The drug Ozempic, prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes, is the latest trend for weight loss. Its popularity is high as it has been shown to be effective against obesity, but always under strict medical supervision. It is not a miracle pill and has side effects. Actress Amy Schumer explains her bad experience on Howard Stern‘s show.
The artist commented that she used Ozempic three years ago and managed to lose 14 kilos quickly. However, the consequences were terrible for her health. “I was bedridden, had no energy and was vomiting,” she said. Amy Schumer commented that she has the GDF15 gene, which makes her very prone to nausea.
The FDA has not approved it for weight loss
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise, but not for weight loss. This is specified on the drug’s own website, which insists that the drug should only be supplied by prescription.
Side effects of Ozempic
The common side effects of Ozempic are nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and constipation. The drug is an injectable that acts as an antagonist of the hormone GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar. The sensation of appetite is reduced and, as a consequence, the patient loses weight.
The shortage of the drug
The head of endocrinology at the Quiron Hospital in Madrid and professor at the European University, Esteban Jodar, commented on the Ozempic fever, which has caused shortages in some pharmacies. “That a person with diabetes and a heart attack cannot access Ozempic because someone else is injecting it, is also an ethical problem,” he said.