Ozempic: How it works, its benefits and side effects explained

Ozempic is a prescription drug used to take care of circumstances associated to excessive blood sugar ranges and for diabetes administration. It’s particularly used for sufferers with Kind 2 diabetes, which impacts thousands and thousands of individuals globally. This continual situation accounts for about 90 % of individuals with diabetes, based on the World Well being Group. It’s clearly a world concern, which is why makes an attempt are all the time made to handle or deal with it. Semaglutide, a drugs bought beneath completely different model names, together with Ozempic, has emerged as a strategy to handle the situation. It has additionally gained consideration as a result of its weight reduction advantages. Earlier than taking this prescribed remedy, know the way it works, its advantages and potential unintended effects.

What’s Ozempic?

Ozempic is the model identify for semaglutide, a drugs developed by the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk. “It’s a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which implies it mimics the motion of a naturally occurring hormone within the physique referred to as GLP-1,” shares inside drugs knowledgeable Dr Sanchayan Roy. The US Meals and Drug Administration authorised the injectable remedy to be used by folks with diabetes in America in 2017. It’s administered by way of a once-weekly injection, sometimes within the stomach, thigh or higher arm, utilizing a prefilled injection pen.

How does Ozempic work?

It really works by growing the degrees of incretins, the intestine hormones produced by the abdomen everytime you eat one thing. It helps your physique to provide extra insulin everytime you want it, and reduces the quantity of sugar that’s produced by your liver. It additionally slows down how shortly the meals you eat will get digested. All this helps to convey down blood sugar ranges.

It’s began at a low dose and step by step elevated to enhance tolerability:

Week 1–4: 0.25 mg as soon as per week
Week 5–8: 0.5 mg as soon as per week
Upkeep dose: 1 mg or 2 mg as soon as per week, relying on blood sugar management or weight objectives.

Your physician will determine the appropriate upkeep dose primarily based on how your physique responds.

Ozempic and diabetes

In folks with sort 2 diabetes, this remedy could assist to regulate blood sugar ranges within the following methods:

• Will increase insulin secretion: It helps the pancreas launch extra insulin after meals, however solely when blood sugar ranges are excessive.
• Decreases glucagon ranges: It reduces the discharge of glucagon, a hormone that will increase blood sugar ranges.
• Slows gastric emptying: It delays the motion of meals from the abdomen to the intestines, stopping post-meal spikes in blood sugar.

“All this results in a extra secure and decrease common blood glucose degree,” says Dr Roy.

Ozempic for weight reduction

Though Ozempic was developed for diabetes, its appetite-suppressing results have made it fashionable amongst individuals who need to drop extra pounds, even these with out diabetes. Throughout a research, printed in The New England Journal Of Drugs, chubby or overweight individuals got 2.4 mg of semaglutide as soon as weekly. Plus, wholesome way of life modifications had been made. It was discovered that this mix helped in sustained discount in physique weight.

Right here’s the way it works as a weight reduction drug:

• Delays abdomen emptying: You’re feeling full for longer, decreasing the frequency and amount of meals.
• Reduces urge for food: By appearing on the mind’s appetite-regulating facilities, Ozempic reduces starvation and meals cravings.

Easy methods to get Ozempic?

It’s a prescription remedy, so that you’ll must seek the advice of a health care provider to find out if it’s appropriate for you. It’s mostly prescribed for:

• Folks with sort 2 diabetes.
• People with weight problems or chubby although Wegovy, one other model identify that was authorised by FDA for weight reduction, is often beneficial for this function.

As soon as prescribed, it may be picked up at a pharmacy or ordered by way of mail-order pharmacies.

What are the unintended effects of Ozempic?

Like all medicines, Ozempic could cause unintended effects, although not everybody experiences them. Throughout a research, printed in StatPearls, practically one-fifth of all individuals in medical trials with Ozempic skilled nausea, the most typical facet impact of this remedy. Listed below are different frequent unintended effects of Ozempic:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Abdomen ache or bloating
• Burping or fuel

Much less frequent, however critical unintended effects embody:

• Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas), which may trigger extreme stomach ache, particularly with vomiting.
• Gallbladder points akin to gallstones.
• Kidney issues often as a result of dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea.

Is hair loss a facet impact of Ozempic?

“Hair loss shouldn’t be a direct facet impact of Ozempic, however some folks could expertise hair loss, particularly throughout vital weight reduction,” says the knowledgeable. Listed below are a couple of attainable causes:

• Fast weight reduction can set off telogen effluvium, a standard situation the place hair sheds as a result of sudden physique modifications.
• Caloric restriction or altered consuming patterns may cut back consumption of iron, protein, or biotin, that are vitamins important for hair well being.

If hair loss turns into noticeable after utilizing this remedy, seek the advice of a health care provider or dermatologist. “A balanced eating regimen and presumably dietary supplements might help counteract the drug’s results,” says the knowledgeable.

Ozempic has been discovered efficient in diabetes and weight administration. Nonetheless, the once-weekly answer could include unintended effects, which is why it ought to all the time be used beneath medical supervision.