Ozempic or Wegovi for fast weight loss?

If you don’t watch TikTok videos or pay attention to Hollywood’s latest weight loss craze, I’m going to deliver the straight and skinny on semaglutide. These injectable diabetes medications are available in both Olympic And Wegs. Semaglutide mimics a natural hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) which helps the body regulate blood sugar and appetite. Elon Musk, among others, is using Wegovi for rapid weight loss. How safe and effective are these drugs?

Has the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss?

In a word, yes! But there are some important caveats.

on June 4, 2021 FDA announced:

“Today, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovi (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg once weekly) for the chronic weight management of adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (eg, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes). or high cholesterol), for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. This subcutaneous injection is the first drug approved since 2014 for the chronic weight management of adults with general obesity or overweight.”

The FDA explains how semaglutide works:

“Wegovi works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that control appetite and food intake. The dose should be gradually increased to 2.4 mg once weekly over 16 to 20 weeks to minimize gastrointestinal side effects.”

How effective is Wegovy for quick weight loss?

First, let’s be clear that we are no Recommend this drug for weight loss: fast, slow or in between! It was FDA approved only For those who have very serious weight problems. Olympic There is also semaglutide but there is no FDA approved for weight loss. It is approved to help control type 2 diabetes.

There were four clinical trials that tested Wegovi. According to the agency, 2,600 patients received the drug for more than a year and 1,500 patients received placebos. Average body weight was 231 pounds. These were fat patients!

The FDA says:

“The drug is indicated for chronic weight management in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or more who have at least one weight-related illness or a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more.”

The FDA adds that in the 68-week trial:

“Individuals who received Wegovi lost an average of 12.4% of their initial body weight compared to those who received placebo.”

In another clinical trial involving obese patients (BMI was 36 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes:

“…subjects who received Wegovi lost 6.2% of their initial body weight compared to those who received placebo.”

What about Semaglutide side effects?

Thyroid Cancer:

Let’s start with the black box warning. This is the FDA’s highest warning for any drug approved. This represents a serious security concern.

The boxed warning for Ozempic and Wegovi states:

“In rats, semaglutide caused dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures.

“The Wegs [or Ozempic] Patients with a personal or family history of MTC are contraindicated [medullary thyroid carcinoma] or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Doctors should inform patients about the symptoms of thyroid tumors. They include:

“A mass in the neck, dysphagia [difficulty swallowing]shortness of breath [shortness of breath]Constant hoarseness.”

Pancreatitis:

Thyroid cancer is not the only serious concern. Pancreatitis is a big deal! You can probably figure it out without much help. It is inflammation of the pancreas. According to official prescribing information, doctors should monitor for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis!

They include:

“Persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting.”

We will go further and touch the abdominal area with nausea, tenderness, swelling, fever, rapid heartbeat, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) or low blood pressure. Any of these symptoms require immediate medical attention and discontinuation of semaglutide.

Other serious side effects:

Kidney injury has also been reported with semaglutide. Gallbladder disease is another complication. Some people may develop a severe allergic reaction to the injection leading to swelling and anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening reaction.

Common adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation. Differentiating between “normal” digestive complications and symptoms caused by pancreatitis can be challenging.

Other side effects of semaglutide include eye problems, headache, fatigue, indigestion, rash, flatulence and low blood sugar in diabetics.

Fatigue:

A reader who was taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes asked about fatigue:

Q. What is it about ozempi that makes you so tired?

A. Doctors prescribe semaglutide (Ozempic) to control blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. The most common side effects are stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.

Some people also report feeling tired, although this is considered an uncommon complication. We don’t have an explanation for this adverse reaction, although you should monitor your blood sugar to make sure it doesn’t drop too low. If this occurs, symptoms may include dizziness, tremors, fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

Ozempic and Wegovi for fast weight loss:

We keep hearing through the grapevine that people are clamoring for Ozempic and Wegovi to lose weight fast. Demand was so high, in fact, that the FDA reported a shortage of semaglutide injectable pens.

an article The Wall Street Journal title “How a Diabetes Drug Became the Talk of Hollywood, Tech and the Hamptons” (October 12, 2022) reports that:

“‘It’s the Hollywood drug,’ said Patty Stanger, star and executive producer of the reality show ‘The Millionaire Matchmaker’ who tweeted about Ozempic in an interview.

“‘It’s nationwide,’ Ms. Stanger said. ‘I have friends in Miami, I have friends in New York who are doing it.’

We think this is a bad idea! Casual use has too many serious side effects. And remember, ozempic no Approved for weight loss. Only Wegovy is. At that time, it only For severe obesity.

Cost of Wegovy for fast weight loss:

Those who think they should use Wegovy for quick weight loss will be shocked by the price. Remember, this is a self-injection (subcutaneous) shot in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The recommended dose is once a week. According to GoodRx, with a retail price of about $1,600 for a month’s supply. Even with a coupon, that’s still over $1,300.

If you are not obese, you may have trouble getting an insurance company to cover this drug. Even if you’re seriously overweight, some insurance companies may have to do some arm-twisting to pony up.

There is one final caveat. Once someone stops taking semaglutide for weight loss, the weight may come back. The The Wall Street Journal Article Quoted by Lisa Moskowitz, “a registered dietitian and CEO of NY Nutrition Group.”

He says:

“When you stop taking it, you lose the feeling of fullness, the benefit of not being hungry. And now your hunger signals and cues can become much stronger.”

Oh yeah, there’s one more caveat: The FDA warns that:

“Depression or suicidal behavior or thoughts”

Straight and skinny on Wegovi for fast weight loss:

Want to know more about Wegovy for weight loss? Here is a link to a previous article On the People’s Pharmacy website. This provides some of the balance found in the scientific literature. You’ll also get some insight into gallbladder disease associated with similar diabetes medications.

If you want to watch an Olympic TV ad, we provide one Link to this article. The light-hearted music and catchy jingle will absolutely grab your attention. Don’t forget to count the laughs during the commercial warning episode!

What do you think about Ozempic or Wegovi for fast weight loss?

Share your thoughts below in the comments section.