The Risks Of Semaglutide, The Popular Weight-Loss Injection

The drug, called semaglutide – which is marketed under the names Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus – is used to treat type 2 diabetes and as an anti-obesity medication.

And now it has just been approved in the UK for use in the National Health Service (NHS).

The drug, which is administered by subcutaneous injection, causes a person to feel fuller and more satisfied, which causes them to eat less.

Health authorities, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom, have indicated that the drug is safe and effective for chronic weight control in obese adults who have at least one disorder linked to their excess weight, such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

They also stress that its use should be accompanied by a low-calorie diet and physical activity programs.

According to NICE, evidence shows that semaglutide can help achieve weight reduction of more than 10% if implemented alongside nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Semaglutide works as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a gut hormone called peptide-1, which targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.

The hormone is released after eating and typically makes people feel fuller, which helps reduce overall calorie intake.

Injections must be prescribed by a specialist and the recommendation is that the drug be taken for a maximum of two years.

However, the effect of the weight loss drug has been so dramatic that its popularity has skyrocketed in many countries.

An article published last year in Variety magazine said the drug “has taken the [Hollywood film and entertainment] industry by storm in recent months, helping beautiful and wealthy people shed their extra pounds quickly.”

Insurance companies in the United States refuse to cover the cost of its use, which is about US$1,300 per month, in people who are not diabetic or who do not take it as a prescription drug.

But its popularity has grown so much that there is now a widespread shortage in the country, raising fears for people who rely on the drug for medical reasons.

In February, the CEO of Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes the drug, told NBC News that it is ramping up production to meet rising demand.

“We know for a fact that patients have been lining up [to buy it],” said Lars Jorgensen, the company’s chief executive.

The risks

The pharmaceutical company stresses that semaglutide should only be used under the prescription of a doctor.

Like all medications, this medicine has side effects and risks, such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Other side effects listed by the FDA include headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating, flatulence, gastroenteritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The agency also notes that health professionals should warn patients about the potential risk of thyroid tumors.

“Wegovy should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with a rare disease called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2,” the FDA said.

Rapid weight loss can also cause the skin to lose collagen and elastin, leading to what some media outlets have dubbed “semaglutide face,” a gaunt appearance.

“Welcome” option

But for those for whom losing weight is a problem or being overweight is leading to other health problems, medicine is a positive alternative.

Kailey Wood, 36, took Ozempic for seven months after being prescribed the drug by her doctor in New York.

As she told the BBC, she lost just under 30kg, going from obese to healthy and within her body mass index (BMI) range.

“I have polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance, but I honestly didn’t have any issues with my weight until I was in my 30s after I had my kids,” she says.

“I was gaining weight rapidly. I had a personal trainer and followed every diet known to man: keto, low carb, intermittent fasting, and nothing seemed to work .”

When Kailey went to get tested by her doctor, she was told she had high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and because of the risks associated with PCOS, she was also at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

“The long-term effects [of being obese] scared me because I have two daughters,” she says.

“I just wanted to be my best self, show them what a healthy mother looks like, go out and play with them.”

Kailey, who works for a tech startup and has her own TikTok page, says those who want to use semaglutide need to be aware of the drug’s side effects.

“When you start taking this medication, your body almost goes into shock: you have headaches, nausea, fatigue,” he explains.

“But your body starts to get used to it. You have to be aware and listen to your body.”

Kailey says she finds it in “very bad taste” that some people promote the medicine in the American media as a “quick weight loss product. ”

He thinks this is sending the wrong message.

“What it is doing is changing people’s lives: treating the patient before they have the disease,” he says.

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “For some people, losing weight is a real challenge, so a medicine like semaglutide is a good option.”

The expert stresses that in the UK, the drug “will not be available to everyone”.

Dr. Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and senior lecturer at Aston University Medical School in England, said: “It is important to remember that living with a high body weight or obesity is not a lifestyle choice, and people who want to improve their health should be supported.”

“It is also clear that in the UK semaglutide will not be intended as a lifestyle weight loss product. It should be used to improve health.”