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The world seems to be enamored with Ozempic. First approved by the FDA in 2017, this drug has become wildly popular among those who want to lose a substantial amount of weight. It’s become so popular, in fact, that there have been serious shortages of the medication in recent months.
Those who take Ozempic can drop weight fast, but it does come at a price; this drug can pack some serious side effects. Here’s what you need to know before you take that first injection.
The Basics of Weight Loss Medication
Ozempic is the most commonly prescribed and most well-known weight loss medication on the market today. Also known as semaglutide, this medication is taken as a subcutaneous injection, which means it is injected with a small needle just underneath the skin. The usual dose is anywhere from 0.25 to 2 mg, once per week.
It was originally created as a drug to treat type 2 diabetes and lower blood sugar levels when coupled with proper diet and exercise. It has the bonus of reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems with those who have type 2 diabetes or heart disease. It wasn’t until patients began dropping pounds without restrictive dieting that researchers realized the potential of Ozempic and similar drugs for weight loss.
The results from Ozempic have been dramatic for many people. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, those taking Ozempic lost anywhere from 5% to 20% of their body weight, on average, over the span of six months to a year.1 Those who add in exercise can potentially lose more than that.
Other weight loss drugs include Saxenda, which uses liraglutide as the active ingredient but works just like Ozempic does. Wegovy and Ozempic have the same active ingredient, but only Wegovy is approved by the FDA for weight loss – Ozempic is currently approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Other drugs you might recognize include Contrave, Xenical, Alli, Qsymia, and Imcivree.
Weight loss drugs can bring intense side effects. Since Ozempic is the most popular of the drugs used for weight loss, we’ll use that as an example of what to expect from these drugs.
Troublesome Side Effects
Those who have been on Ozempic and similar drugs for even a short period of time will notice the first and most common symptom is nausea. Some users have reported nausea so severe that they had no choice but to stop the medication. However, for most people. the nausea tends to diminish over time.
Other problems include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some might notice that these symptoms hit hard when they begin taking the drug but diminish over time, just as the nausea does. According to Healthline, other mild side effects include:
· Bloating, flatulence, and burping
· Changes in the taste of food
· Indigestion or acid reflux
· Dizziness
· Headache
· Weakness, fatigue, and general lack of energy
· Reactions at the site of the injection, including redness or discomfort
· An increase in heart rate2
If these uncomfortable side effects don’t go away in time, they can usually be managed well with other medications or lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor about your side effects and ask for remedies that will help. For instance, the nausea can often be treated with a simple anti-nausea medication that you take as needed, and there are many over-the-counter remedies that can keep indigestion under control.
Keep in mind that dehydration can be a secondary side effect caused by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Dehydration can then lead to even more problems, such as kidney issues, constipation, and more. Remember to stay hydrated! If you can’t keep down water, talk to your doctor about what to do.
Sometimes side effects can become severe. Medical alert systems for seniors are a great way to ensure that you stay as healthy as possible under all circumstances. By pressing the panic button on a medical alert device, you can immediately reach a trained professional who is standing by 24/7 and get help fast.
More Serious Side Effects
On rare occasions, Ozempic and other weight loss drugs can lead to some major problems. The more serious side effects include issues with the gallbladder and kidneys, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, and diabetic retinopathy.
Before starting Ozempic, talk to your doctor about the more severe side effects and what to watch for when taking the drug. If you are already at risk for some of these problems, it might not be worth taking Ozempic or any other similar drug. Only your doctor can help you make that decision.
If you experience side effects bad enough that you must stop the medication, keep in mind that it takes about five weeks for the usual dose to clear out of your system. Some of the more serious complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, can continue to worsen even after the drug is out of your body. When you’re dealing with side effects from any sort of medication, a fall alert at your fingertips can provide peace of mind. It’s designed to get help fast for far more than falls! You can press the button for any sort of emergency. Anything that makes you wonder if you need medical assistance is a good reason to press the button – that includes severe fatigue, nausea, dizziness, weakness, or any other side effect of any medication.
Warnings to Know About
The FDA has issued a few warnings about Ozempic and other drugs that use the same active ingredient. One of those warnings concerns an increased risk of thyroid tumors, though this has only been detected in animals. It’s not clear if humans run the same risk, but the FDA errs on the side of caution with their warning.
The symptoms of thyroid cancer can include shortness of breath, wheezing, trouble swallowing, and a hoarse voice that doesn’t get better with medication. You might also have a lump and pain in your neck or throat.
Another warning was more recently issued for the risk of serious intestinal problems, including a slowdown of digestion that can be severe enough to warrant medical intervention. The warning specifically points out intestinal blockage as a potential problem. According to WebMD, over 8,500 people so far have reported serious gastrointestinal issues, including two deaths from intestinal blockage.3
For some, Ozempic, Wegovy, and other weight loss drugs slow down your digestive system. Your stomach empties much more slowly than usual. This can be caused by the mechanism of the drug working in the body, combined with eating less as the medication takes away your appetite.
As the digestive system slows down, waste becomes backed up in the intestines, potentially leading to abdominal pain, distention, and other painful symptoms. You might have stomach cramps, watery stools, and severe constipation. If you are experiencing any of these problems for more than a day or so, talk to your doctor to get things moving – and to get further medical attention if necessary.
Keep Track of the Side Effects
Your doctor will be interested in any problems you might have with these drugs. To that end, make sure to keep a journal of symptoms that you can take to your doctor at the next visit. Keep track of the date and time you experienced the symptoms, and also include the following:
· The dosage you were taking when you had the symptoms
· How soon the symptoms began after that dose
· Any symptoms that you experienced – include everything here, even if it doesn’t seem entirely relevant
· How the symptoms affected your day-to-day life
· Other medications you were taking at the same time you experienced the side effects
· Any other information that might shed light on why the side effect was worse at a particular time; for instance, did abdominal pain show up after you ate something?
You should quickly start to see patterns in how you feel after you take the medication. Gather the information on side effects for a few weeks and speak to your doctor if they aren’t easing up with time.
Staying Safe
If you are losing weight quickly on any of these drugs, keep in mind that the changes in your body composition can also lead to changes in your diabetes journey. As you lose weight, your body might begin to overcome insulin resistance, which can make you more sensitive to medications for controlling blood sugar. Someone with diabetes might experience low blood sugars and need to adjust accordingly – for instance, you might need to take less insulin as your average blood sugar levels gradually drop.
If you have diabetes and you’re taking any weight loss drug, be sure to carry juice and a small snack with you at all times, just in case you suffer an episode of hypoglycemia.
As you lose weight with Ozempic and other drugs, you might notice that your balance seems a bit off. That’s because as you drop the pounds, your center of gravity shifts. That leads to a slightly different way of carrying yourself, and until you are accustomed to the weight loss, your risk of falls goes up. An emergency alert system can ensure that in any situation during your weight loss journey and beyond, you can get help right away at any time of the day or night.
