A medicine that is designed to regulate insulin levels is difficult to locate following a spate of users on social media have discussed the ways they have used it to aid in weight loss. Ozempic can be described as a trade name used for semaglutide is on FDA’s lists of current shortages of drugs.
Ozempic can be injected and is frequently used by those with type 2 diabetes to treat the condition when other drugs have not successfully managed the patient’s blood sugar. It is however available off-label, and is used to help lose weight in a few patients, according to Jamie Alan, Ph.D. Associate professor of toxicology and pharmacology in the department of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. “There are online concierge services that provide Ozempic for weight loss” she adds.
Not to be overlooked: The semaglutide drug Wegovy is also in short supply. But what’s the problem with Ozempic and is it safe to use in this manner? Here’s the information you need to be aware of.
What exactly is Ozempic and what is its purpose?
Ozempic can be used in conjunction with the exercise program and diet to regulate blood sugar levels of those suffering from type 2 diabetes, in cases where other medications fail to control their blood sugar levels effectively, Medline Plus explains. Ozempic is administered by injection and may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or even death for those with type 2 diabetes, as well as with blood vessel and heart diseases.
Ozempic “mimics a protein found in your body, dubbed GLP-1, also known as glucagon-like. (GLP-1),” Alan says. In taking Ozempic “will trigger GLP-1 receptors” Alan says, noting that “activation of these receptors results in the production of insulin levels which is a treatment for diabetes.”
Studies have shown that Ozempic reduced A1C level (a test that displays average blood glucose levels over the last two or three days) to less than 7%, a level suggested from the American Diabetes Association.
What causes people to lose weight when they us the Ozempic assistance program?
It is linked to GLP-1. This “primarily works by stimulating the POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin) pathway of the brain in the hypothalamus which tells us to eat less and store less,” explains Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., M.P.H., an obesity medicine physician and associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The process also slows down flow of food into your stomach “so you feel fuller and longer” the Dr. Sanford states.
There’s probably something more Ozempic than that. It’s just not being explored at the moment. “There are other mechanisms that we’re starting to comprehend,” Alan says.
The Ozempic website states that users taking the medication have lost up to 14 pounds, but it makes it clear that Ozempic is “not an appetite-loss drug.” However, Ozempic points out that research on A1C levels showed that those who took Ozempic lost an average of 8 pounds on 0.5 milligrams and 10 pounds for one milligram in comparison to. three pounds with the placebo. In a different study, participants lost 12 pounds with one milligram Ozempic and 14 pounds when they took two milligrams of the drug, the company states.
Is Ozempic safe to lose weight?
In addition, Ozempic is authorized for usage from the FDA to manage blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, but not as an appetite-loss medication. However, Alan admits that “prescriptions drugs are prescribed off-label every day.” In the case of being under the supervision of a physician, Alan states that it’s safe to use a drug such as Ozempic that is not on a label. The doctor. Stanford agrees. “Semaglutide can also be used to treat obesity under the trade name Wegovy,” she says. “As therefore, there is no risk in this medication being taken off-label since it’s approved in this manner.”
However, Alan notes, “you are still susceptible to the same adverse effects” regardless of whether you use Ozempic to treat diabetes or for weight loss. The side effects that can be experienced include:
Low blood sugar
Vision changes
Kidney issues
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Constipation
It is important to remember that patients with diabetes could require this medication, and could find it difficult to get it due to the lack. If you take the medication off-label it could contribute to the issue.
It is also important to note that the FDA has also warned that Ozempic has a chance of developing thyroid tumors which includes cancer.
A publicist from Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic has not responded to Prevention’s request to comment before the deadline.
What should you do if contemplating taking a medication to lose weight
Doctors emphasize the importance of speaking to an expert in medicine and staying under their supervision while taking anti-obesity medication. “Anti-obesity drugs can be employed in obese patients who struggle with weight control through only exercise and diet,” Dr. Stanford states. “Obesity is a long-lasting and relapsing disease that requires ongoing treatment. when a patient discovers that medications aid in regulating the weight of their body, then it ought to continue for a long time.” (However Dr. Stanford emphasizes that anti-obesity medication are not recommended during pregnancy.)
It’s important to apply medication in the perspective of lifestyle changes Alan adds. “Medications are great however they are best when combined with healthy eating and regular exercise,” she adds. “Please seek out a reliable doctor before taking these medications.”
Menu