What was as soon as thought-about an obscure drug to assist handle the blood sugars in individuals with sort 2 diabetes, Ozempic has grown in recognition over the previous few years.
Folks with all kinds of diabetes, and even some individuals with out diabetes, are asking their medical doctors for Ozempic prescriptions.
However what are the advantages of Ozempic? Can it enhance your well being? And may it provide help to shed weight?
This text will examine the whole lot you must find out about Ozempic and weight reduction.
What’s Ozempic?
Semaglutide (GLP-1 agonist) is bought underneath the model names Wegovy and Ozempic.
It’s an injectable drug developed by the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, which additionally develops the favored insulins Novolog and Fiasp.
It was first authorized to be used by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017.
Resulting from its lengthy period of motion, this injectable sort 2 diabetes drug is just taken as soon as per week. It helps individuals with sort 2 diabetes decrease their blood sugars and HbA1c ranges.
Ozempic will increase insulin secretion and sensitivity whereas additionally inhibiting the liver from releasing glucagon to decrease blood sugar ranges.
Ozempic helps scale back meals consumption by decreasing urge for food and slowing digestion, inflicting many individuals to shed weight whereas taking Ozempic.
It additionally has been confirmed to scale back the chance of main coronary heart assault, stroke, or loss of life in adults with sort 2 diabetes and pre-existing coronary heart illness.
The really useful dose of Ozempic injection is 0.5 mg or 1.0 as soon as weekly. It may be taken with or with out meals.
What are the unwanted effects of Ozempic?
The commonest unwanted effects embrace:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation and different GI points
- Weight reduction
Extra extreme unwanted effects embrace:
- Thyroid tumors, together with malignant tumors
- Pancreatitis
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient
- Kidney issues
- Hypoglycemia, particularly if you happen to’re on insulin remedy
- Severe allergic reactions
Search medical consideration instantly if you happen to develop a fever, have modifications to your imaginative and prescient, or are feeling weak or in ache after taking the medicine.
It’s not really useful to be used throughout being pregnant or breastfeeding (you need to cease utilizing Ozempic 2 months earlier than you intend on turning into pregnant).
Can Ozempic provide help to shed weight?
The story of Ozempic and weight reduction is an advanced one. The drug was first authorized to assist sufferers with sort 2 diabetes higher handle their blood sugar ranges.
After many individuals discovered nice success in improved well being outcomes as a result of decreased urge for food and elevated insulin sensitivity, medical doctors started prescribing Ozempic “off-label” (with out FDA approval) for sufferers scuffling with persistent weight problems.
In June 2021, the FDA authorized Wegovy (the generic model of Ozempic additionally developed by Novo Nordisk) for weight administration in obese or overweight adults with at the least one different persistent well being situation, reminiscent of hypertension, excessive ldl cholesterol, or sort 2 diabetes.
Medical doctors additionally generally prescribe Ozempic and different GLP-1 agonists “off-label” to individuals with sort 1 diabetes, whether or not or not they’re scuffling with their weight, to raised handle blood sugar ranges and reign in insulin resistance. Once more, many have seen vital weight reduction when on the drug long-term.
Research assist this, exhibiting that contributors in a trial misplaced between 10-15% of their physique weight over the course of 68 weeks with weekly subcutaneous photographs of Ozempic when utilized in mixture with way of life modifications (like wholesome consuming and train).
Examine contributors within the placebo group solely misplaced 2% of their physique weight on common.
Within the Ozempic group, most individuals (between 70-80%) misplaced 5% or extra of their physique weight, however any misplaced weight was regained after they stopped taking the medicine.
One other two-year examine confirmed related outcomes, with contributors on the Semaglutide dropping a median of 16.7% of their complete physique weight versus 0.6% with placebo.
The Semaglutide sufferers had been additionally more likely to lose at the least 5% of their physique weight, with almost 84% of Semaglutide sufferers dropping at the least that a lot weight.
One more examine out of SURE Denmark/Sweden confirmed not solely statistically vital weight reduction amongst sufferers utilizing Semaglutide but in addition improved HbA1c ranges as effectively.
So all indicators level to sure, it could possibly and does assist individuals shed weight. It’s only a matter of whether or not or not you may and ought to be taking it.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic?
It is best to solely take Ozempic in case your physician has prescribed it for you, and probably, you probably have diabetes and are scuffling with insulin resistance.
Many individuals want to strive Ozempic as a result of its means to assist individuals shed weight, however that’s now inflicting a nationwide Ozempic scarcity for individuals who want the drug to assist handle their diabetes.
Ozempic just isn’t FDA-approved for individuals with sort 1 diabetes, however your physician could counsel it for you if you happen to’re scuffling with excessive blood sugar ranges and low insulin sensitivity.
Ozempic doesn’t substitute the necessity for insulin, so if you happen to begin Ozempic, you’ll have to additionally proceed your insulin routine.
Ozempic just isn’t really useful for people who find themselves pregnant, so if you’re on Ozempic and are pregnant or attempting to develop into pregnant, you’ll have to cease the medicine.
Don’t use Ozempic if you happen to or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or you probably have A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2).
Don’t use Ozempic if you’re allergic to Semaglutide or any of the components in Ozempic. Inform your physician all medicines that you simply use earlier than beginning therapy with Ozempic.
Conclusion
This Semaglutide helps suppress urge for food, enhance insulin sensitivity, and prohibit the discharge of glucagon from the liver, all working collectively to not solely decrease blood sugar ranges however to assist individuals shed weight, too.
Many research again this up, with the typical quantity of weight reduction sufferers expertise being round 15% of their complete physique weight.
Folks normally expertise weight achieve in the event that they cease taking the once-weekly injection.
Individuals who have any sort of diabetes and are scuffling with insulin resistance can usually be prescribed Ozempic “off-label” (with out FDA approval) to not solely enhance their blood sugar ranges however to lose extra weight as effectively.
Ozempic can also be confirmed to enhance coronary heart well being and forestall main coronary heart assault, stroke, and loss of life in individuals with sort 2 diabetes and identified coronary heart illness. Ozempic doesn’t substitute the necessity for insulin.
Discuss together with your physician to study extra about Ozempic if you wish to do this comparatively new medicine.
