Source: https://www.drugwatch.com/drugs/ozempic/
INDEX
1. Why is everyone talking about Ozempic?
2. What is Ozempic?
3. How does Ozempic work?
4. Is it advisable to take it for weight loss if I do not have diabetes mellitus?
- Why is everyone talking about Ozempic?
Many celebrities have talked about using Wegovy (Ozempic, but with a slightly different dosage) to lose weight and the high demand among people wanting to try it has led to a shortage of the drug. So in the absence of Wegovy, patients wanting to lose weight have turned to Ozempic.
As of August 2023, the shortage of Ozempic had not yet subsided, and manufacturers could not meet the demand. And in addition to the high demand, there is no known generic of Ozempic. In fact, in 2022, Novo Nordisk (a multinational pharmaceutical company) sued several generic manufacturers that applied for FDA approval to manufacture generic Ozempic.
In June 2023, Novo Nordisk also sued some pharmacies, medical spas and weight loss clinics that tried to sell generic Ozempic and Wegovy, as the drug is still under patent.
Brand name Ozempic costs an average of 1,000 Euros per month. Currently, most insurance plans do not cover Ozempic for weight loss.
Packets of Wegovy at the Novo Nordisk A/S production facilities in Hillerod, Denmark, on Monday, June 12, 2023. The success of Novo’s bestsellers Ozempic and Wegovy, drugs that help people lose significant amounts of weight, has created something of a gold rush in the pharma industry with about 40 companies developing products that will intensify competition. Photographer: Carsten Snejbjerg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2. What is Ozempic?
Ozempic, a brand name semaglutide medication, is an injectable medication that treats type 2 diabetes. It has also been used as a weight loss drug. The most common mild side effects are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The drug has a boxed warning for thyroid tumors.
It is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is also used to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who already have cardiovascular disease. It belongs to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class of drugs.
The drug is not FDA-approved for the treatment of obesity, but some physicians have prescribed it for off-label uses, such as weight loss in people without type 2 diabetes.
Along with diet and exercise, Ozempic is indicated to improve blood sugar in adults with T2D. It may also reduce the risk of serious stroke, heart attack or death in people who already have heart disease.
3. How does Ozempic work?
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that acts on the pancreas, liver and stomach to lower blood sugar. According to Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is designed to respond to spikes in blood sugar by working with the body’s natural processes to lower glucose levels.
- Here are the three ways Ozempic works:
-When blood sugar is high, Ozempic helps the pancreas produce more insulin.
-Ozempic slows down the release of food from the stomach.
-Ozempic prevents the liver from making too much glucose and releasing it into the blood.
Ozempic doses are 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg. Doctors will adjust the dose based on each person’s needs for blood glucose control.
4. Is it advisable to take it for weight loss if I do not have diabetes mellitus (T2D)?
Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, but some physicians prescribe it for this off-label use. Off-label prescribing is allowed by the FDA with a physician’s discretion. According to a study published in June 2023 in The Lancet, Ozempic has been shown to help a person lose about 15% of their body weight.
The off-label use of a drug may be risky. There are no clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of using Ozempic for weight loss. However, Novo Nordisk manufactures another semaglutide drug, Wegovy, which the FDA has approved for weight loss.
Both Wegovy and Ozempic are semaglutides, but have slightly different dosages for what the FDA approved them for. A person must have a body mass index of 30 or higher or have a BMI of 27 along with other health risks in order to receive a prescription for Wegovy.
Key takeaways: If you know me, you already know my answer to your question. Lifestyle changes go a long way when trying to put T2D in remission. Does it mean I am against using a safe drug that can give you a head start? Note I said SAFE. No drug comes without side effects so make sure you assess your risk and potential benefits of taking this drug with your healthcare provider.
