The Medical Advisor

Semaglutide, known by the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus and others, is the latest weight-loss craze to hit Hollywood and beyond. The prescription drug, which is administered via a weekly injection, is intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, but it’s widely used off-label for weight loss. They all belong to the same medication class — glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists ( GLP-1 receptor agonists ).  GLP-1 agonists work by triggering insulin release, blocking sugar production in your liver, and making you feel full. But with all of these brands out there, how do you decide which is right for you? Let’s get to know some of the differences between these major GLP-1 agonist drugs. A 2021 study funded by Novo Nordisk, the drug’s maker, found using semaglutide once a week led to a 14.9% reduction in body weight among adults with obesity. There’s been such a rush on the drugs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists both Ozempic and Wegovy a...

By now, most people around the world have heard of Ozempic and Wegovy, which are GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs, originally made for treating Type 2 diabetes, cause rapid weight loss, thus attracting individuals who have been struggling to lose weight for a long time. In fact, the effectiveness of these drugs has led to a global shortage (1). However, as with many other drugs that promise immediate results, there's a catch. Ozempic Hailed as a 'Miracle Drug,' but the Downsides Are Sinister A report from The Epoch Times 2  covered a study published in Nature Medicine, 3  showing the impact of certain GLP-1 receptor agonists, sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy. As noted by The Epoch Times, "The media, patients, and even some doctors have dubbed the medications 'miracle drugs' because of their profound weight-loss effects." 4 In addition to weight loss, the study also noted that these drugs also lower ...

The US Food and Drug Administration says some people have been hospitalized with symptoms that may be related to overdoses from injectable weight-loss drugs. The agency alerted healthcare providers and patients on Friday, July 27, 2024 saying it received reports that some people sought medical attention or required hospitalization after taking incorrect doses of "compounded" semaglutide products . Compounded pharmaceuticals are essentially copies of approved medications that the FDA allows during a shortage but which have not gone through the usual FDA approval process. This is currently  the case for semaglutide , which is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. Compounded semaglutide is a slightly more complex story, however. The Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has a patent on the semaglutide molecule and doesn't offer it for sale for compounding. This has caused confusion over where some pharmacies are sourcing ingredients. "Compounded drugs pos...