This guide outlines what Ozempic is, how it works, how to get Ozempic, and what you should be careful of!
How to get Ozempic: overview
What is Ozempic?
It is a medication originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. However, studies have shown that it also leads to significant weight loss in people who are overweight or obese. It can help control blood sugar levels and relieve diabetes symptoms.
Is Ozempic available without a prescription?
No – you cannot order or buy it without a prescription. The medication requires a prescription and is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Medical advice is necessary to rule out contraindications. This is because the medication can cause side effects and interactions with other medications. In addition, it is not suitable for every user.
Ozempic works similarly to the hormone GLP-1, which has a significant influence on metabolism. Before you use it or semaglutide, it is essential that you seek medical advice.
The treating doctor will decide whether the medication is suitable for you based on your symptoms and other possible previous illnesses. This ensures that you use Ozempic safely and receive all the information you need before use.
It is available by prescription in doses of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg. Patients administer the medication themselves as an injection solution in the form of a pre-filled pen, i.e. a small syringe, once a week.
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Is buying Ozempic online legal?
Yes, only with a prescription if medically appropriate — patients are allowed to order it online, but only as part of treatment by a doctor. If they issue a prescription for Ozempic, you have the option of buying the medication at your local pharmacy or at a reputable online pharmacy.
Beware of illegal shipping and fraud : The media hype surrounding Ozempic continues to lead to delivery bottlenecks in pharmacies. In addition, people who want to lose weight and who do not suffer from diabetes often try to get the medication without a prescription. The result: The online black market is flourishing and some illegal drug shops sell it at high prices. If you want to buy medicines online, it always makes sense to critically examine the trustworthiness of the shop.
Important : When it comes to illegally purchased medications, the authenticity, composition and dosage of the active ingredient semaglutide is not certain or tested. In addition, taking the drug without medical advice carries high risks .
How does Ozempic work?
Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide. This is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone that our intestines produce. Semaglutide has the same effects on our body as the body’s own GLP-1. It acts in the pancreas, brain and liver:
- Ozempic stimulates the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high
- It acts on the satiety center. The feeling of hunger decreases and patients are full more quickly.
- It slows gastric emptying. This ensures that you feel fuller for longer and reduces cravings for sweets and junk food.
- It inhibits the release of sugar from the liver.
- Unlike the body’s own GLP-1, injected semaglutide is not broken down by the body within a very short period of time. Only after a week does around half of the active ingredient disappear from the blood. That’s why Ozempic doesn’t have to be administered daily, but only once a week.
Impact on heart health
Ozempic reduced the risk of a nonfatal stroke or heart attack and death from cardiovascular disease by 26% in a 2-year study.
Ozempic for weight loss
Ozempic slows down gastric emptying , you are full for longer and have little desire for sweet and fatty foods: people who are overweight and take it lose weight quickly. That is why it is also interesting for people with obesity but without diabetes and is prescribed as an “off-label use” drug for losing weight. “Off-label use” means that a preparation or treatment is prescribed for a condition other than that specified in the drug’s approval.
How much weight do you lose with Ozempic?
Ozempic is available in dosages of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide . The average weight loss with a dosage of 1.0 mg is 7% in 68 weeks . Most weight is lost within the first 36 weeks, after which weight loss stagnates.
How to use Ozempic
Ozempic is available in the various doses as pre-filled pens for injection. One dose per week is injected into the subcutaneous fatty tissue on the stomach, thigh or upper arm. At the beginning of therapy, the medication is given gradually, which means that you initially receive a lower dose, which is then gradually increased. This increases tolerability and reduces side effects.
How long does Ozempic have to be taken to lose weight?
You will usually notice significant weight loss in the first four weeks. Sometimes it takes a little longer.
Once you have reached your target weight, you cannot simply stop taking Ozempic. Currently, science assumes that semaglutide must be taken for life. If you stop taking it, your feeling of fullness will no longer be suppressed and your stomach will empty more quickly. Without a lifestyle adjustment with a balanced diet and physical activity, you will quickly gain weight again.
Contraindications
In principle, the use of medications containing the active ingredient semaglutide always requires medical consultation and support. Certain groups of people may also have a so-called contraindication to semaglutides. This means it is not suitable for some people. In addition, in some cases there is a lack of investigations and corresponding data to be able to rule out risks. The following people may or should not use Ozempic:
- Children and young people under 18 years of age
- Pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding
- Women who want to become pregnant (Ozempic should be stopped at least 2 months before pregnancy)
- Diabetics with type 1 diabetes
- People who are hypersensitive to the active ingredient
- Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis
- Patients with thyroid cancer or cases of thyroid cancer in the family
- Patients who suffer or have suffered from depression or suicidal thoughts
Ozempic side effects
A number of side effects can occur, especially at the beginning of therapy with Ozempic, which is why the dose is increased gradually at the beginning. The side effects primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract. These include:
- Nausea (very common, more than 1 in 10 users)
- Diarrhea (very common)
- Hypoglycemia when used concurrently with insulin or sulfonylurea (very common)
- Vomiting (common, more than 1 in 100 users)
- Dizziness (common)
- decreased appetite (common)
- constipation (common)
- gastritis (common)
- Abdominal pain (common)
- heartburn (common)
- exhaustion (common)
- Cholelithiasis (gallstone disease) (common)
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) (uncommon, more than 1 in 1,000 users)
- increased heart rate (uncommon)
Be careful if your mood changes
While you are taking Ozempic, pay attention to any psychological changes, especially any sudden changes in your mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings. Contact your doctor’s office immediately if you notice any psychological changes that are new, worsening, or worrying you.
Is Ozempic carcinogenic?
One study found that people who take GLP-1 receptor agonists for one to three years may have an increased risk of all types of thyroid cancer. In addition, previous research from 2022 found an association between GLP-1 receptor agonists and thyroid cancer and pancreatic malignant neoplasms.
However, these and other studies have not provided conclusive evidence as to whether GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide pose a risk for thyroid cancer. Further studies are being carried out to investigate these possible connections.
Ozempic and alcohol
There are currently no known interactions between alcohol and Ozempic . Since both substances affect the gastrointestinal tract, alcohol could increase the side effects of Ozempic, such as nausea and diarrhea .
There is currently evidence that Ozempic reduces cravings for alcohol, especially in people who are addicted to alcohol. An animal study showed that semaglutide significantly reduced alcohol consumption. In addition, the number of relapses decreased after some time without alcohol. Further research will show whether It offers a treatment option for people suffering from obesity and alcohol addiction.
Alternatives to Ozempic
Due to the hype surrounding rapid weight loss with semaglutide, there were repeated supply bottlenecks for Ozempic, including for diabetics who depend on the drug.
Alternatives include Wegovy. Wegovy also contains semaglutide, but at a higher dose than Ozempic. It is also injected once a week and the dose is gradually increased at the start of therapy. The maximum dose is 2.4 mg of semaglutide per injection. With Wegovy you can lose an average of 15% of your body weight within 68 weeks if you maintain a balanced diet and physical activity.
There are other GLP-1 receptor agonists on the market that can cause similarly significant weight loss. The active ingredient liraglutide (trade name: Saxenda) has been approved for weight loss in overweight and obese people in many countries. In a direct comparison, patients lose more weight on average with semaglutide than with liraglutide.
How much does Ozempic cost?
If you qualify for insurance coverage, Ozempic can cost as little as $25 for a monthly supply. Without insurance, Ozempic costs around $892.06 per month, on average. However, savings programs can sometimes help lower the cost of the medication if you qualify.
Conclusion
While it offers very attractive weight loss, there are things about it that recommend discussing with your doctor before proceeding.
Photo by Markus Winkler
