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The use of Ozempic as a weight loss drug continues to soar in popularity in the United States. Doctors wrote more than 9 million prescriptions for the drug in just the last quarter of 2022. Ozempic became even more popular throughout 2023 and into 2024. Research shows that only half of those prescriptions are for patients with diabetes, highlighting how people use Ozempic as a weight loss medication even though it is not approved for such use.
While Ozempic has helped countless Americans lose weight, it is still a relatively new medication to many doctors and patients. This means there is potential for risks and complications to develop. Learn more about this drug including how it works and the drawbacks of using it.
What Is Ozempic?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, Ozempic is a semiglutide injection, which was originally intended to treat type 2 diabetes. Patients inject Ozempic as part of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists class of drugs that mimic the body’s hormone of the same name. The weekly injections tell the body to produce more insulin, which then lowers the patient’s blood sugar. However, one of the side effects of taking this GLP-1 hormone is a loss of appetite. Researchers believe the medication slows digestion, which makes patients feel fuller for longer.
How Does Ozempic Work For Weight Loss?
Ozempic is not approved for weight loss; however, many people turn to this drug as a way to curb their hunger and reduce their caloric intake. The GLP-1 hormone reduces the speed at which the stomach digests food and moves it through the digestive tract. Without Ozempic, the patient might feel hungry again a few hours after lunch. With this medication, they might not feel hungry again until it’s time for dinner.
Along with slowing digestion, the GLP-1 hormone tells the patient’s brain that they are full. This helps patients reduce cravings and the desire to eat as a whole. People who are trying to lose weight and frequently snack throughout the day could potentially benefit from this medication. It would essentially help them break a habit of eating when they’re bored or shortly after meals.
When Is Ozempic Prescribed For Weight Loss?
Even though Ozempic is only approved for patients with type 2 diabetes, doctors are increasingly turning to this medication to help people lose weight. Doctors are more likely to recommend Ozempic as an option to patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, as this is considered a threshold for obesity.
Doctors are also likely to prescribe Ozempic for obese and overweight patients who have pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure or sleep apnea. These conditions can either be caused by the excess weight that the patient carries with them or worsened because of obesity. Losing weight can have a direct impact on certain conditions and Ozempic can speed up the weight loss process while increasing the patient’s chances of success.
Ozempic for Weight Loss Side Effects
Despite the potential benefits of taking Ozempic, this medication comes with a variety of side effects. Nearly 18,000 patients reported side effects from taking Ozempic to the FDA. This doesn’t prove that Ozempic caused the side effects, but the patients who reported it believe that there was a correlation. Here are a few common side effects that patients reported:
- Abdominal pain;
- Nausea;
- Constipation;
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Dizziness.
All of these side effects indicate that the digestive system is in distress, which is concerning because Ozempic is causing the stomach to act abnormally due to hormonal changes. Dizziness could be a direct side effect of Ozempic or a secondary one. If this medication eliminates hunger pangs and a patient doesn’t eat, they might feel dizzy from a lack of food.
In some cases, Ozempic can cause serious side effects like gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis. This occurs when the stomach takes too long to empty the food inside, potentially causing a solid mass to build up.
What Are the Other Benefits of Ozempic for Weight Loss?
Many patients and medical professionals believe the benefits of taking Ozempic outweigh the potential side effects. This medication can have long-term benefits to a patient’s health because of their weight loss. A few benefits of taking Ozempic include:
- Lower blood pressure;
- Reduced risk of heart attack;
- Lower chances of kidney disease;
- Improvements in fatty liver disease;
- Reduced sleep apnea symptoms.
These aren’t necessarily the benefits of taking Ozempic itself, so much as the benefits of losing weight. For example, significant weight loss can take pressure off of your joints and reduce arthritis symptoms. This means that taking Ozempic could potentially improve your arthritis because of the weight loss.
Ozempic vs Wegovy for Weight Loss: What’s The Difference?
Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide injections. They’re essentially the same medication but have different dosages. The main difference is that Ozempic is only approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes while Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss. The two medications are very similar and are competing products created by two different drug manufacturers.
Because these medications are so similar, the side effects for Wegovy are almost exactly the same as those found when taking Ozempic. Patients should take the same amount of care when deciding if Ozempic or Wegovy is the right solution for their weight loss needs.
What Are the Potential Complications of Ozempic For Weight Loss?
While some patients experience mild and moderate side effects when taking Ozempic, some people develop serious complications because of this drug. Along with stomach paralysis mentioned earlier, patients can also develop pancreatitis. This is known as inflammation of the pancreas which can create abdominal discomfort. The inflammation makes the pancreas swell to the point where it is sensitive to the touch. Ozempic patients also risk developing a bowel obstruction because digested food isn’t leaving the body as quickly as it should.
These complications have led to product liability lawsuits from patients who experienced severe side effects. There are currently lawsuits pending against the makers of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. Patients feel like the companies did not adequately warn them about the potential side effects and complications that come with taking these drugs.
Are You Eligible for an Ozempic Lawsuit Claim?
Many of the lawsuits against Ozempic are still waiting for their court dates. The Philadelphia Federal Court had its first hearing on the safety of Ozempic in March of 2024.
If you took Ozempic or a similar weight loss drug and experienced negative side effects or complications, you might be able to file a compensation claim. You can potentially work with experienced lawyers who specialize in mass tort cases against large drug manufacturers. Tell us about your experience and we will do the best we can to help you.