Ozempic, a drug used to treat diabetes, has recently made headlines as celebrities, tech moguls and TikTok influencers have described taking it to lose weight in the short term.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first injectable drug to treat diabetes in 2017. The agency has approved a drug containing high doses of Ozempic’s active ingredient, called semaglutide, to treat obesity in 2021 under the brand name Wegovy. Since then, stories of the drug have been flying around the internet. When asked about how he looks “fit, ripped and healthy,” Elon Musk Tweeted that he was taking Wegovy. Andy Cohen Posted About the growing popularity of Ozempic. in September, variety report The actor and producer have said they are “quietly praising drugs” on Signal, an encrypted messaging app. On TikTok, Hashtag #Ozempic has been watched more than 273 million times, with people alternating between expressing their shock about their supposed drug-induced weight loss and exchanging stories about side effects.
Well, FDA Both Ozempic and Wegovy are listed as two of dozens of missing drugs. A representative for Novo He Nordisk, which manufactures the drug, said the company was experiencing “intermittent supply disruptions at various doses of Ozempic due to a combination of incredible demand and overall global supply constraints. I have experienced A representative added that Wegovy’s shortages are likely to be resolved soon and the company is “on track” to make all dose strengths of the drug available in December.
Disha Narang, Ph.D., an endocrinologist at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, said it was unusual for doctors to prescribe drugs for “off-label” use or for purposes other than those explicitly intended. No. As interest in Ozempic grows, some doctors believe that more people are exploring ways to take the drug for weight loss. Dr. Narang himself has seen patients who “somehow got this” take off-label drugs (Dr. One Novo was on her Nordisk Advisory Board.)
She worries that as the drug’s popularity grows, people will come to associate it with “vanity” rather than as an important drug for diabetics.
Here’s what we know about what the drug can and can’t do, and who should take it.
How does Ozempic work?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are designed to be injected into the stomach, thigh, or arm once a week.
Semaglutide lowers blood sugar levels and regulates insulin, which is important for people with type 2 diabetes. This drug also mimics a hormone we produce naturally in our intestines called glucagon-like peptide-1, telling the body that we are full and restricting appetite by encouraging the stomach to empty more slowly. As a result, people with obesity and associated health concerns lost weight while taking it. For patients on the drug, “foods that used to be really stimulating are no longer stimulating,” she said. It has not been extensively studied in nonoverweight individuals.
The drug can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes, said Dr. Robert Gavey, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association.
The FDA has not approved Ozempic for weight loss, said Dr. Andrew Kraftson, clinical associate professor in Michigan Medicine’s Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes. But after the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss, demand for the drug became so high that some providers turned to Ozempic when they couldn’t get their hands on Wegovy, he explained.
Just as some people are prescribed drugs for high blood pressure and high cholesterol indefinitely, some obese patients are prescribed drugs like Wegovy for the long term, Dr. Kraftson said. rice field. People who stop taking the drug may regain the weight they lost on Wegovy, he added.
“These drugs are not designed for normal-weight people who want to be extremely thin,” Dr. Huang said.
Who Takes Ozempic and Wegovy?
After the FDA approved Ozempic for people with type 2 diabetes, the FDA Wegovy Approved For obese or overweight adults with at least one “weight-related condition,” which the agency believes to be problems such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.The FDA uses the Body Mass Index defines obesity and overweight. Well established but widely debated metric.
The drug is expensive without insurance — Wegovy’s list price is over $1,300 for a 28-day supply, Ozempic costs about $892 for a monthly supply without insurance — and people who don’t meet FDA standards. likely to be in trouble Get insurance to cover it.
Despite these obstacles, the growing number of off-label users of Ozempic may exacerbate the shortage, Dr. Narang said, noting that diabetic and obese patients are struggling to get Ozempic. pointed out that there is
“It was really bad. Patients don’t know where to turn,” she said. “We were like hamsters on wheels trying to figure this out.”
A Novo Nordisk representative said, “While we are aware that some healthcare providers may prescribe Ozempic for patients with weight loss goals, it is important to choose the best treatment for the patient. is left to the clinical discretion of each healthcare provider.” In a statement, the company added that it “does not promote, suggest, or encourage off-label use of any of our medicines.”
What are the side effects?
People taking both FDA-approved and off-label Ozempic and Wegovy may experience nausea and dehydration. You may also feel tired and lethargic. Bowel movements can change, and some patients have diarrhea and others become severely constipated. “No kidding.” Patients should be monitored while taking these drugs, and doctors may prescribe anti-nausea drugs, laxatives, or stool softeners. It may increase the risk of pancreatitis, a painful condition that causes inflammation. Some patients also form gallstones. Dr. Gabbay said he has seen several patients with vomiting so severe that they had to stop taking their medication.
Doctors usually start patients with low doses of drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, then gradually increase the dose to minimize these side effects, Dr. Gabbay said.
Is off label use of these medicines dangerous?
Doctors say there isn’t enough evidence to know whether these drugs are beneficial or dangerous for people who fall outside FDA standards. Experts have warned people looking for the drug for off-label use.People taking Ozempic and Wegovy should be monitored closely, Dr. Kraftson said. “Just getting this online doesn’t have the same layer of protection,” he said. “I don’t want to see people playing roulette for their health.”
The drug has not been systematically tested in underweight people, and patients outside the group for which the drug is intended may experience more severe side effects, according to Dr. Huang. Without it, it’s unclear how harmful these side effects could be.
“Marching into the unknown carries potential risks,” said Dr. Gavey. “And I don’t know what it is.”
