Table of contents
How does Ozempik work for weight loss?
Haven’t heard of Ozempik yet? Then, most likely, you have never been concerned about weight loss and control. Today, agonists of GLP-1 (GLP-1) receptors are real stars among drugs for weight loss. What is the secret of their popularity? How do these drugs work and what effects can be obtained when using them? Is there a danger when they are not taken as intended? Let’s figure it out.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin (produced in response to eating) hormone that plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels and feeling full after eating. GLP-1 slows digestion, suppresses appetite and improves metabolism, helping to achieve optimal weight. Incretins also reduce the desire for food, including “dirty” food, due to the effect on taste preferences, allowing you to feel full longer.
GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs first appeared on the pharmaceutical market in the early 2000s and were only registered for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, a noticeable decrease in weight against the background of taking these drugs opened a new niche for their use – the treatment of obesity.
The first generation of GLP-1 agonists (exenatide – Byetta®, liraglutide – Victoza®/Saxenda®) had a minimal effect in reducing weight, required daily subcutaneous injections and had severe side effects that prevented long-term use of the drugs.
In 2017, semaglutide (Ozempic®, for the treatment of diabetes, and a little later – Wegovy®, for the treatment of obesity) appeared on the market, which showed a significantly greater effect in reducing weight compared to its predecessors, became more convenient to use (once per week), and also showed a high degree of commitment and security.
The STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity) study, which involved 1,950 participants from 16 countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America, showed the high effectiveness of semaglutide in the treatment of obesity, and also determined its additional positive effects on the body, such as lowering blood pressure, improving lipid profile, reducing fat deposition and inflammation in the liver (fatty hepatosis).
After 68 weeks of semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly, half of the participants in this study achieved a 15% weight loss, and nearly a third achieved a 20% weight loss. By comparison, those who relied solely on lifestyle changes lost just 2.4% of their weight.
The most impressive results have been achieved with a combination of semaglutide and lifestyle changes.
How do drugs of the GLP-1 receptor agonist group affect the body?
Therapeutic effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists:
- weight control and increased satiety
- blood sugar control
- cardioprotective effect (lower blood pressure, improvement of lipid profile),
- hepatoprotective effect (reduction of fat deposition and inflammation in the liver – fatty hepatosis),
- oncoprotective effect (reducing the risk of oncology associated with obesity)
Interesting observations published in scientific journals in 2023-2024 suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists curb hunger both literally and figuratively.
Evidence has been presented that Ozempic can suppress not only the desire to eat, but also to consume alcohol, smoke, use cannabis, and even reduce the urge to compulsively shop.
It is still difficult to assess all the ways these drugs affect the brain, but it appears that they are able to modulate some of the reward circuits that help us break bad habits.
Unfortunately, due to the drug’s rapid rise in popularity, people are beginning to associate it with “vanity” rather than as a critical drug for diabetics and/or obese patients. An artificial shortage of drugs is created for patients who really need them.
Unfortunately, due to the active promotion of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs among famous people and bloggers, the dissemination of examples of its effectiveness in social networks, the impression was created that this is a magical way to achieve the desired weight without much effort.
The problem is that the drugs in this group were not designed for people of normal weight who want to lose weight. The long-term effects of their intake, as well as the severity of side effects in this group of people, have not been studied at all and may be too dangerous.
What are the side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists?
Side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists:
Often, especially at the beginning of the reception
- loss of appetite
- fatigue and malaise
Patients who do not take drugs as prescribed may experience more intense side effects. Without more research, it’s unclear how harmful they might be.
Research is ongoing, but it is already known that semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy) is a high-quality, promising and highly effective drug, which must be taken as prescribed and under the strict supervision of a doctor.
It should also be borne in mind that popular medicines very often fall victim to counterfeits and underground trade in drugs of unknown origin and quality.
Which glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are registered in Ukraine?
Be careful: today, in Ukraine, 2 GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are registered for the treatment of diabetes – Victoza® and Ozempic®, and a drug for the treatment of obesity – Saxenda®.
12.07.2023. Notice of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the detection of the threat of falsification of GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE 1 RECEPTOR AGONIST (GLP-1-RA) drugs*
Many online vendors sell over-the-counter GLP-1 AR drugs. The quality and safety of medical products distributed in a poorly regulated environment (for example, the Internet) cannot be guaranteed.
According to the State Register of Medicinal Products of Ukraine, as of July 12, 2023, the following drugs are registered in Ukraine under the pharmacotherapeutic group “Drugs used in diabetes, analogues of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)”:
VICTOZA®:
solution for injection, 6 mg/ml, 3 ml in cartridges inserted into a pre-filled multi-dose disposable pen; 1 or 2 pre-filled syringe pens in a cardboard box, manufactured by A/T Novo Nordisk Denmark, UA/12124/01/01;
SAXENDA®:
solution for injection, 6 mg/ml; 3 ml each in cartridges inserted into a pre-filled multi-dose disposable pen; 1, 3 or 5 pre-filled syringe pens in a cardboard box, manufactured by A/T Novo Nordisk, UA/18651/01/01,
OZEMPIK®:
solution for injection, 1.34 mg/ml; 0.25/0.5 mg: 1.5 ml each in cartridges inserted into a pre-filled multi-dose disposable pen; 1 pre-filled syringe pen and 6 NovoFine® Plus disposable needles in a cardboard box; 1 mg: 3 ml each in cartridges inserted into a pre-filled multi-dose disposable pen; 1 pre-filled syringe pen and 4 disposable NovoFine® Plus needles in a cardboard box, manufactured by A/T Novo Nordisk, UA/19176/01/01.
How to check if Ozempik is fake?
If you suspect that you have purchased a counterfeit version of Ozempic or another drug, you can check the relevant batch number online on the WHO or national health authority (MOH of Ukraine) page to find out whether it is on the counterfeit list. Batch numbers on both legal and counterfeit versions of Ozempic or similar pen-based drugs like Wegovy can be found in two places: on the outside of the box it comes in and on the label of the pen itself.
Take care of yourself and take care not only of your appearance, but primarily of your health.
