Ozempic is one of a new generation of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications help people lose weight, lower their blood sugar and curb cravings for fatty or sugary foods.
But they don’t give patients a free pass to good health. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting and constipation.
Weight Loss
Many people know that Ozempic for Weight Loss is a powerful weight loss drug. It’s been touted by celebrities and social media influencers, and it has helped many people lose significant amounts of weight. But the drug, which contains a GLP-1 agonist called semaglutide, is actually an important tool for treating diabetes, and it has also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer in people with obesity or excess weight.
However, many people are using the medication for weight loss, which isn’t the way that it was designed to work. Using Ozempic or a similar drug for short-term cosmetic weight loss can lead to complications, and the weight will eventually be regained. In addition, it can set people back in their health goals.
In a clinical trial sponsored by Novo Nordisk, 2.4 milligrams of semaglutide was given to overweight and obese adults who did not have diabetes along with regular medical visits and a calorie-controlled diet. Over 68 weeks, the semaglutide group lost 14.9% of their body weight compared with 2.4% in the placebo group. This was a significant difference.
People who use Ozempic or a similar drug to help them lose weight often experience side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. They may also have trouble sleeping. In some cases, the medication can cause serious problems, including pancreatitis, kidney disease, and gallbladder disease. It can also interfere with the absorption of other medications.
There are other drugs that can help with weight loss, and some doctors have even begun prescribing them to patients who do not have diabetes. But many are hesitant to recommend them, because they are not as safe and effective as Ozempic. These include tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) and liraglutide (Lessinator).
In addition to side effects, some people find that the cost of the medication is prohibitive. And the fact that Ozempic is in short supply because of demand and production issues makes it even harder for them to get the medicine they need. Newer drugs that contain a dual agonist and offer greater efficacy are being fast-tracked for approval by the FDA, and they may help take some pressure off Ozempic and Wegovy in the future.
Blood Sugar Control
The same medication used for Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic, is also effective for weight loss in those who are overweight or obese. It reduces blood sugar levels and prevents the rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar that cause intense hunger, making it less tempting to consume high-calorie foods. Ozempic’s active ingredient, semaglutide, stimulates insulin release and suppresses glucagon secretion to stabilize blood sugar levels.
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, people who took semaglutide for weight loss lost 5.9% of their body weight within three months and 10.9% in six months. This was more than double the average weight loss of those who only exercised and followed a healthy diet, without using any medications to help them lose weight.
Obesity is a leading cause of many chronic diseases and can increase your risk for them. Studies show that even a small reduction in body weight can improve cholesterol and blood pressure, and decrease your risk for heart problems and other obesity-related illnesses. It can also improve obstructive sleep apnea, which is one of the most common symptoms of obesity.
That’s why the new anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic are being hailed as a major victory for those who struggle with obesity and have trouble losing weight through diet and exercise alone. The drug is a once-weekly injection of the medicine semaglutide, which has been approved as a medication to treat Type 2 diabetes since 2017. But it’s being used off-label for weight loss by doctors and is causing patients to lose significant amounts of weight.
Unfortunately, some of the side effects of Ozempic can be serious and include pancreatitis, vision issues (diabetic retinopathy), kidney disease, gallbladder disease, thyroid cancer, and multiple endocrine tumors. People who experience these side effects should stop taking the medication and talk to their doctor right away.
In addition, people who use this medication for Weight loss should make sure they are following a healthy eating plan and are getting enough sleep. They should also talk to their doctor about incorporating behavioral therapy into their treatment to address the underlying causes of their weight gain, which could be anxiety or depression, for example. This will help them to maintain a healthier lifestyle after they reach their goal weight. Otherwise, they might regain the weight and end up with yo-yo dieting that isn’t good for their health in the long run.
Blood Pressure Control
When used with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Ozempic has been shown to help people lose weight, lower their blood pressure, and control their cholesterol. The medication works by slowing down the movement of food through your digestive system, so you feel full and eat less.
The most common side effects of Ozempic are gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition, people who take the drug may have an upset stomach or a sore throat. Other symptoms include constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating. If these symptoms occur, it is important to contact your doctor.
In addition to these gastrointestinal side effects, Ozempic can increase the risk of thyroid cancer and gallbladder disease. It can also cause pancreatitis, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness. The drug can also affect your vision, and it may make it harder to control your blood sugar if you are taking medications such as insulin or sulfonylureas.
Some people stop using the drug because of these side effects. Others find that they don’t lose as much weight as they hoped. And some patients who have had surgery such as a sleeve gastrectomy and have acid reflux have trouble losing weight with the medication because it causes nausea.
The good news is that there are other medications that can help you lose weight and keep it off. These medications are similar to Ozempic, and they are called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They are more commonly prescribed for treating diabetes than obesity, but they can also help you lose weight and improve your health.
If you are interested in getting started with these medications, talk to your healthcare provider. They can prescribe the medication and help you learn how to use it safely. They can also give you a list of foods and drinks that you should avoid.
Many people who are interested in using Ozempic to help them lose weight have questions about the medication and its safety. They may have heard about the drug shortage and are worried about it being in short supply. However, the medication is not going away any time soon. Once the supply chain and production issues are resolved, it will become more commonplace as a treatment for obesity and related diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Mental Health
As Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists continue to grow in popularity, the FDA has been receiving increasing reports of mental health problems related to the drug. The agency hasn’t determined whether these drugs are to blame, but it is flagging them for further study.
The drug, whose generic name is liraglutide, works by blocking the absorption of sugar in the body and delaying the emptying of food from the stomach. This makes you feel full for longer and can reduce cravings. It also changes the way your brain responds to hormones that control hunger and appetite. The drugs have been used for several years in Europe to treat type 2 diabetes, and they’ve also been prescribed off-label for weight loss by doctors. The drugs have become so popular in the United States because of a massive marketing campaign by the Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk and unofficial endorsements by celebrities, social media influencers, and other famous people.
NPR pharmaceuticals correspondent Sydney Lupkin analyzed the FDA’s public database for capturing new side effects, called FAERS, and found that it has received 489 reports of anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts from people taking semaglutide drugs like Ozempic. However, the database isn’t audited or verified, and it can be easy for people to duplicate reports. Lupkin says it could take years to know for sure if these drugs are responsible for the mental health issues.
A similar European database of adverse event reports shows that about one in four psychiatric events connected to GLP-1 agonists are related to anxiety. Psychiatric problems aren’t common in patients with Type 2 diabetes or obesity, and these medications aren’t known to cause them. But some research suggests that the drugs may affect mood by altering levels of certain hormones.
It’s still early days for these newest treatments, but experts are optimistic that they will improve the lives of obese and diabetic people. They say they can lower the barrier for some people to start addressing their obesity and diabetes by offering an alternative to surgery or other invasive treatments.
And if supply chain and production problems can be resolved, there are other medications on the horizon that may help take some pressure off Ozempic and Wegovy. There’s a dual-agonist, called Mounjaro, that was fast-tracked for diabetes treatment last year and is under consideration by the FDA for weight loss.
