Have you ever heard of Ozempic; the drug that can help some people achieve a healthier body weight? Ozempic and weight loss… does it really work? Of course, in a country such as Canada where 50% of the population is overweight, it comes as no surprise that this medication is making the headlines. But can everyone benefit from it? What are the side effects? And above all, is it really the best solution for you? What Is Ozempic? Ozempic is an injectable prescription medication helpful for managing glycemia (blood glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is prescribed to people suffering from this condition along with a healthy diet and regular physical activity. As a bonus, it also helps with weight loss. Not only does Ozempic help with diabetes, but also with weight loss. But it is no miracle remedy! Ozempic is administered once a week as an adjunct to a healthy lifestyle when other medications are ineffective. It can also be used with metformin, with metformin and sulfonylurea or with metformin and a basal insulin. How Does Ozempic Work? The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which is an agonist to glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue (GLP-1). Just like this hormone, semaglutide regulates the secretion of insulin. Specifically, it increases the release of insulin, which has a hypoglycemic effect (reduction in blood sugar levels). The drug therefore allows sugar to travel with ease from blood to cells, where it will ultimately be used to provide energy. It is ideal for type 2 diabetes patients who have tenacious glycemia! Gradual Weekly Doses At the beginning of the treatment, a small dose of Ozempic (usually 0.25 mg) is administered to evaluate if there are side effects. After a month, the dose will be increased to 0.5 mg and then to 1 mg per week depending on blood sugar levels and the side effects observed. After a few months, the efficiency of the drug will be measurable, and a weight loss of up to 25 lbs, sometimes even more, will be noticeable. After examining over 630 type 2 diabetes patients during more than 30 weeks, researchers concluded that taking semaglutide did significantly improve the glycemia of the patients. In fact, the glycosylated hemoglobin (also known as hemoglobin A1c) had decreased in average of 0.018 (1.8%) with semaglutide in opposition to 0.003 (0.3%) for the control group2. This significant improvement of glycemia for users of semaglutide during the study allowed 90% of the patients to reach the 0.065 (6.5%) target range of hemoglobin A1c. The glycosylated hemoglobin test shows the average blood sugar level over the last 4 to 6 weeks. The results of this test are often expressed in percentage (%). Consider it like the batting average of a baseball player during a season: one game does not indicate how a player acts in his whole career. Similarly, the results of one glycemia test with a blood glucose monitor do not paint a full picture of the way the treatment functions. What Is a Normal A1c Hemoglobin Test Like? For those without diabetes, the normal A1c hemoglobin level ranges between 0.04 (4%) and 0.056 (5.6%). An A1c hemoglobin level between 0.057 (5.7%) and 0.064 (6.4%) indicates that an individual suffers from prediabetes and that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is higher. Levels of 6.5% or more mean that you suffer from diabetes. Pay attention to this number during your next medical examination. The target level of A1c for people with diabetes is generally inferior to 0.07 (7%). The higher the A1c hemoglobin, the more likely it is to have complications relating to diabetes. GOOD TO KNOW: Want to know about the different types of diabetes and their complications? Read this article. Someone who has had diabetes for a long period of time without treating it might have a level superior to 0.08 (8%), which is extremely high and means that the average value of glycemia of the last 2 to 3 months is about 8 mmol/L. How Does Ozempic Help Lose Weight? Ozempic for weight loss? Yes! And it’s also the reason why it is so interesting for many people. In fact, Ozempic has direct effects on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors which communicate with the hypothalamus and the rhombencephalon, the areas of the brain associated with the regulation of the appetite. This ultimately leads to a reduction in energy intake. By decreasing appetite and cravings while also increasing the feeling of satiety, Ozempic helps reduce the food intake. And when you reduce your daily calorie consumption you end up losing weight! In a study 3 on more than 600 adults, the energy intake of the participants receiving Ozempic had decreased to 35% compared to those receiving a placebo. Study subjects have also declared being less hungry and feeling fuller after a meal. In addition, 55% of the participants receiving medication lost at least 15% of their weight, compared to 13.2% for the placebo group. Numbers that speak volumes… According to the results of a scientific study, when type 2 diabetes patients with high cardiovascular risk receive Ozempic they have less cardiac complications in the long-term1Marso, S. P., Bain, S. C., Consoli, A., Eliaschewitz, F. G., Jódar, E., Leiter, L. A., ... & Vilsbøll, T. (2016). Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med, 375, 1834-1844.. Is Ozempic Necessary for Weight Loss? Ozempic can definitely help people with type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar levels and lose weight. However, is it necessary? Absolutely not! Simply changing your eating habits and opting for an active lifestyle can do just as much! What Are Ozempic’s Side Effects? Just like any medication, Ozempic may cause side effects. The most common side effects and adverse effects are gastrointestinal disorders ranging in severity from mild to moderate. However, they usually disappear over time. Most common side effects: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Stomach pain Headache Constipation Don’t worry! There are a few tips that can help you get rid of side effects, such as eating slowly, drinking a lot of water, and eating small portions more frequently. However, if the symptoms persist when taking this medication, you may want to talk to your doctor. Serious side effects are possible when taking Ozempic. Even though it is less frequent, there are risks of pancreas inflammation, hypoglycemic episodes, and even allergic reactions. Beware! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a noteworthy warning concerning Ozempic. In fact, in animal studies, the drug augmented the risk of thyroid tumors. To date, no studies have confirmed this effect on humans. But because of the potential risk of thyroid cancer, you should avoid taking this medication if you or a family member has already been affected by a thyroid cancer in the past. Is Ozempic Covered by RAMQ? Yes! Ozempic is in the list of drugs covered by Québec’s Health Insurance Plan (RAMQ). However, it is only available for people with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic can also be prescribed for other therapeutic indications by a doctor, who will have to fill in an application for authorization of payment, which will then be reviewed by RAMQ. If you have private insurance, know that most health care plans cover this medication. Did you know that? Ozempic comes as a solution in prefilled and disposable pens. Injections are done once a week under the skin in the thigh, abdomen or upper arm. Who Can Take Ozempic? Though non-diabetic overweight adults may lose significant weight with Ozempic, especially when combined to a healthy lifestyle, semaglutide is only intended for people with type 2 diabetes. Perhaps it will soon become an option to promote weight loss for people who do not suffer from diabetes. We’ll have to wait and see. For the moment, Ozempic is only advised to people with type 2 diabetes. It is often prescribed when other measures such as physical activity and healthy diet are inefficient in reducing their glycemia. How Is Saxenda for Weight Loss? Ozempic’s main competitor as a weight-loss drug is the liraglutide known as Saxenda. But it is less convenient since it must be administered daily. A study4O'Neil, P. M., Birkenfeld, A. L., McGowan, B., Mosenzon, O., Pedersen, S. D., Wharton, S., ... & Wilding, J. P. (2018). A randomised, phase II, placebo-and active-controlled dose-ranging study of semaglutide for treatment of obesity in subjects without diabetes. Endocr Rev, 39, OR12-OR15. comparing the two competitors was done on 957 non-diabetic people suffering from obesity. Some received varying doses of Saxenda injections daily, some received Ozempic, and others received placebo. After a year, 65% of the participants receiving the highest dose of Ozempic lost 10% of their weight, against 34% of the participants receiving Saxenda. Isn’t it impressive? To know more about it, ask your doctor or pharmacist. What Are Ozempic’s Side Effects? Just like any medication, Ozempic may cause side effects. The most common side effects and adverse effects are gastrointestinal disorders ranging in severity from mild to moderate. However, they usually disappear over time. Most common side effects: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Stomach pain Headache Constipation Don’t worry! There are a few tips that can help you get rid of side effects, such as eating slowly, drinking a lot of water, and eating small portions more frequently. However, if the symptoms persist when taking this medication, you may want to talk to your doctor. Serious side effects are possible when taking Ozempic. Even though it is less frequent, there are risks of pancreas inflammation, hypoglycemic episodes, and even allergic reactions. Beware! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a noteworthy warning concerning Ozempic. In fact, in animal studies, the drug augmented the risk of thyroid tumors. To date, no studies have confirmed this effect on humans. But because of the potential risk of thyroid cancer, you should avoid taking this medication if you or a family member has already been affected by a thyroid cancer in the past. Is Ozempic Covered by RAMQ? Yes! Ozempic is in the list of drugs covered by Québec’s Health Insurance Plan (RAMQ). However, it is only available for people with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic can also be prescribed for other therapeutic indications by a doctor, who will have to fill in an application for authorization of payment, which will then be reviewed by RAMQ. If you have private insurance, know that most health care plans cover this medication. Did you know that? Ozempic comes as a solution in prefilled and disposable pens. Injections are done once a week under the skin in the thigh, abdomen or upper arm. Who Can Take Ozempic? Though non-diabetic overweight adults may lose significant weight with Ozempic, especially when combined to a healthy lifestyle, semaglutide is only intended for people with type 2 diabetes. Perhaps it will soon become an option to promote weight loss for people who do not suffer from diabetes. We’ll have to wait and see. For the moment, Ozempic is only advised to people with type 2 diabetes. It is often prescribed when other measures such as physical activity and healthy diet are inefficient in reducing their glycemia. How Is Saxenda for Weight Loss? Ozempic’s main competitor as a weight-loss drug is the liraglutide known as Saxenda. But it is less convenient since it must be administered daily. A study4O'Neil, P. M., Birkenfeld, A. L., McGowan, B., Mosenzon, O., Pedersen, S. D., Wharton, S., ... & Wilding, J. P. (2018). A randomised, phase II, placebo-and active-controlled dose-ranging study of semaglutide for treatment of obesity in subjects without diabetes. Endocr Rev, 39, OR12-OR15. comparing the two competitors was done on 957 non-diabetic people suffering from obesity. Some received varying doses of Saxenda injections daily, some received Ozempic, and others received placebo. After a year, 65% of the participants receiving the highest dose of Ozempic lost 10% of their weight, against 34% of the participants receiving Saxenda. Isn’t it impressive? To know more about it, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
