Many people associate the start of a new year with fitness and weight loss goals. Some drugs, such as Ozempic and Wigovy, are popularized by the media and are often misunderstood as miracle “weight loss pills.” It is important to know that these medications must be taken as prescribed by your doctor after a complete medical evaluation.
Active ingredient: Semaglutide
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, is a popular drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and can help patients lose weight, but it is not recommended for everyone.
Semaglutide can be taken as an injection or oral tablet. Ozempic and Wigovy are both semaglutide injections, but they have different doses and strengths. Libersus is semaglutide in tablet form and has a different strength than injectable semaglutide.
Semaglutide has the following effects:
- lower blood sugar levels
- Reduce risk of heart disease
- Reduces appetite and aids weight loss
This drug is not intended for short-term use. Many patients must continue taking medication to lose weight.
Medications are expensive and may not be covered by all insurance plans.
These drugs require a prescription from a health care provider, and there are no FDA-approved generic versions. Take medicine only as prescribed by your doctor.
Only drugs prescribed by a health care provider are authentic. Do not purchase semaglutide online or at a “health spa”. It is dangerous to take medicines that are not provided by your doctor or pharmacy.
Ozempic
Ozempic, widely known as a “weight loss drug,” is actually not approved for weight loss by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Rather, it is intended to help manage her type 2 diabetes as an adult.
According to the FDA, Ozempic has been shown to:
- Lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes
- Reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection of semaglutide.
wegobee
Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss in some adults and children over 12 years of age. Wegovy aims to help patients lose excess weight in parallel with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Wegovy is a once-weekly injection of semaglutide.
Libersus
Rybelsus is an oral pill that helps adults manage type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. Not approved for weight loss purposes.
Rybelsus is a once-daily pill that must be taken on an empty stomach with a sip of water. Do not consume any other food, drink, or medicine for 30 minutes after taking Libersus.
Who should not take semaglutide?
Although these drugs are popular, they are not suitable for everyone. Check with your doctor to see if they recommend it.
Do not use semaglutide if:
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- I have multiple endocrine tumors type 2 (glandular tumors)
- Have a family history of medullary thyroid cancer (a type of thyroid cancer)
- allergic to semaglutide
- have a severe slowing of the stomach called gastroparesis
Take only one semaglutide drug at a time. For example, Ozempic and Wegovy cannot be used together.
Possible side effects of semaglutide
For some patients, the potential side effects of treating the condition outweigh the potential benefits. If you experience any of the following side effects, contact your doctor immediately and stop taking semaglutide:
- blurred vision
- difficulty swallowing
- fast heart rate
- indigestion
- nightmare
- Pain in the stomach, flank, or abdomen
- seizure
- rash
- slurred speech
- difficulty breathing
- vomiting
This is not a complete list of side effects. Consult your healthcare provider for a complete list of possible side effects.
Diabetes care at university health
Learn more about world-class diabetes care at Texas Diabetes Institute.
