HWN Suggests

The unintended side effects of popular weight loss drugs

A weekly injection might seem like an easy option to shed pounds, but doctors warn these medications are not a perfect weight-loss solution. Semaglutide carries a number of side effects that range from uncomfortable to life-threatening, which can be even worse with off-label use of Wegovy or Ozempic... Overall, semaglutide can be helpful in managing weight and improving your health if you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition. “It’s another tool to help with living a healthy lifestyle, and like any other tool, it works well if used properly,” says Ali. He advises people using weight loss drugs to think of it as a supplement, not a replacement to diet and exercise. Without combining the…

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Featured

 Daily Pill May Work as Well as Ozempic for Weight Loss and Blood Sugar

Eli Lilly said clinical results of its GLP-1 in pill form showed safety and efficacy data similar to blockbuster injectable drugs. The drug, orforglipron, is a GLP-1, a class of drugs that have become blockbusters because of their weight-loss effects. But the GLP-1s on the market now are expensive, must be kept refrigerated and must be injected. A pill that produces similar results has the potential to become far more widely used, though it is also expected to be expensive.

Articles of Interest

'A Game Changer’: Drug Brings Weight Loss in Patients With Obesity

For the first time, a drug has been shown so effective against obesity that patients may dodge many of its worst consequences, including diabetes, researchers reported on Wednesday. The drug, semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, already is marketed as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

As Ozempic’s Popularity Soars, Here’s What to Know About Semaglutide and Weight Loss

Although semaglutide may not ring a bell, the drug has been popping up in news headlines and social media feeds since last year. That’s because the branded version called Ozempic has surged in popularity—and notoriety—for its off-label use as a weight-loss medication.

Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity

In participants with overweight or obesity, 2.4 mg of semaglutide once weekly plus lifestyle intervention was associated with sustained, clinically relevant reduction in body weight.

Ozempic’s cousin drug liraglutide is about to get cheaper. But how does it stack up?

Liraglutide was not originally developed as a weight-loss treatment. Like semaglutide (Ozempic), it originally treated type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide May Raise Libido, Patients Say

Changes in sex drive may be the side effect of semaglutide no one seems to talk about.

Weight-loss drugs ‘slow down the ageing process’, scientists suggest

Semaglutide – contained in Ozempic and Wegovy – has ‘far-reaching benefits’, with people dying at lower rate from all causes

Resources

Ozempic

Ozempic® is a medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. While not for weight loss, Ozempic® may help you lose some weight.

Rybelsus

Though not for weight loss, RYBELSUS® may help you lose some weight

StatPearls

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as 3 separate brand name medications—Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus®. Each brand name comes with its own associated indications, preparations, and dosages to consider. Due to the increased complexity involved, special attention is necessary for every FDA-approved indication and current off-label use.

Wegovy

Wegovy (semaglutide) is an expensive drug used to help people lose weight and maintain weight loss. It is used with a reduced calorie diet and exercise. It is less popular than comparable drugs.