Ozempic for Weight Loss: How Can It Work for You?

Occasionally pharmaceuticals that are used to treat certain conditions also result in people to lose weight, and companies might study them to see if they’ve the same benefit for people without the condition, too. This is the case with the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic.

Ozempic for weight loss is presently under review by the FDA as a onetime-weekly shot to help people lose weight when used in combination with diet and exercise. The new discovery would make Ozempic for weight loss the other drug in its class to be approved for weight loss in adults who are overweight or obese.

In this article we ’ll cover what you need to know about Ozempic for weight loss, and when it’s anticipated to be approved.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable drug used in combination with diet and exercise to help with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which mimic the hormone GLP-1 in your body to lower blood sugar situations after you ’ve eaten a meal.

Ozempic is available as a pre-filled pen injector that’s used once weekly. It’s considered to be a long- acting option in its medicine class, since it works longer in your body compared to other drugs that need to be administered onetime or two times a day. Semaglutide, the generic form of Ozempic, is also available as a once a day oral tablet under the brand name Rybelsus.

Is Ozempic a type of insulin?

No, Ozempic isn’t a type of insulin or a replacement for insulin. It does however, stimulate the pancreas to release insulin when glucose (sugar) is present. Because it relies upon your body’s own insulin to have this effect, Ozempic isn’t used when your pancreas can’t make insulin, like in type 1 diabetes.

Is Ozempic a stimulant?

No, Ozempic isn’t a stimulant. While other weight loss drugs, like phentermine, have stimulating effects that help control your appetite, Ozempic for weight loss works a little different to induce weight loss. More Information on this following.

How does it work for weight loss?

GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, assist in the control of your blood sugar, but people taking them also tend to lose weight. GLP-1, the critical hormone involved, slows down how quickly your stomach empties food ( called gastric emptying). Also, in addition to it causing the pancreas to release insulin, it also blocks a specific hormone that causes your liver to release sugar.

Together, these functions can help you feel less hungry, causing you to eat smaller amounts of food and lose additional weight.

Does Ozempic control your appetite?

Yes, it’s believed that Ozempic for weight loss can help control your appetite. In addition to slowing gastric evacuating to make you feel full for longer, GLP-1 also plays a direct function in how your appetite is regulated.

How long does it take to lose weight on Ozempic?

With Ozempic for weight loss, you ’ll likely need to slowly work your way up to the target dosage to see the most amount of weight loss. This was the case in the clinical trials, where individuals had their dosage adjusted every 4 weeks or so until they reached2.4 mg once weekly.

In the phase 3 trial that measured results at 20 weeks, majority of individuals were able to reach the full dosage and also lost weight as their dosage was increased. They saw added weight loss over the remaining 48 weeks at the full dosage.

It’s important to keep in mind that weight loss can take time, and you ’ll see the optimal results when you’re using your drug in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. Occasionally the drug may not work for you, or you may not be capable to tolerate the full dosage due to side effects.

How long should you take Ozempic for?

Presently, Ozempic for weight loss is only FDA-approved to help with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes and to lower the threat of major cardiovascular events (like heart attack and stroke) in people with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, you ’ll take it as directed by your healthcare provider since you’re using it to manage a chronic condition, If you’re taking Ozempic for either of these reasons.

But if you don’t have type 2 diabetes and are looking to try Ozempic for weight loss to help you lose weight, we ’ll have a better idea of long- term safety once the FDA reviews data for this new discovery. What we do know is that study individuals had treatment for a period of 68 weeks (about 1.5 years) during each of the four trials conducted by the company.

Is it safe?

Being that Ozempic for Weight Loss FDA approval, Ozempic for weight loss is considered to be safe and effective when used as indicated. But safe doesn’t mean that there aren’t hazards, which are detailed in the drug’s FDA-approved labeling. Ozempic also carries a boxed warning about thyroid C- cell growths happening in rodents (with unknown danger in humans), and it shouldn’t be used if anyone in your family, including yourself have a history of different types of thyroid cancers.

The starting dose of Ozempic in type 2 diabetes is0.25 mg injected onetime weekly, and it may be increased to a max dosage of 1 mg weekly. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, has also just submitted a request to the FDA to approve an added increased dosage of 2 mg once weekly.

But the dosing being studied for weight loss is2.4 mg onetime weekly, which is presently higher than the dosages approved in diabetes. What’s more, it’s being studied in a different population: people with a body mass index (BMI) higher than or equal to 30 kg/ m ² alone or 27 kg/ m ² with at least one weight- related comorbidity (diabetes not included).

So if you aren’t diabetic and your healthcare provider decides to specify it off- label for weight loss, keep in mind that the FDA has not yet reviewed the data and determined that the benefits overshadow the hazards for how you would be using the drug.

Even though the initial results from the clinical trials are promising, the final decision in regards to the safety and efficacy is up to the FDA. .

What are the known side effects of Ozempic?

The common side effects of Ozempic at doses used for blood sugar control include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stomach pain

• Constipation

Since the advanced dosage has not been FDA-approved, we don’t have a list of given side effects yet. Still, trial results suggest that they ’ll be alike to those above, with effects like nausea and diarrhea being the most common.

 

Are there any foods or medications you should avoid while on Ozempic?

These are a couple things to keep in mind if you’re on Ozempic for weight loss.

First, you ’ll want to limit how much alcohol you ’re drinking while taking Ozempic, especially if you’re diabetic. Alcohol can have an effect on your blood sugar, and there’s a threat that it may drop too low in combination with Ozempic, especially if you’re drinking on an empty stomach. Alcohol can irritate your stomach, too. This might make you feel worse in combination with some of the GI side effects from the drug.

You ’ll also want to exercise caution if you’re taking any oral drugs. Since Ozempic for weight loss slows down gastric evacuating, this can potentially impact the quantity of oral drug your body is absorbing. And while trials haven’t shown this to be significant with Ozempic, you ’ll want to make sure your provider is informed of any other drugs you’re taking ahead of starting Ozempic.

Still, including over-the-counter (OTC) supplements and herbal medications, you ’ll want to talk over that with your provider first, If you’re looking to combine Ozempic with other weight- loss drugs.

How long until Ozempic is approved by the FDA for weight loss?

In early December, Novo Nordisk submitted a new drug application with priority review to the FDA. Under the standard review process, it generally takes the FDA about 10 months to review an application. But in this type of application, the priority review designation will reduce the time down to 6 months.

According to the company, the new cue may include adults with a BMI higher than or equal to 30 kg/ m ², and adults with a BMI higher than or equal to 27 kg/ m ² who have at least one weight- related comorbidity, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The drug is to be used in addition to diet and exercise.

Assuming everything goes as anticipated, the new cue and higher dosage may be approved as early as this summer.

 Read Also – ‘Ozempic Face’ and ‘Ozempic Butt’: How Weight Loss Drugs Are Affecting Your Skin?

Are there any medications like Ozempic that are currently approved for weight loss?

In addition to Ozempic, Novo Nordisk also manufactures a similar drug called Saxenda (liraglutide), which is presently approved for weight loss.

It isn’t cheap — the average retail price of Saxenda is over $1,500. Still, you may qualify for a manufacturer savings card where the drug could cost you as little as $25 for a 30 days’ supply if you have private or company health insurance.  If you are looking to save large discounts on your Ozempic for weight loss, we are Polarbearmeds.com offer this for only $284.50 per pen.

Read Also – Do Ozempic and Weight-Loss Drugs Treat Other Diseases?