For adults with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic is a prescription medication that helps people lose weight and improves low blood sugar levels. Make an appointment with a Plush Care physician right away to see whether you can receive an Ozempic prescription for weight loss. Here are two well-known weight-loss medications that are available, but they are not the same. Semaglutide is sold underneath the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic. In 2017 Ozempic received medical clearance for the management of diabetes. Wegovy was given the go-ahead to be used for weight management in 2021.
Olympic vs. Wegovy
Semaglutide was initially created to treat adults with Type 2 diabetes and was sold under the trade name Ozempic. The medication enhances glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes when used in combination with diet and exercise. The patient can administer the injected form of semaglutide once per week at home using an injection pen akin to an EpiPen.
According to Kelley M. McIntyre, M.D., a bariatric surgeon with Norton Weight Management Services, “researchers started to discover other effects of the drug, such as reduced hunger and cravings and weight loss.”
What distinguishes Wegovy from Olympics?
Wegovy is especially prescribed to treat obesity and overweight. For the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, ozempic is recommended. Both have been demonstrated to be secure and efficient for weight loss when combined with dietary modifications (including healthy food choices and exercise).
Wegovy is offered in pens with doses of 0.25 milligramme (mg), 0.5 milligramme (mg), 1.0 milligramme (mg), 1.7 milligramme (mg), and 2.4 milligramme (mg). There are 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg pens of Ozempic available.
The same 0.25 mg weekly dose for both drugs is normally begun, and over the course of several months, it is gradually increased. Patients on Wegovy gradually increase their semaglutide dosage to 2.4 mg per week.
Who should seize Olympic and Wegovy?
If you fit the following requirements, you may be a candidate for Wegovy:
- If your body mass index (BMI) is greater than or equal to 30, you are considered obese or overweight (greater than or equal to BMI 27).
- You suffer from one or more health issues linked to excess weight, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), or high cholesterol.
In addition to a lower-calorie diet and more exercise, the drug will be used for long-term weight management. If you fit the following requirements, you might be eligible for Ozempic:
- You are diabetic type 2.
- Despite other measures, your A1C level is not under control.
- You already have cardiovascular disease or have a significant chance of getting it.
- You suffer from heart failure or kidney illness.
How is Ozempic organised?
Ozempic functions similarly to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, which the body naturally produces to assist regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. It induces the release of insulin by the pancreas by attaching to GLP-1 receptors.
Additionally, Ozempic lowers the amount of sugar your liver produces and stops blood sugar levels from rising. It works best when paired with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Who is qualified?
One can find out if you qualify for Ozempic by consulting your doctor. You may be able to use this medication if you are an adult who has type 2 diabetes mellitus. Typically, doctors recommend Ozempic to patients who have unsuccessfully tried drugs like metformin.
Ozempic can be used in conjunction with other type 2 DM medicines. Type 1 diabetes mellitus and the treatment of patients under the age of 18 are not recognised uses for it.
Although Ozempic may help people lose weight by regulating their blood sugar and decreasing their appetite, it is not officially licenced to treat obesity. People who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a kind of thyroid cancer, should not use Ozempic.
Has the FDA authorised Ozempic?
In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Ozempic permission to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Seven clinical trials involving more than 4000 people with type 2 DM formed the basis for the FDA’s approval.
Ozempic has been demonstrated in clinical trials to be effective in reducing a person’s haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a gauge of blood sugar control. It’s possible that Ozempic doesn’t have an immediate impact on you. Given that Ozempic is a long-acting medication that should only be used once per week, it could take up to eight weeks or longer for its full effects to manifest.
What to avoid when using Olympic
While taking Ozempic, make sure to adhere to your doctor’s instructions to guarantee its effectiveness and safety. While some patients combine Ozempic with other diabetes drugs, you should not combine Ozempic with other forms of semaglutide.
Never use an Ozempic injection needle again. Don’t let anyone else use your injection pen (even if you changed the needle).
Side effects
Ozempic could have negative side effects, just like other medicine. Ozempic’s most frequent side effects include:
- Reduced blood sugar
- Vomiting and nausea; loss of appetite; upset stomach; heartburn; gas; diarrhoea; bloating; headache; vertigo; fatigue Rarely, more severe adverse effects from Ozempic may occur. If you take Ozempic and have any of the symptoms listed, get medical help right away:
- Changes in vision
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling, hives, rash, or difficulty breathing
Conclusion
Before using Ozempic, always read the manufacturer’s leaflet that comes within the pack before trying to take your first dose. Recollect that because we employ Ozempic “off-label,” the leaflet focuses on using it to treat people with diabetes, which is fine because the way you utilise Ozempic injections is exactly the same.
