Ozempic for weight loss: Is it safe to use this anti-diabetes drug?

Ozempic, a prescription drug usually used to handle sort 2 diabetes, is quick turning into a solution for fast weight reduction options internationally. As weight problems instances improve globally, Ozempic and different weight reduction medicine have turn into the speak of the city, inviting curiosity amongst individuals who want to drop a few pounds shortly. However is it protected? What’s all of it about? Who ought to use it? Who ought to keep away from it? There are many issues surrounding the usage of Ozempic for weight reduction and its unintended effects.

Ozempic is already a rage within the US. It’s an injectable drugs used weekly below the pores and skin of the thigh, abdomen or higher arm, to handle blood sugar ranges and scale back weight.

What’s Ozempic?

It’s the model identify for semaglutide, a prescription medicine developed by the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk. It was initially accredited by the US Meals and Drug Administration in 2017 for the therapy of sort 2 diabetes. “It belongs to a category of medication often called GLP-1 receptor agonists (glucagon-like peptide-1), which copy the motion of the pure hormone GLP-1 within the physique,” says bariatric surgeon Dr Atul Sardana. The hormone helps regulate blood sugar ranges by stimulating insulin secretion, lowering glucagon secretion and slowing down digestion.

“It additionally has extra advantages for cardiovascular well being, significantly in individuals who have diabetes and a historical past of coronary heart illness. On this context, it might scale back the danger of main cardiovascular occasions equivalent to coronary heart assaults and strokes,” says the skilled. It’s administered by a once-weekly injection below the pores and skin, normally within the stomach, thigh or higher arm.

Ozempic for weight reduction: How does it work?

Though initially designed to deal with diabetes, it has gained widespread consideration for its off-label use for weight problems administration. “Utilizing Ozempic for weight reduction has turn into extra frequent because of promising outcomes from scientific research exhibiting its potential to considerably scale back physique weight,” says the skilled. Throughout a research of 175 folks with chubby or weight problems, they got semaglutide. The research, printed in JAMA Community Open, confirmed that the overall physique weight reduction percentages achieved had been 5.9 % at 3 months and 10.9 % at 6 months.

Right here’s how Ozempic for weight reduction works:

• Urge for food suppression: GLP-1 receptors within the mind, particularly within the hypothalamus, assist management urge for food. “By activating these receptors, the medication reduces starvation alerts, resulting in decreased meals consumption,” shares the skilled.
• Slowed gastric emptying: Ozempic for weight reduction works, because it delays the time it takes for meals to go away the abdomen. This in flip promotes a sense of fullness and reduces the urge to eat often.
• Stabilised blood sugar ranges: By enhancing insulin launch and reducing glucagon secretion, Ozempic for weight reduction works by lowering blood sugar fluctuations, which might in any other case set off cravings and overeating.

Ozempic for weight reduction: Dose and security

“You’ll be able to strive Ozempic for weight reduction, as it’s typically thought-about protected when used below the supervision of a physician,” says Dr Sardana. Keep in mind that Ozempic for weight reduction just isn’t formally accredited, however many physicians prescribe it off-label for weight problems because of its effectiveness.

To make sure security, be sure to stay to the dosing schedule that begins with a low dose:

• Week 1–4: 0.25 mg as soon as weekly (beginning dose)
• Week 5–8: 0.5 mg as soon as weekly
• After 8 weeks: Dose could also be elevated to 1 mg or as much as 2 mg weekly relying in your response and tolerance to the weekly drugs.

“The choice to extend dosage ought to be made by your physician,” says the skilled, asserting that these medicines can’t be used with out due supervision.

What are the unintended effects of Ozempic for weight reduction?

Gastrointestinal signs like nausea, constipation and diarrhea are the most typical unintended effects of Ozempic, in line with Harvard Well being Publishing.

“Nausea usually happens in the course of the first few weeks and will subside over time. Diarrhea or constipation are typical as the load loss drug slows down gastrointestinal motility,” says the skilled.

Different unintended effects of Ozempic for weight reduction embrace:

• Abdomen ache and bloating, which can be associated to delayed gastric emptying (the method by which meals contents go away the abdomen and enter the primary a part of the small gut for additional digestion and absorption).
• Fatigue can happen, significantly within the early levels of taking Ozempic for weight reduction, probably because of decreased meals consumption.

Much less frequent unintended effects of Ozempic for weight reduction embrace:

• Pancreatitis, which is the irritation of the pancreas, characterised by extreme stomach ache and vomiting.
• Fast weight loss might improve the danger of gallstones.
• Kidney issues could also be worsened by dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea.

Ozempic for weight reduction works, and so helps in battle in opposition to weight problems. Initially developed for sort 2 diabetes, it has proven advantages in serving to folks drop a few pounds by suppressing urge for food. It comes with unintended effects, together with constipation and nausea. So, use it below the steering of a medical skilled. Additionally, don’t overlook to eat wholesome and commonly sweat it out for greatest outcomes.