Ozempic for Weight Loss: The Truth
Posted by Mike Sonneveldt - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Tue Mar 19 2024)
Using Ozempic for weight loss has become a popular trend. Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic continues to top the markets as a drug prescribed for type 2 diabetes. However, many are talking about its use as a weight loss drug. We give you the rundown on the truth about Ozempic and how Prescription Hope can support your use of Ozempic and other medications for type 2 diabetes.
What is Ozempic?
Lately, the drug Ozempic has been getting plenty of attention as a medication for weight loss. Novo Nordisk produces the medication to help regulate insulin production for those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is a semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. While some may wonder if Ozempic is an insulin, it is not an insulin but a receptor agonist.
What is GLP-1?
GLP-1 is a hormone produced in the small intestine. GLP-1 has a few jobs to do. It activates insulin to release from your pancreas. The insulin then binds to sugar in your blood. Without that insulin, your blood sugar increases in an uncontrolled manner.
GLP-1 also blocks a hormone called glucagon. The body uses glucagon to raise blood sugar levels at the appropriate times. By doing so, GLP-1 plays an important role in the regulation of blood sugar. It does this through increasing insulin production and inhibiting the release of blood sugar into the bloodstream.
Not only this, but GLP-1 slows the emptying of the stomach (slower digestion). The slower digestion restricts the release of glucose (sugar) from your food into the bloodstream.
To top it all off, GLP-1 interacts with the areas of the brain that process hunger and satiety. This means you feel full and satisfied with a meal (therefore less likely to eat more food.)
A semaglutide, like Ozempic, mimics the hormone GLP-1 by attaching to the receptors created for GLP-1. An agonist is a medication or substance that activates a receptor in the body in the same way a naturally produced hormone would.
In other words, Ozempic is a GLP-1 agonist that helps those with type 2 diabetes in two major ways. It increases insulin production, which absorbs glucose and regulates glucose levels. It also limits the increase of blood glucose. This creates a double-front attack on out-of-control blood sugar levels and a body’s resistance to insulin. This makes it a highly effective type 2 diabetes medication.
However, while Ozempic helps in two major ways, news has spread of another potential positive side-effect of the drug.
Ozempic for Weight Loss
Even though Ozempic helps those with type 2 diabetes, people have found another use for the medication. Many find that the drug often gives a positive side-effect.
Ozempic’s mimicry of GLP-1 plays a powerful role in slowing the digestion process of food. The drug tells your brain that you feel full and satisfied with the meal. Many people who take Ozempic report feeling full after much smaller portions of food than normal and feeling satisfied for longer.
Studies have shown that people who take Ozempic are more likely to lose weight due to these added effects. This means it has gained popularity as a weight loss drug.
However, there is a catch when discussing Ozempic causing weight loss. Currently, Ozempic is FDA-approved as a type 2 diabetes medication, but is not officially labeled as a weight loss drug. Many pharmacies require an Ozempic prescription for diabetes-related ailments. Pharmacies do not always allow its use as a weight loss drug. Healthcare providers continue to prescribe Ozempic off-label as a drug to help weight loss. However, a similar drug on the market gained FDA-approval for weight loss use in 2021.
Wegovy for weight loss
Wegovy is also a semaglutide but is prescribed in higher doses as an FDA-approved weight loss medication. Due to a shortage of Wegovy, people have been turning to Ozempic and using it off-label to treat obesity. In a study supported by Novo Nordisk, researchers assigned 1,961 adults with a BMI of 30 or greater to either a 68-week trial of weekly injections of semaglutide, or a placebo group. Both were provided lifestyle intervention as well.
The study found that those who took the semaglutide lost 14.9% of their body weight, while the placebo group lost 2.4%. The dosage of semaglutide used in the study was 2.4 mg, which is a higher dosage than Ozempic but comparable to the dosage of Wegovy. Doctors commonly prescribed Ozempic at a dosage of .5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg of semaglutide.
As reported by GoodRx, during clinical trials, people on the .5 mg dose averaged a loss of 8 Lbs. over 30 weeks. During a 40-week study, people lost an average of 13 Lbs. while on a 1 mg dose of Ozempic. Those who were taking a 2 mg dose lost around 15 lbs.
Should I use Ozempic for weight loss?
Have you asked the question, “Is Ozempic good for losing weight?” The answer to that is simple: talk to your doctor. You and your healthcare provider can come to a consensus on whether Ozempic would be the right medication to use as a type 2 diabetes drug. While people use Ozempic as an off-label alternative to Wegovy, no FDA approval has been given to Ozempic for weight loss. When discussing using Ozempic with your doctor, it is important to not only remember that Ozempic is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but that there are other factors involved.
Ozempic is a semaglutide approved for Type 2 diabetes. Considering the condition is chronic, a person should expect to take Ozempic for the long term.
Wegovy also stands as a long-term solution. Stopping Wegovy or Ozempic creates a strong possibility that you will gain back most if not all the weight you lost while taking the medication. Both drugs require long term prescription to maintain the lost weight.
A semaglutide acts on a person’s digestion process as well as communicates with the areas of the brain involved in regulating hunger and satiety. A person who stops taking a semaglutide will most likely revert to their original digestion process and will not feel full or satiated as quickly as they would on the drug. They would be more likely to eat more, digest quicker, and release glucose into the bloodstream faster than if they were on Wegovy or Ozempic.
Remember, the FDA approved Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. Doctors consider it effective at regulating type 2 diabetes. Losing weight loss on Ozempic is a side effect. Taking it for weight loss without a type 2 diabetes diagnosis would be using the drug off-label.
Is using Ozempic for weight loss Safe?
The FDA has not approved Ozempic for weight loss, however doctors consider it safe and effective as a type 2 diabetes drug. Ozempic does state that you may experience some side effects common both when first beginning the drug or when increasing your dosage.
Common side-effects of Ozempic include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Those who take Ozempic should also be aware that certain foods may make certain side effects worse. Foods such as spicy or fried foods, when combined with Ozempic, may worsen such conditions as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or other side effects.
Do I need to exercise on Ozempic?
Living a healthy lifestyle is always best for you, whether you are taking a medication like Ozempic or not. Eating healthy foods, getting consistent exercise, and minimizing things like smoking and alcohol produce plenty of benefits.
Those with type 2 diabetes should consult with their doctor to determine what health regimen is right for them.
Getting active is a wonderful way to feel better, get healthier, and lower the risk of the many dangerous conditions associated with type 2 diabetes.
Can I Afford Ozempic?
If you are having trouble making ends meet and know you need an Ozempic prescription, then Prescription Hope wants to help!
Without insurance, Ozempic costs $1,000 or more per month. This means you could be paying $12,000 a year out-of-pocket! Many people need affordable type 2 diabetes medication but do not know where to look.
However, you have options. If you are struggling to pay for your Ozempic and are looking for ways to save on your type 2 diabetes medication, then we invite you to check out Prescription Hope. For just $60.00 per medication per month, Prescription Hope offers relief when it comes to the strain of paying for expensive medications.
When you and your doctor determine whether Ozempic is right for you, simply go to our website and learn more about how we can offer our customers affordable prescription medications. After you have become familiar with our services, you are welcome to fill out an enrollment form. Once submitted, we will determine based on the information you provided whether we can pre-qualify you.
Once you qualify and we have received all of the requested paperwork from you and your healthcare provider, your order typically delivers within 2-4 weeks. After approval and you sign up, we manage your refills!
Medication typically delivers in a 90-day supply directly to your home or healthcare provider.
Prescription Hope
Prescription Hope is dedicated to helping those with type 2 diabetes get semaglutides and other type 2 diabetes medications they need at an affordable monthly rate of $60.00 per medication. We desire for every member to live without the stress and worry of paying too much for vital prescriptions, but to always have access to low-cost drugs. No one should have to choose between their medication or bills.
We provide a simple, consistent monthly rate of $60.00 per medication for over 1,500 medications. This means that not just people with diabetes can benefit from what we offer.
If you have received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and are looking to get low-cost insulin or affordable medications, then please visit us at www.PrescriptionHope.com to learn more about how we can save you money every month!
