Britain has decided to allow the sales of the anti-diabetic drug semaglutide (Ozempic) in the UK for the weight loss indication. Many renowned celebrities and elites from Hollywood have used this drug as a slimming tool. But there are concerns over it’s safety.
The anti-diabetic drug Semaglutide set to hit the UK markets as a slimming tool
The famous celebrities and rich elite in Hollywood have been using the anti-diabetic drug Semaglutide for weight loss. Elon Musk who owns Twitter has used this drug. And there has been a rumor that American socialite Kim Kardashian had used this drug probably to shed 16 lbs in order to get into a dress for Met Gala that Marilyn Monroe had worn earlier.
Soon Musk uses Ozempic for weight loss (Source: The Quint)In the UK, currently, this drug is licensed only for treatment of diabetes. But now, it would be launched as a weight loss drug too. It’s brand name is Ozempic. But in the UK, it would go by the name Wegovy, said a rep of the Danish Pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk. The price has not been fixed. But users of Ozempic pay 180 pounds for a months supply of the drug.
The drug is available as a medical pens. The user has to inject it into the body once a week. And it will cause a weight loss of 16% of the body weight in one year.
What British weight loss experts say?
Dr. David Eccleston is a private general practitioner from Birmingham where he specializes in body fat loss treatments. He said:
“No medical practitioner in the UK is allowed to actively promote Ozempic as a treatment for obesity because it is outside the product licence.”
He revealed that he himself has turned down so many patients who had asked for a prescription of this drug for weight loss. Experts fear that there might be off-label prescriptions that might cause safety issues. It might also lead to shortages of the drug for those who need it the most.
Semaglutide as a slimming tool (Source: Peak Medical)But Novo Nordisk assures that there would be no off-label prescribing. The company said:
“Patient safety is our priority. All prescriptions of our products should be in line with the approved summary of product characteristics and the therapeutic indication.”
Boots will start selling this product soon. A spokesperson of Boots stated:
“Wegovy is a prescription-only weight loss medicine that can help to regulate appetite and reduce cravings.”
“It can be an effective medicine to achieve sustained weight loss when used alongside a reduced calorie diet, increased physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices.”
Side effects of the drug
Celebrity endorsements and the unverified social networking platforms have led to the massive use of semaglutide for weight loss with no proper indication or medical supervision. But on the same social media platforms, users have shared their nightmares with use of this drug.
Ozempic face is a common complaint that is forthcoming. This is facial accelerated ageing in users of Ozempic. It is effective for weight reduction but it leaves the face of the user unrecognizable. The face looks exhausted and old. Doctors are increasingly seeing patients with this face. They liken the overuse and side effects to the erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra.
Semaglutide (Source: Medpage Today)Fat is lost in significant amounts from the face and hence the ragged look. Fillers can help but if the facial fat volume lost is considerable, only plastic surgery can fix it. And this procedure runs in five digits in terms of money.
Read here: Anti-diabetic drug, Ozempic becomes a popular diet drug on TikTok! Dangers of it!
Other adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, loose motions, constipation, tummy pain, headache, indigestion, fatigue, and dizziness. FDA also has warned that it could lead to thyroid cell cancer, pancreatitis, gall bladder issues, acute renal failure, increased heart rate, visual problems, and suicidal tendency.