Ozempic has been making waves in the weight loss industry lately as a miracle weight loss drug. Several public figures have dropped significant weight before our eyes, and almost each time we see it, Ozempic appears to be the cause. It seems to work like no other weight loss drug on the market, and many people want to get their hands on it. If you are one of those people, you probably want to know if you qualify. Ozempic isn’t a drug that is handed out very easily, and certain conditions will qualify or disqualify you from using it. And the qualifiers may not be exactly what you might expect. So what does Ozempic do, what are the side effects, and how do you get access to it? We will answer all of these questions for you and more.
Ozempic is changing bodies and lives right before our eyes, and while it's tempting to jump right into taking a new miracle drug, it's best to know as much as possible about it first. You don’t want to get overly excited about a drug only to later find out that you don’t qualify or maybe your insurance doesn’t cover it. If you’re dreaming about being the next Ozempic success story, keep reading to learn the risks and rewards, and if you will even qualify for it. The information you need to get started on your journey is right here.
What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a diabetes drug turned weight loss phenomenon. It wasn’t originally designed for weight loss, but its significant weight loss effects gained it a lot of attention and popularized it as a weight loss drug. Weight loss is a side effect of the drug’s primary purpose, but a growing number of people are using it primarily for the weight loss benefits. Ozempic is prescribed by a doctor and taken as a once weekly injection. The injection is done yourself at home, and is made specifically for people with type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t help at all, on the other hand, for people with type 1 diabetes.
Ozempic was approved by the FDA in 2017 and has a vastly growing client list. It became popular with celebrities, and is spreading amongst people everywhere in need of a weight loss solution. Ozempic is made for long term use. It is packaged as an injectable pen and lasts for a few weeks at a time. To get Ozempic, your doctor has to evaluate you and figure out if you fit the right qualities for a prescription. Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide, a substance that makes the body produce more insulin. It is the most popular version of semaglutide on the market at the moment, and it functions the same way another hormone in your body does, and acts as a replacement for it. It helps to significantly reduce weight due to its appetite suppressant qualities. It makes the user feel full more often, giving them less of an urge to eat than they would normally have.
How Does Ozempic Work?
Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone in the body called GLP-1. It promotes insulin secretion in the body, and when it no longer does its job, Ozempic acts as a replacement for it so that insulin can still be made by the body. The active ingredient in Ozempic is called semaglutide. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide that works to control blood sugar. It also has an added effect on weight loss by lowering the appetite of those who take it. This drug also helps to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and any other weight related ailments that tend to come with type 2 diabetes.
Along with prompting insulin production from the pancreas, semaglutide also acts as an appetite suppressant. It induces a feeling of fullness, which makes you eat a lot less than you normally would. Many peoples’ biggest obstacles when it comes to weight loss is appetite, and it no longer is a problem when you are on Ozempic. As the hormone levels in the body rise, they will go up to the brain and give it a signal that you are full. So even when you are not eating much, you won’t feel hungry. Ozempic does this by causing the body to feel satiated even when you haven’t eaten. It slows the digestion process, making food exit your system quicker, causing a feeling of fullness to occur.
Ozempic is self administered through a weekly injection. You will use an Ozempic pen to inject the clear liquid into any spot you choose, but the best spots are the front of your thighs, your upper arms, and the front of your abdomen. It is recommended that you switch the spot of the injection each time you use Ozempic, and you must simply inject it under your skin. This is recommended to avoid skin irritation from the needle. Your doctor will guide you on the amount you should be taking for each dose, and when you need to raise your dose, which will need to happen periodically.
Ozempic Side Effects
Side effects are a concern about any new drug, and Ozempic comes with a few that you should be aware of. The most common side effects you could experience from using Ozempic are digestive ones. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation. All of these side effects are more likely to occur at the beginning of treatment or when you raise your dose, with nausea being the most common.
Other side effects you could potentially experience while using Ozempic include dizziness, fatigue, and hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar, and it can potentially be caused by the glucose lowering effects of Ozempic. It is not likely for it to happen, but doctors warn about it just in case. The most serious potential side effect of using Ozempic is thyroid cancer. Past studies have found that Ozempic caused thyroid cancer in a percentage of the rodents used in their experiments. But while experts make sure to warn about this potential problem, they don’t believe that Ozempic is as likely to cause it in humans, so it is considered to be a low risk.
Ozempic can even cause a few cosmetic side effects that affect the skin. Ozempic causes rapid weight loss, and when people experience rapid weight loss, they can end up having loose skin. The skin often seems to sag in the face and backside, or wherever it was that the user held the most weight.
One of Ozempic’s side effects is fatigue, so there is very much a chance that Ozempic can make you tired. But just like other Ozempic side effects, fatigue is a symptom that is most commonly experienced by people who have just started taking the drug, and people who have just upped their dosage. And if you experience fatigue on Ozempic, it will be something that will likely last a few weeks. Another potential side effect of Ozempic is malnutrition. Since Ozempic decreases your appetite, if you don’t stay on top of eating, you can genuinely forget about it and lack nutrition over time. You won’t be tempted to eat nearly as much as usual, and it can lead to unwanted effects if you don’t pay attention.
So Who Qualifies For Ozempic?
If you want to try Ozempic, you will have to make an appointment with your doctor. There are a few conditions you can have that make Ozempic something that is likely to be prescribed to you, and some that will make it less likely. It is not a drug that you can go to the store and pick up, it is a bit more complicated than that, but if you meet the criteria to be a candidate for Ozempic, you will be in store for some outrageous benefits.
People with type II diabetes
The primary target for Ozempic is people with type two diabetes, so if that’s you, you are almost guaranteed to qualify for it. Ozempic is a drug that mimics a substance in the body that prompts the production of insulin, which is extremely useful for people with type two diabetes. Since Ozempic will get your body functioning the way it did before it started to have trouble making insulin, it might make the perfect remedy for you. Ozempic will do a lot to change your life for the better, and so having type two diabetes makes you the perfect candidate.
People with a BMI over 30
The next group that qualifies for an Ozempic prescription are people with a BMI of over 30. People with a BMI over 30 are considered to be overweight, and when you are overweight, doctors will find it worth it to prescribe you Ozempic. The rapid weight loss that Ozempic causes can bring you down to a BMI in a healthy range a lot faster than most other purported weight loss remedies. When you have a BMI over 30, doctors become concerned that you might face some negative consequences to your health, and so are more likely to prescribe you something to help prevent those potential outcomes.
People with a BMI over 27 with weight related illnesses
To be prescribed Ozempic, you could have a BMI of 27, but that’s only if you have any weight related illnesses. A BMI of 27 is considered to be overweight, but not so much so that it is something urgent to take care of, so if you don’t have proof of having any issues as a result of your weight, you likely won’t get an Ozempic prescription. Weight related illnesses that can make you eligible for Ozempic at a BMI of 27 include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and sleep apnea. If your BMI is 27 or over and you have any of these ailments, or any others that come as a result of your weight, you are quite likely to get an Ozempic prescription.
Who Shouldn’t Take Ozempic?
Like with every drug, there is a list of people who Ozempic isn't recommended for. It can have reactions with certain illnesses or the medications used to treat them, and your doctor will look into all those details before determining whether you are a good candidate for it or not. If you fit into any of these criteria below, your doctor is not likely to prescribe you Ozempic.
People With Type I Diabetes
Ozempic is only approved for use in people with type II diabetes, but not for type I diabetes. Researchers are conducting studies that show that Ozempic can potentially improve things for people with type I diabetes, but the results aren’t conclusive yet, so your doctor is not likely to prescribe you Ozempic if you have type I diabetes.
People With A History Of Pancreatitis
One thing that can disqualify you from Ozempic use is a history of pancreatitis. This is because in rare cases, Ozempic can cause some swelling of the pancreas to occur. If this happens while you are taking it, you will be advised to stop immediately, but if this is something that has happened to you in the past, it is recommended that you do not take Ozempic and potentially exacerbate the problem.
Ozempic is growing in popularity due to its tremendous weight loss benefits, but it is something that you need to have prescribed by a doctor. Certain conditions and body types can disqualify you from getting a prescription, but if you happen to be a candidate for it, you will be in for some amazing results.
