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Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication formulated for adults with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. Although it’s not officially a weight-loss drug, studies suggest that other people who take Ozempic might lose slight amounts of weight while they’re on it. In fact, the active component of Ozempic, known as semaglutide, is approved by the FDA in higher doses to treat people with obesity and other weight-related medical conditions. under the name of Wegovy.
Due to the Wegovy shortage along with the weight loss effects of Ozempic going viral on social media, other people without type 2 diabetes have started using Ozempic without authorization for weight loss.
In this article, we talk about this developing weight loss trend and offer recommendations from doctors on how effective Ozempic is for weight loss, how safe it is, and what you should do before taking Ozempic for weight loss.
Ozempic is an FDA-approved prescription medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. It helps improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes and is proven to lower hemoglobin A1C, a measure of blood glucose over time, according to research cited on Ozempic’s site. It also helps adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease lower their risk for cardiovascular events like stroke or heart attack.
Ozempic’s active compound, semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by activating the GLP-1 receptor framework and editing the effects of the herbal hormone GLP-1.
“GLP-1 serves several key purposes in the body,” says Christopher McGowan, M. D. , a gastroenterologist specializing in obesity and endobariatric medicine and founder of True You Weight Loss in North Carolina. “It stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas in reaction to food intake, which helps blood sugar levels. Similarly, it reduces the release of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels, thus helping blood sugar levels.
Ozempic is a self-administered semaglutide injection once a week. It is sold in doses of 0. 5 milligrams, 1 milligrams, or 2 milligrams.
Ozempic is not insulin. It helps the pancreas produce more insulin when blood sugar is high. “Unlike insulin, Ozempic rarely causes hypoglycemia,” notes Lydia Alexander, M. D. , California-based board-certified obesity medicine specialist and president-elect of the Obesity Medicine Association, the largest organization of physicians committed to the prevention, treatment and reversal of hypoglycemia. obesity disease.
Although Ozempic is not specifically classified as a weight-loss drug, studies sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic, suggest that other people who take semaglutide, the active compound in Ozempic, may lose weight. [1] Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Semaglutide once a week in obese or obese adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021; 384(11):989-1002. [2] Mares AC, Chatterjee S, Mukherjee D. Semaglutide for weight loss and alleviation of cardiometabolic threat in people with obesity/obesity. Current review of Cardiol. 2022; 37(4): 350-355. milligrams, 1 milligram, or 2 milligrams of semaglutide in Ozempic.
As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide complements the effects of the herbal hormone GLP-1. McGowan explains that in addition to its effects on blood sugar and diabetes, GLP-1 also affects weight through two key mechanisms:
“The net result is decreased hunger, prolonged satiety, and ultimately weight loss,” Dr. McGowan adds.
In a giant clinical trial sponsored through Novo Nordisk, 1,961 obese or obese adults who did not have diabetes gained 2. 4 milligrams of semaglutide or placebo once a week for 68 weeks, along with a lifestyle intervention. Those taking semaglutide lost 14. 9% of their body weight, compared to 2. 4% for those taking placebo [1] Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Semaglutide once a week in obese or obese adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021; 384(11):989-1002.
It is important to note that the dose of semaglutide used in this study is higher than the dose provided through Ozempic. However, the dose of semaglutide in the FDA-approved weight-loss drug, Wegovy, is 2. 4 milligrams.
“Ozempic is FDA-approved only for the treatment of diabetes. It’s not a weight-loss drug,” Dr. McGowan says. “Its sister drug, Wegovy, is specially approved for the treatment of weight,” he adds.
Although Ozempic and Wegovy are necessarily the same drug (you can only get it in other doses), it’s worth noting that while Ozempic is regularly covered by insurance, Wegovy is not.
High demand and subsequent inventory and supply chain strains have severely impacted the availability of Wegovy, notes Dr. McGowan. As a result, Wegovy has been repeatedly unavailable since its introduction and many people are turning to off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss. Dr. McGowan notes that this is interfering with the availability of Ozempic for those with diabetes.
Although taking semaglutide can help you lose weight while taking the medication, most people will regain much of that weight if they stop taking it. “Studies show that stopping Ozempic completely will likely lead to regaining most of the weight lost within a few months,” says Rekha Kumar, M. D. , medical affairs manager for the evidence-based weight care program Found, and a practicing endocrinologist at an educational medical center in New York City.
“GLP-1 drugs [such as Ozempic] are designed to be taken long-term,” says Dr. McGowan. “These are chronic drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases (diabetes and obesity). “
Although Ozempic is FDA-approved for weight loss, semaglutide, the active element in Ozempic and Wegovy (an FDA-approved weight-loss drug), slows the emptying of the abdomen, which can minimize appetite.
When combined with nutrition and exercise, semaglutide might promote weight loss and minimize the risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in people who are obese or obese.
“Ozempic is a safe drug that offers many advantages,” says Fatima Cody Stanford, M. D. , a physician-scientist in obesity medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School Unit, and a member of Sweetch’s team. advisory board. ” Approximately 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes also suffer from co-occurring obesity. Therefore, those patients gain advantages of a double benefit for the treatment of their diabetes and obesity.
Ozempic has also been shown to reduce major adverse coronary events, including heart attacks and strokes, and offers a host of other benefits, adds Dr. Cody Stanford.
However, Ozempic isn’t for everyone. According to the company, other people with the following situations deserve to avoid using Ozempic:
As with any prescription medication, it’s important to consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider on whether this medication is safe for you, and what dosage is appropriate.
A 0. 25 or 0. 5 milligram dose of Ozempic is currently selling at Novo Nordisk for $935. 77 without insurance. However, depending on the company, other people with personal or advertising insurance who are eligible for a prescription may pay as little as $25 for one. Supply for two or three months.
Most fitness insurance plans generally do not cover Ozempic for weight loss because the drug is currently only approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Some fitness care providers may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight management, but insurance is unlikely to do so. cover the load of medication for this use.
On the other hand, many insurers offer Ozempic policies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, a health care provider may need to provide authorization for a person to be approved for type 2 diabetes policy. sure. In addition, some plans may require a tiered cure for drug approval, in which a user tries other remedies for type 2 diabetes before insurance covers Ozempic for the treatment of the disease.
People with a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan may want to download the Ozempic policy as an anti-diabetic drug. However, Medicare does not offer a prescription drug policy for weight loss.
Similarly, many state Medicaid systems cover Ozempic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but they may include requirements for drug approval, step-by-step treatment, and cost caps. However, Medicaid systems vary by state, and some national systems may cover the weight. Loss medications.
Contact your fitness insurance provider to find out if they offer a policy for Ozempic.
Ozempic is a weekly injection that comes in doses of 0. 25 milligrams, 0. 5 milligrams, 1 milligrams, and 2 milligrams. People are instructed to start with 0. 25 milligrams for 4 weeks and gradually increase their dose at 4-week intervals.
Novo Nordisk recommends giving Ozempic on the same day each week, with or without food. The maximum dosage is 2 milligrams once a week, according to the company.
Ozempic stays in an individual’s formula for about weeks after their last dose, according to FDA data. [3] OZEMPIC-semaglutide injection, solution. U. S. Food and Drug Administration U. S. Retrieved 2023-05-12. Matrix
Ozempic is not approved by the FDA to treat weight loss. However, Wegovy, a drug that exceeds the amounts of semaglutide that Ozempic has, is approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. or 27 years or older in people with a weight-related physical condition.
Semaglutide has been shown to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In addition, when combined with healthy nutrition and exercise, semaglutide may cause blood loss. weight in obese or obese people.
A 2021 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, sponsored by manufacturer Ozempic Novo Nordisk, found that participants who were obese or overweight who received a weekly dose of 2. 4 milligrams of semaglutide related to lifestyle changes experienced the following benefits for 68 weeks. 1] Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S et al. Semaglutide once a week in obese or obese adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021; 384(11):989-1002. :
“Overall, Ozempic is a very safe drug,” Dr. McGowan says. “The most common side effects are gastrointestinal in nature: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. While most people who take Ozempic will likely enjoy these symptoms during treatment, they should improve over time, says Dr. McGowan.
“Since Ozempic slows down gastric emptying, there may be a feeling of early satiety [fullness],” adds Dr. Alexander, who recommends individuals eat slowly to help improve these and other gastrointestinal side effects of Ozempic. “These side effects are usually short-term and improve a few days to a few weeks after starting Ozempic or changing the dose,” she adds.
Taking Ozempic may cause other less common, but more serious, side effects, according to the company. These include:
Ozempic is suitable for other people with type 2 diabetes. Indications for Ozempic include:
Wegovy, on the other hand, is FDA-approved for weight management in people with a BMI of 30 or higher or 27 or higher for those with a weight-related disease.
Consult your doctor to find out if you would be a smart candidate for Ozempic.
Ozempic is designed to be taken long term for the treatment of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes. Ceasing Ozempic usage may lead to weight regain and decline in cardiometabolic health. Always take prescription medications as directed by your doctor.
People with type 2 diabetes and obesity may need to see their doctor to determine if they will benefit from taking Ozempic for blood sugar and weight control. “As the number one remedy for obesity, Wegovy is also a great choice for any patient who has struggled to lose weight through nutrition and exercise alone, has a BMI of 30 or higher (or 27 or higher with obesity-related comorbidity), and is willing to use a weekly injection long-term,” says Dr. McGowan.
However, using Ozempic for short-term cosmetic weight loss is not something Dr. McGowan recommends. “Although it has gained abundant media attention, Ozempic and related GLP-1 medications are not designed to be used in this way, can lead to potential adverse effects, and will ultimately lead to regained weight. Furthermore, this unauthorized use of “Ozempic has a massive effect on the availability of the drug to those who need it most: other people with type 2 diabetes (or in the case of Wegovy, other obese people),” he explains.
In addition, anyone with contraindications such as a history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia or a history of pancreatitis should not use Ozempic, adds Dr. Cody Stanford.
Although Ozempic is not approved by the FDA as a weight-loss drug, Dr. McGowan recommends other people with type 2 diabetes, especially those who are very overweight or obese, to consult their doctor to see if Ozempic could be a weight-loss drug. Smart selection to help your blood sugar levels and with weight management.
He notes, “GLP-1 medications are far more effective for the treatment of weight than prior anti-obesity medications and should be considered first-line pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity.”
On the other hand, Dr. McGowan warns against Ozempic for short-term cosmetic weight loss purposes. This is because Ozempic is a medication that must be taken long-term and avoiding its use can lead to weight regain over time.
Ask your doctor if you will benefit from taking this medication.
If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and are trying to reach your blood sugar goals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends visiting your doctor every 3 months to monitor your blood pressure and weight and discuss your Care Plan.
Additionally, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor immediately if you notice new or worsening health problems.
Ozempic may start to control blood sugar levels within the first week of starting treatment, although results vary by person.
Individuals who stop taking Ozempic may experience weight regain, according to Dr. McGowan.
No, there is no generic form of Ozempic lately.
A small comparison of 175 participants with a BMI of 27 or higher who received weekly semaglutide injections found that participants lost an average of 14 pounds after 3 months.
Ozempic may be worth taking for individuals who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
According to research, Ozempic may advertise greater relief from fat mass than lean mass.
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