Supplements claiming to work like Ozempic and Wegovy are now being sold – here’s what the evidence actually says about these products

As with many popular and effective products, this has led to a number of products which claim to work like GLP-1 being advertised and sold – including a raft of “GLP-1 supplements”. But despite what these supplements claim, they are not in anyway similar to Ozempic and Wegovy. Any benefits they might have will be minimal – and the side-effects they come with are probably not worth the fuss.

What is GLP-1 & Does it Affect Weight & Cognition?

Some scientists hypothesize that GLP-1 decreases appetite by acting on specific areas in the brain. One side effect of GLP-1 agonists is weight loss, which is usually desired in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, GLP-1’s effects on weight haven’t been properly verified in humans without diabetes.

Buyer beware: Off-brand Ozempic, Zepbound and other weight loss products carry undisclosed risks for consumers

For people who cannot afford a compounding pharmacy product, or cannot get a valid prescription for semaglutide or tirzepatide, opportunistic companies are stepping in to fill the void. These include “peptide companies,” manufacturers that create non-FDA approved knockoff versions of the drugs.

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Drugs that melt away pounds still present more questions than answers, but Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro could be key tools in reducing the obesity epidemic

Given the gravity of the obesity epidemic and the health costs that come with it, I believe the potential risks of using these drugs for weight loss may be worth the reward of lessening the burden on the health care system and improving the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people.

Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight

GLP-1 in both physiologic and pharmacologic doses promotes satiety, affects mechanistic properties of the GI tract and results in negative energy balance. Additionally, its success in promoting weight loss makes GLP-1 agonist therapy an attractive option in the management of type 2 diabetes. What needs to be balanced against this is the reported association between GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy and pancreatitis, pancreatic hyperplasia and pancreatic neoplasia [71].

FDA Warns People Not to Use Off-Brand Versions of Ozempic and Wegovy

Agency officials said this week that they have received reports of problems after patients used versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the brand-name medications, which have been compounded, or mixed in pharmacies. Officials didn’t say what the problems were.

GLP-1 receptor agonists for individualized treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Adverse effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, injection-site reactions, antibody formation and increased heart rate

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Beyond Their Pancreatic Effects

Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a 30 or 31 amino acid long peptide hormone mainly secreted by 3 tissues in the human body: enteroendocrine L cells in the distal intestine, alpha cells in the pancreas, and the central nervous system. Through its interaction with the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), GLP-1 participates in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. In addition, glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) can be combined with GLP-1Rs, playing the same role as GLP-1.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists for Type 2 Diabetes

Administration of GLP-1 receptor agonists stimulates GLP-1 receptors, thereby increasing insulin secretion in response to oral and intravenous glucose to similar extents; this means the magnitude of the incretin effect should remain unchanged

Incretin Mimetics (GLP-1 Agonists)

The drugs, also commonly known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists or GLP-1 analogues, are normally prescribed for patients who have not been able to control their condition with tablet medication.

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Non-insulin Injectable Diabetes Medications

You might be wondering why anyone would take these drugs, since they must be injected. These drugs do lower HbA1c levels, but only by 0.5% to 1.5%. They’re also only used as a second or third agent, not by themselves. One of the main draws of these drugs is that they do lead to weight loss in about 80% of users, and they seem to curb hunger, making it a good choice for people who constantly feel hungry. Weight loss eventually plateaus, however, so keep that in mind.

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The Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Mixed Treatment Comparison Meta-Analysis

This review provides evidence that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapies are associated with weight loss in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes with no difference in weight loss seen between the different types of GLP-1 receptor agonists assessed.

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The therapeutic potential of GLP-1 receptor biased agonism

At present, most evidence derives from cellular and animal studies, and more human data are required to determine whether this approach represents a genuine therapeutic advance.

The unintended side effects of popular weight loss drugs

You’ve probably heard a lot about Ozempic and Wegovy, the semaglutide wonder drugs for weight loss. Their newfound popularity with prescribers and online pharmacies has sparked a global shortage. Other diabetes medications are now also being repurposed for weight loss: On Wednesday, the FDA approved Zepbound, another version of Mounjaro, for chronic weight management.

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Torrid market for copycat weight loss drugs could be short-lived

The legal copycats are compounded drugs. They’re prepared by pharmacists using ingredients bought from suppliers registered with the Food and Drug Administration. In this case, pharmacies are buying semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, and tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound; preparing it for consumer use; and then offering it through telehealth websites or med spas.

Wegovy and Ozempic: could the new weight-loss drug also treat dementia?

A clinical trial is underway here at the University of Oxford that will specifically examine tau levels in people who have high levels of amyloid-beta but have not (yet) developed dementia. It is hoped that semaglutide will reduce cortical tau levels, leading to reduced rates of cognitive decline.

Weight-loss drugs aren't a magic bullet. Lifestyle changes are key to lasting health

The headlines are compelling, with phrases like, "The Obesity Revolution," and "A new 'miracle' weight-loss drug really works." The before-and-after pictures are inspiring. People who have struggled for decades to shed pounds are finally finding an effective strategy.

What is GLP-1 & Does it Affect Weight & Cognition?

Some scientists hypothesize that GLP-1 decreases appetite by acting on specific areas in the brain. One side effect of GLP-1 agonists is weight loss, which is usually desired in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, GLP-1’s effects on weight haven’t been properly verified in humans without diabetes.

What New Weight Loss Drugs Teach Us About Fat and Free Will

The new drugs are the first to manipulate the hormonal regulatory systems governing energy balance. The drugs simulate the action of our native GLP-1 but with longer-lasting effects, amplifying the fullness signal inside the body. People who struggle to feel sated suddenly don’t, effectively giving “someone the willpower of those lucky enough to have won the genetic lottery,” said Dr. Brierley.

What You Need to Know About Compounded Versions of Popular Weight Loss Drugs

But as with many situations in which supply far exceeds demand, questionable versions of these drugs are making their way into desperate patients’ hands, and doctors are concerned about what exactly these versions contain. Some online sellers are exploiting the opportunity to cash in, selling knockoffs of Wegovy, whose active ingredient is semaglutide, that may not even contain semaglutide.

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‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul’: Obesity experts debate risks of new weight loss drugs

Amid rising demand for drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro that can lead to significant weight loss, some obesity experts are concerned about the drugs’ costs — both to patients’ finances and to their health.