Although Ozempic’s side effect on weight loss makes it difficult for diabetic patients to get their prescriptions, it also highlights the need for more weight-loss drugs.
Despite a recent shortage of Ozempic, some doctors say they won’t stop prescribing it for weight loss because of the obesity epidemic.
Ozempic is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes. The active ingredient, semaglutide, is the same ingredient in Wegovy that is FDA approved for weight loss.
According to PA Endocrinology, Dipal Divecha is the safest and most effective weight loss drug on the market today.
“Anti-obesity drugs have been shown to reduce appetite and promote 5-10% weight loss in conjunction with comprehensive lifestyle therapy,” Divecha said. “I recommend FDA-approved anti-obesity agents along with lifestyle modification therapy.”
Here are the medications she says she prescribed, in this order:
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Semaglutide (Ozempic & Wegovy)
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Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate)
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Liraglutide (Victoza)
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Saxenda
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contravene
The main concern with taking any medication is the side effects and diet pills can have some unpleasant side effects.
“Any rapid and significant weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones,” she said. “When weight loss therapy is discontinued, weight regain is expected.”
In fact, there isn’t much data on long-term use of weight-loss drugs to know how much rebound weight gain can occur, but some studies show it can happen quickly after Ozempic’s shutdown.
THE food recovery center (ERC) of Houston offers eating disorder treatment to patients. Jennifer Moore of the ERC said weight loss can trigger eating disorders, even in patients with no history. Moore said if someone is feeling desperate to lose weight, they may need counseling instead.
“Anyone who’s desperate and needs that quick fix, it might work in the short term, but they’re not working on what’s happening in the long term and that’s where the intervention has to happen,” Moore said.
However, Divecha said people with a BMI over 31 or a BMI of 27 with obesity-related comorbidities (such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes) may see improvements in their health with weight loss drugs. Of course, she says, these patients lose the most weight with lifestyle changes in combination with the pills.
Pregnant patients, those suffering from depression, certain cancers or uncontrolled high blood pressure should never take weight-loss drugs.
“There is no quick fix, there is no magic pill, weight loss medication is not for everyone, and the decision to start weight loss mediation must be individualized,” Divecha said. .
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