Ozempic is a prescription medication designed for people with diabetes. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, also has another effect: it suppresses appetite. This has led some individuals to use the drug as a shortcut to quickly achieving their desired physique without effort or diet. This practice has serious consequences. First and foremost, the popularity of Ozempic is making it harder to access for patients diagnosed with diabetes. Additionally, the health risks increase for people who use semaglutide without medical supervision and purely for weight loss.
What is Ozempic? A Doctor Warns: "It Prevents Those Who Need Treatment from Getting It"
If someone is purchasing semaglutide outside its registered indications (i.e., off-label), they are depriving those who actually need the treatment
- emphasized Professor Artur Mamcarz, an internist and cardiologist, and member of the Polish Society for Obesity Treatment, in an interview with kobieta.gazeta.pl. He also pointed out that while this substance is useful in treating type 2 diabetes, it carries serious consequences.
These drugs, like any others, can cause side effects; they are prescription medications and must be used under medical supervision
- he added. The potential side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic? Side Effects After Stopping Include More Than Just Weight Gain
Dr. Janice Jin Hwang from UNC School of Medicine in North Carolina told The New York Times that although there is no evidence of withdrawal symptoms, the first signs after stopping Ozempic and Wegovy (another medication containing semaglutide) can appear as early as one week. Blood glucose levels often rise sharply, leading to fatigue, vision problems, excessive thirst - symptoms typically associated with diabetes. Appetite returns, along with the weight that had been lost. In 2022, clinical trials were conducted, where patients were observed for 52 weeks after discontinuing the drug. Those who had taken semaglutide for 68 weeks regained up to two-thirds of the weight they had previously lost by the 52nd week after stopping the "therapy".
You’ll probably notice changes in your blood sugar levels, which can affect your thirst and appetite
- notes Amy Lee, medical director at Lindora Clinic, in an interview with health.com. Appetite and cravings return, leading to weight gain, and blood pressure may also increase. Some patients might even experience mood changes, often linked to the return of the weight. The trend of using Ozempic is not only dangerous for diabetics who face difficulties accessing the drug but also harmful to those using it solely for weight loss.
