Ozempic is without doubt one of the many injectable diabetes medicines obtainable at present. Whereas it’s just like others available on the market, it affords a number of distinctive facets, too.
On this article, we’ll have a look at how Ozempic works, who can take it, and the commonest unintended effects.
What’s Ozempic?
Semaglutide — identified below the model title Ozempic — is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist.
Taken through injection as soon as per week, Ozempic works to enhance your blood sugar in a number of methods.
Learn extra in: All the pieces You Have to Know About Ozempic.
Who can take Ozempic?
Ozempic is accepted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to decrease blood sugar ranges in individuals with sort 2 diabetes and can also be accepted to scale back the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke, or demise in adults with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness. Ozempic just isn’t an alternative choice to insulin.
Ozempic just isn’t beneficial as a first-line remedy, or the primary pharmaceutical remedy you strive. As an alternative, medicines like metformin could be used first, and Ozempic could possibly be an eventual alternative if different choices aren’t efficient.
Discover out extra about Ozempic and metformin in: Can You Take Metformin and Ozempic Collectively?
The dosage of Ozempic ought to begin small and be elevated step by step to the total dose over the course of 4 weeks. This must be managed intently by your healthcare workforce.
Study extra in: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
You must speak to your physician earlier than taking Ozempic if
- You will have a historical past of issues together with your pancreas or kidneys
- You will have a historical past of diabetic retinopathy (eye illness)
- You might be pregnant or plan to turn into pregnant quickly
- You might be breastfeeding
You shouldn’t take Ozempic if
- You will have a historical past of pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- You might be below 18 years outdated
- You will have a historical past of thyroid tumors or thyroid most cancers
- You or a member of the family ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2)
Frequent Ozempic unintended effects
In line with the producer, the commonest unintended effects of Ozempic embrace:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
- Constipation
These unintended effects are immediately associated to the drug’s influence in your abdomen’s fee of digestion, which advantages your blood sugar ranges.
Uncommon however severe Ozempic unintended effects
A wide range of much less widespread however severe unintended effects are additionally linked to this treatment, comparable to:
- Thyroid tumors — probably cancerous. Signs might embrace:
- Swelling in your neck
- Hoarseness in throat
- Issue swallowing
- Shortness of breath
- Pancreatitis. Signs might embrace:
- Ache in your stomach or again
- Adjustments in your imaginative and prescient. Inform your healthcare workforce instantly about any modifications you detect in your eyesight.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). In case you are experiencing lows, focus on this together with your physician to allow them to regulate your Ozempic dosage or the opposite medicines you’re taking.
- Worsened kidney points and kidney failure.
- Severe allergic response. Signs might embrace:
- Itching
- Rash
- Issue respiratory
The priority relating to thyroid tumors is predicated on the outcomes of research utilizing Ozempic and comparable medicines in animal research. On this analysis, some rats and mice developed thyroid tumors, a few of which have been cancerous. It’s not identified if Ozempic has this impact in people.
Notice: Following the approval of a medicine by the FDA, the company continues to observe its unintended effects. Do you have to expertise any opposed results from utilizing Ozempic, you might be inspired to report them to the FDA via their MedWatch program.
Weight reduction as an Ozempic facet impact
Weight reduction is one other vital facet impact related to Ozempic. Though it has not been accepted as a weight-loss drugs, semaglutide at the next dose is used within the treatment Wegovy, which is particularly designed for this function.
Moreover, many individuals have been prescribed Ozempic off-label (in a way not formally accepted by the FDA) for this function.
Study extra in: Can Ozempic Assist You Lose Weight?
Fast and vital weight reduction, whether or not from drugs or different elements, can result in modifications in bodily look.
One in every of these is modifications in facial contours, or what’s colloquially often known as “Ozempic face.” On this state of affairs, facial pores and skin might sag or turn into wrinkled, the face might seem hollowed, or the eyes might seem sunken.
For those who expertise modifications in your bodily look which can be regarding whereas taking Ozempic, it’s necessary to seek the advice of together with your medical workforce.
To forestall Ozempic face, options might embrace decreasing the dosage or stopping the treatment. This could solely be finished in shut session together with your healthcare supplier. In circumstances the place the state of affairs is inflicting misery, facial fillers might assist.
How do I cut back the unintended effects?
The most typical unintended effects of Ozempic are gastrointestinal. For instance, in medical trials, 15.8 % of individuals skilled nausea, 8.5 % skilled diarrhea, and seven.5 % skilled belly ache.
To cut back unintended effects comparable to nausea, the producer recommends the next steps:
- Eat bland meals, comparable to crackers, rice, and toast
- Eat meals containing water, comparable to soups and gelatin
- Keep away from greasy, fried, and candy meals
- Eat extra slowly
- Drink clear or ice-cold liquids
- Don’t lie down after consuming
- Go exterior for recent air
Discover out extra in: Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Ozempic.
How lengthy does it take the unintended effects of Ozempic to cease?
Frequent unintended effects from Ozempic typically disappear inside a couple of days or perhaps weeks, as your physique will get used to the medication.
In case your unintended effects last more than this, are distressing, or are severe, converse together with your healthcare supplier.
For those who cease taking the medication, chances are you’ll proceed to really feel unintended effects for a couple of weeks because it leaves your system.
Study extra about this drugs in All the pieces You Have to Know About Ozempic. Did you discover this text useful? Click on Sure or No beneath to tell us!
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