Ozempic: Addressing Common Side Effects

You know you’re ready to lose the weight and keep it off. That’s fantastic! You deserve to feel amazing in your body, to love the way you look, and to be completely free from the brutal health effects of obesity.

Many people look to Ozempic as a possible weight loss solution. Ozempic can help people to lose weight (although weight loss is generally modest). But it also comes with many side effects that people are sometimes not aware of.  Some side effects are common and others are uncommon but potentially very serious. Let’s review those side effects together.

How Does Ozempic Work In the Body?

First, though, let’s take a step back. How does Ozempic work?

Ozempic is in a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics. Essentially: these drugs stimulate the GLP-1 pathway in your body. GLP-1 is a hormone produced when you eat food. This hormone sends signals to your pancreas to produce more insulin, which is why Ozempic is approved as a type 2 diabetes medication. It also sends signals to your brain that your stomach is full and sends signals to your gastro-intestinal tract to slow down digestion. By stimulating the GLP-1 pathway, Ozempic helps patients to feel fuller for longer, which can reduce hunger cravings and help them to lose weight.

The weight loss offered by Ozempic is not as large as that offered by bariatric surgery, but it can be real. One study found that, when Ozempic was paired with dietary changes and exercise, Ozempic patients lost an average of 12.5% more of their bodyweight (over 68 weeks) than the placebo group who underwent the same lifestyle modifications. For someone who suffers from obesity and weighs 300 pounds, that’s about 35-40 pounds of excess weight lost in a little over a year.

What Are Common Ozempic Side Effects?

Unfortunately, Ozempic comes with many common side effects. These include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• constipation
• loss of appetite
• heartburn
• bloating
• burping and/or gas
• mood changes

Ozempic can also cause more serious side effects in some cases. These can include:

• gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
• pancreatitis
• certain endocrine tumors in the pancreas or thyroid glands
• irregular heart rhythm
• kidney issues
• gall bladder issues (including gallstones)
• pancreatic or thyroid cancer
• worsening depression, anxiety, and suicidality

One study found that of patients who took weekly subcutaneous injections of Ozempic, 48.6% (almost half) experienced negative side effects and this rate of side effects is actually higher than weight loss surgery. The most common Ozempic side effects were nausea and vomiting (36.6% of patients), diarrhea (8.6%), fatigue (6.3%), constipation (5.7%), and abdominal pain (5.1%).

11.5% of patients experienced such severe symptoms that they were told during the study to either reduce their dose, avoid increasing their dose (a steadily increasing Ozempic dosage was what doctors otherwise suggested during the study), or to stop taking Ozempic altogether.

Who Should Not Take Ozempic?

Ozempic can lead to fairly substantial weight loss, but it can also cause numerous side effects. Some people are more likely to experience Ozempic side effects than others. Because of this, it is very important that you get screened by your provider before beginning to take Ozempic. In particular, you should be very cautious about taking Ozempic if you already suffer from (or know you are at risk for):

• gastroparesis
• bowel obstructions
• pancreatitis
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• suffer from (or have suffered from) problems with your kidneys or pancreas
• have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• have a history of depression, anxiety, especially suicidality

It is also very important that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, that you not take Ozempic; because it is not known whether or not Ozempic will pass into your breast milk or into your unborn baby. If you plan to become pregnant, stop taking Ozempic at least 2 months beforehand.

Some people, often inspired by social media, consider taking Ozempic (or a similar drug) without medical supervision and without an appreciation of potential side effects. For your safety please do not do this. It is very important that you only take Ozempic under the direct supervision of a doctor who has screened and approved you to take it.

Is Ozempic Safe For Long-Term Use?

Ozempic is still a relatively new drug, and few patients have been on it for years; so the answer to this question is in some ways unclear. Ozempic is designed to be taken long-term. However, long-term usage is implicated in some of the more serious Ozempic side effects (such as pancreatitis, thyroid tumors, and gallstones). Animal studies also suggest that Ozempic might lower bone density in the long term.

From a weight loss perspective, the biggest long-term problem is that once patients stop taking Ozempic, they typically start to regain weight. Their appetite increases and their glucose levels rise, which means that patients who start Ozempic and then go off of it may find themselves right back where they started. This is a serious concern for many people and also highlights that the only way to maintain meaningful weight loss with Ozempic is to continue to take it for the rest of your life.

Taking the Next Step On Your Weight Loss Journey

At the BMCC, we care deeply for you and for your health. You deserve to feel amazing in your body and to love the way you look.

If you are suffering from obesity and looking for weight-loss solutions, we highly recommend that you consider bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery has helped many patients just like you to lose weight, keep it off, and get back to the wonderful life that they deserve. Bariatric surgery can help many patients to lose 65-100% of their excess body weight, which can translate to sustained weight loss of 100-150 pounds or even more. Imagine how that would feel.

Many of our patients say that the decision to undergo bariatric surgery was one of the best decisions they ever made.

“We cannot imagine another Doctor or Practice with whom this process could have been so wonderfully orchestrated…. Dr. Long and his staff are the kindest, most loving, and supportive group of individuals we have ever could have met. Each person has contributed to our success, each and every one.”—Keri and Chris Sexton, gastric sleeve patients.

If you’re suffering, don’t wait. Reach out to our friendly office staff today.