Ozempic, drug is prescribed by doctor for type 2 diabetes patient not for loosing weight
It’s become a sensation on social media, with the topic "Ozempic" garnering over 300 million views on TikTok.
Many people who don’t have diabetes are using it off-label — the practice of taking an approved drug for unapproved use — and crediting it for their weight-loss success.
Since Ozempic has gone viral, some doctors have been flooded with inquiries.
“It’s become something very hot and heavy in Los Angeles
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, says increased demand for the drug and supply chain issues have impacted supplies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists the medication as “currently in shortage” on its website.
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, a medicine for adults with Type 2 diabetes that patients self-inject under their skin
It’s in a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists and works by mimicking a natural hormone the body releases when a person eats food.
It regulates your blood sugar, but it also targets that area in the brain that sends the signal of feeling full or not
So it’s definitely helpful for weight loss,” said NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar.
Ozempic’s sister drug, Wegovy, which has been approved for weight loss in people with obesity by the FDA
It also contains semaglutide, though the injector pens are slightly different and come in different doses. It, too, is listed as “currently in shortage” by the FDA.
Is it safe?
YouTube user Ana McKenna, who has documented her 45-pound weight loss journey with Ozempic, told TODAY it has been her “easiest weight-loss attempt and my most successful.”
But she also agreed it wasn’t a magic pill, noting side effects such as headaches and fatigue.
Other side effects of Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis and kidney failure, Azar cautioned. “It can potentially harm you,” she said.