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Last Updated on January 2, 2024
Ozempic is the most widely publicized diabetes drug ever.
This weekly injection is only clinically approved to treat type 2 diabetes. However, due to celebrities and TikTok influencers endorsing its weight loss side effects, stocks of the drug are now running low, leaving many people with diabetes needing to seek alternative treatments.
So, what is Ozempic, and can Ozempic help you lose weight?
If so, why is it not recognized as an official weight loss treatment?
Here’s a look at what Ozempic is and the side effects of Ozempic in women.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a weekly subcutaneous injection for type 2 diabetics to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin production.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic as a diabetes treatment in 2017. However, following weight loss claims, a growing number of physicians started prescribing the drug to treat weight loss and obesity, although it has not received official FDA approval for this purpose.
Positive Side Effects of Ozempic: Weight Loss
For people with diabetes, Ozempic has proved a highly effective way to regulate glucose levels and stimulate insulin production.
Ozempic encourages the pancreas to secrete the right amount of insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check. It also slows digestion and causes a hormonal reaction that tells the brain you’re full, leading to reduced appetite, which often results in weight loss.
Ozempic is only meant for use by people with diabetes under medical supervision and in conjunction with a structured diet and exercise program.
Following a clinically proven diet that can help you lose weight safely and consistently is where intermittent fasting (IF) comes in, as it can be a highly effective way to improve your BMI and help regulate glucose levels with or without the use of Ozempic– give it a go today with the help of Fasting Kompanion.
Adverse Ozempic Side Effects in Females
Unfortunately, like all medications, some women have reported negative side effects of Ozempic, which is the reason why Ozempic has not received approval as a weight loss treatment yet.
Ozempic Side Effects: Digestion and Gastrointestinal Problems
According to FDA research, over 30% of the adults taking Ozempic studied complained of symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux while taking the medication.
Ozempic Side Effects: Increased Heart Rate
In the same FDA trial, all the subjects’ heart rates increased between 1 to 6 beats a minute. This may not cause concern for the majority but could lead to complications if you suffer from a heart or other chronic condition.
Ozempic Side Effects Hair Loss
Although some women reported hair loss due to taking Ozempic online, this symptom has not been backed by studies. Hair loss is, however, linked to many chronic conditions, including type 1 and 2 diabetes and obesity.
Ozempic Side Effects: Irregular Periods and Fertility Issues
Research into the effects of Ozempic on a woman’s menstrual cycle is ongoing, so whether the use of the drug can affect your fertility or cause irregular periods is unclear.
What is known is that semaglutide, the main ingredient in Ozempic, can indirectly affect your monthly cycle by causing weight loss and hormonal changes.
Essentially, the reason you are looking to lose weight or the condition (diabetes) causing you to take Ozempic could cause your hormones to fluctuate and affect your menstrual cycle.
Ozempic Side Effects Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should avoid using Ozempic or semaglutide, as it could increase the risk of complications leading to miscarriage and birth defects.
To sum up
The upshot is that if you are thinking of taking Ozempic for weight loss or you are currently taking medication for diabetes and experiencing any unpleasant side effects, it is best to consult your general practitioner for advice.
In the meantime, consider a proven way of losing weight safely and consistently, like intermittent fasting, to reduce the risk of experiencing these side effects and maintain a healthy body and BMI.