medicine also made me very windy.

You may have to jump a few hoops befor you can get the help you need. If your BMI is over 50 you might find you qualify. You need to look at your local criteria.

Don't give up we are all in the same boat. We can help each other.

 

[mintball]

I had reductil and was absolutely fine on them, only problem I had with them is that I didn't want to be on meds for life and each time I came off them, the weight came back on.

I actually didn't lose that much weight with them though x x x

 

[teen]

It also sent my blood pressure through the roof I have never had high blood pressure except when I was on these pills

 

[brett30]

i lost over 7 stones on reductil ... i was swimming 3 times a week also .. and they stopped me eating .. made me feel sick towards smell of food ..

i was on them a year ... and have been back on them many times since .. i was on 10mg first month then went to 15mgs thereafter..

i have been on everything .. duromine.ionamin.dionamin..oralstat..xenical.reductil. some work in short time but all comes back in the end unless u have will power of steal ..

 

[charliegirl]

You do have to show the PCT that you have tried everything and that surgery is the last resort for you. I tried reductil on a few different occasions and the last time was on the higher dose but it did nothing for me at all. I have high blood pressure and take meds for that but it did not affect this in anyway. PCT's have strict criteria and it is always worth asking for. They turned me down the first time and advised weight management for two years I asked again and when they found I had sleep apnea it was approved. My motto is never take no for an answer...good luck..xx

 

[lisa45]

i have taken reductil i lost 3st quiet quick then put it back on hence iam having band fitted 28th feb.....

 

[swangirl89]

I'm in Wales also. My BMI is 56 so in most places I would be a great candidate but here in Wales it's not so easy. Like you my GP has put me back on weight reducing drugs (Xenical) even though I have had Reductil and Xenical before but I have to do it again so they can document the attempt properly on the referral form they send to the PCT. I'm not holding my breath though, my (and your) referral form will be handled HCW (Health Commission Wales) and after looking into it my GP found that of the 300 or so referrals sent in last calendar year only 2 were approved for funding and all of them were good candidates who met the NICE guidelines. HCW don't seem to care about your weight as such, they seem to approve someone who is 18 stone and has comorbidities such as diabetes over someone who is 30stone and has no relative health problems.

I guess all we can really do is do everything possible to show willing with the weight loss drugs and hope for the best. Oh and if you haven't had on already, ask you Dr for a blood test to screen for possible comorbidities and think carefully if you have any symptoms of things like sleep apnea etc.

Good Luck.
Beth xoxo

 

[quetiapina]

Hi Bumpy Bean, I too am in Wales and the provision for WLS is almost non-existant. I have saved, begged and borrowed to get the £5,500 needed for a gastric band. Don't want to get you down but the reality is stark - I go to a Specialist Weight Management clinic in Nantyglo and the Consultant running it has had no success in referring anyone, and we are talking people like myself (BMI 48) and much bigger. It is considered to be a "Cosmetic" procedure. My only advice is save like crazy and tap family or anyone to see if they can contribute. There are some articles on BBC website - just google Bariatric or weight loss and Wales and they should come up.
Good Luck. Jenni x