Ozempic, a drug that can lower blood sugar and spur insulin production, has become the latest trendy weight loss pill. Tech moguls, influencers and celebrities like Kim Kardashian have all mentioned taking the drug to lose weight quickly.
But despite the drug’s impressive weight loss results, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not a magic cure. In fact, many people regain their weight after discontinuing it.
1. It’s not an approved weight loss supplement
A glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drug called Ozempic has been soaring in popularity lately, fueled by celebrities, tech entrepreneurs and TikTok influencers. This prescription-only medication has been prescribed off label for weight loss, and doctors say the trend is driving a shortage.
Ozempic is part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 agonists, which lower blood sugar by mimicking a hormone released in the gut. These drugs are used to help people with diabetes and obesity lose weight.
They’re injected once a week under the skin, and are usually started at a low dose and then increased every 4 weeks to 30 days. They also lower your risk of heart attack and stroke in people with both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
If you have any questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you more information about ozempic and other medicines like it. And they can tell you if it might interfere with any other medicine or cause side effects.
2. It’s not a miracle pill
It’s been a year since ozempic, and its sister drug Wegovy, hit the internet as “miracle drugs” for weight loss. People on social media gushed over how the injections made them drop pounds, even celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk were spotted on Instagram posts promoting their use of Wegovy and Ozempic.
While Ozempic, and its cousin Wegovy, may seem like a miracle for some, it’s important to remember that they’re meant for diabetics who need them to control blood sugar and reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. They’re not for casual users who want to lose a few pounds or “style their body.”
The drugs work by triggering a chemical repugnance to certain foods. This causes nausea and a feeling of being unwell, which may be what’s responsible for suppressing the appetite.
3. It’s not a miracle cure
Ozempic is a drug that’s used to treat diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes use it to manage their blood sugar levels.
The drug has also been used to help patients lose weight. But ozempic can have side effects that range in severity, from mild nausea to pancreatitis.
If you haven’t heard of ozempic before, it’s a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, which is a class of drugs that helps patients manage their blood sugar. It’s most commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetics, but it can also be used to help patients who are obese or have other health conditions like high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
As the ozempic craze continues to take off, it’s important for people to realize that these drugs aren’t a miracle cure. They can be incredibly effective for those with type 2 diabetes, but they can also cause a host of serious side effects. That’s why it’s crucial to talk to your doctor before you start taking any medications, especially those with the potential to cause negative effects.
4. It’s not a miracle diet
Ozempic is a drug that was originally prescribed to diabetes patients to lower their blood sugar and reduce their risk of heart disease. It’s made by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and suppresses appetite by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Because ozempic is not a weight loss drug, non-diabetic people aren’t allowed to use it for weight loss. But that doesn’t stop TikTok videos from showing people on the drug losing a lot of weight quickly.
As a result, the drugs have become popular among celebrities and people looking to lose weight without any effort. Big names like Chelsea Handler and the Kardashians have confessed to using ozempic or its cousin Wegovy, and even Twitter’s new boss, Elon Musk, has publicly touted it as his secret for losing 13 kg.
While semaglutide is a useful weight-loss drug, it can cause unpleasant side effects for some people. These include nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue and acid reflux, as well as rare but serious risks for thyroid cancer and pancreatitis.