By Dr Jeffrey Hall, Bulli Medical Practice
Ozempic is the trade name for the medication Semaglutide. It is a bio-similar medication to a gut hormone that regulates insulin responses to food and is the best known in the class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These types of medications were originally developed to treat diabetes to improve control of blood sugars but with the additional benefit of weight loss. Ozempic was not the first medication available in this class of medication but is more potent than its predecessors, with greater weight loss effect.
One of the unique qualities of GLP-1 receptor agonists is they don’t have the same risk of causing hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood sugar level) like many other treatments for diabetes. This means people who are not diabetic can take the medication and benefit from the weight loss effect.
Being overweight and obese is a major health issue in Australia and people often struggle to lose weight despite diet and exercise changes. Ozempic became famous due to weight loss experiences of people (including celebrities) reported via social media. This led to increased demand and subsequent worldwide shortages of Ozempic. Australia's supply is predicted to be limited until the end of 2025.
To ensure supplies for diabetic patients, doctors were requested by authorities to only prescribe Ozempic for the indication of diabetes and not write “off label” prescriptions for weight loss. Instead, a different brand of semaglutide (Wegovy) made by the same company can be prescribed for weight loss.
These medications are not for everyone. They are expensive and require weekly self-injection. It is likely weight regain will occur when stopping the medication. Gastro-intestinal side effects are common and include constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pain and more rarely pancreatitis.
Ask your doctor about whether this could be an option for you as part of a broader approach to weight control.
