Doctor Shares Surprising Ozempic Effect That May Change Your Health Forever
A doctor has shared an important warning about Ozempic, a medicine that is becoming very popular. Ozempic was first made to help people with Type-2 diabetes control their blood sugar. But now, many people use it to try to lose weight. The medicine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017. Ozempic has an ingredient called semaglutide. This ingredient acts like a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1. It helps control hunger and how much you eat.
People take Ozempic by giving themselves a shot once a week. Usually, doctors start with a small amount, like 0.25mg. Later, the dose can go up to 2mg. Even though Ozempic is only approved for diabetes, many people use it for weight loss. But doctors say there can be some side effects.
Health Expert Warning
Dr. Glenn Messina is a doctor who used to teach at Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York. He helps people in Long Island and also has a popular YouTube channel where he gives health tips. In one of his recent videos, Dr. Messina talked about a side effect of Ozempic that many people do not know about. He said this side effect can last a long time and can hurt your health.
He explained, "Ozempic has got a host of problems, from pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), thyroid carcinoma (thyroid cancer), and causing gastric problems." But he also warned about something else. He said, "There's another thing that is being found out, muscle wasting. Therefore if you are taking Ozempic, please do it under medical supervision."
Muscle wasting means that your muscles get smaller and weaker. This can make it harder for you to do things like walk, run, or play. It can also make your bones less strong.
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In another video, Dr. Messina said Ozempic tricks your brain into thinking you have eaten enough, even if you have not. This is why people lose weight. But some people who take Ozempic get sick to their stomach. They may feel like throwing up or have diarrhea. People who feel this way are more likely to lose muscle.
Muscle Loss and Bones
A study looked at how Ozempic and medicines like it can change muscle and bones. The study found that these medicines can help people lose weight. But, they can also make people lose muscle and bone strength. Dr. Rekha Kumar, who is a doctor in New York, said, "[It’s] important to note that a lower body weight does not always mean that a person is healthier. After some weight loss is achieved and a person reaches a plateau, it is important to assess body composition." She also said, "Any time people lose weight, one-quarter to one-third of that weight can be muscle, and the faster we lose, the more likely we are to lose muscle. While 20 percent reduction in muscle mass seems normal for someone losing weight, the problem is the length of time in which this muscle loss occurs."
The makers of Ozempic, a company called Novo Nordisk, said, "In clinical trials for Wegovy, Ozempic or Rybelsus, we did not specifically study the medicine’s impact on muscle mass." They also said, "We recommend that any patients experiencing side effects while taking Wegovy, Ozempic or Rybelsus contact their healthcare provider."
Changes to Smell and Taste
There are some other strange things people have noticed after taking Ozempic. Some people say their sense of smell changes. You may have heard about things like "Ozempic face" or "Ozempic butt," but changes in smell are something new. Ozempic is a GLP-1 medicine. It is mostly used to help treat diabetes, but people also use it to lose weight because it helps them feel less hungry.
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Now, some people say that after using Ozempic, they want to smell things like sweet perfumes or foods. A research company called MarkWide Research found that sweet-smelling perfumes, called ‘Gourmand’ fragrances, are becoming much more popular. These perfumes smell like caramel, chocolate, or desserts. New Beauty magazine says more people want to buy these types of smells. But you can’t eat these perfumes, so why do people want them?
Experts think there is a link between Ozempic and how you smell or taste things. GLP-1 drugs help lower your appetite by acting like a hormone in your body. This hormone also works in the parts of your brain that control smell and taste. Sometimes, it can even make these senses stronger or weaker. Dr. Priya Verma, a doctor who studies how the body works, told the Financial Express, “Your appetite for certain foods or tastes is very likely to change. If patients who are using Ozempic (or any other weight-loss injection) are having a lower oral sugar intake, it may be that they are looking to satiate the appetite receptors for those sweeter scents through a different means.”
So, if you can't eat sweet things, you might want to smell them instead. Some people who make perfumes say that more people now want perfumes that smell like tasty treats. Jonnie Swarbrick, a creative director at Fragrance Du Bois, said, “The rise of gourmand fragrances has been undeniable. We have seen increased demand for scents that smell edible – sweet, warm, and nostalgic.”
Some popular perfumes now smell like chocolate, marshmallow, pistachio, or vanilla. This may be happening because many people are using these medicines and craving sweet smells.
How Ozempic Works and Its Side Effects
Ozempic is a shot that people take once a week. It helps people with Type 2 diabetes by making the pancreas release more insulin. Insulin helps lower blood sugar. But now, lots of people are using Ozempic to lose weight, even though it is not approved for this use.
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The medicine works by making you feel less hungry, so you eat less food. The shot starts at a low dose and can go up to 2mg. Dr. Ben Bickman, a scientist and teacher at Brigham Young University, talked about what happens when people use Ozempic. He said, "You have a substantial amount of lean mass that's getting loss as the person is losing weight. To make that clear, for every ten pounds of weight loss, only six is fat - four of it is coming from non-fat sources like muscle and bone."
He also said, "While muscle and bone mass might never return, the body has no trouble regaining fat mass." One study found that some forms of these medicines can even make the body create new fat cells. He added, "This becomes a problem because when a person start to regain fat mass after stopping Ozempic, with more fat cells comes a greater potential to gain more fat." This means that a person might weigh less, but could still have more fat compared to before.
A website called Drugs.com says, ‘obesity trials have shown that participants using incretin mimetic agents like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) lost 10% or more of their muscle mass.’ This was found in studies that lasted up to 72 weeks.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic
People are also asking what happens when they stop using Ozempic. Dr. Jen Ashton talked about this on Good Morning America. She said, "It's not one size fits all. Individual effects will tend to vary. Overweight and obesity are complex chronic disorders that are caused by a multitude of factors." She explained that things like behavior, where you live, your genes, and other medicines can all affect your weight.
Dr. Ashton said, "So if you removed one of those variables, in this case a medication that has been helpful in achieving weight loss, it is possible, if not likely, that the person will regain some or all or even more of the weight that they've lost." She said this depends on how much weight you lost and your own body. Some people also have other symptoms after stopping Ozempic.
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Dr. Robert Kushner, a doctor at Northwestern University, said that when you stop taking Ozempic, you might gain weight again, especially around your face. Your blood sugar might go up, and your hunger could come back. Dr. Emma Cunningham, an expert in beauty and skin, said that stopping Ozempic can also make you more likely to get sunburned, change your mood, give you less energy, and even change your nails, hair, and breath.
If you or someone you know is worried about weight loss or these medicines, you can talk to someone at the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Their free hotline is 1(888)-375-7767.
Unusual Changes: 'Ozempic Butt'
Some people who use Ozempic notice something called 'Ozempic butt.' This is when the skin on your bottom becomes loose and saggy. This happens because your body loses fat very quickly. The skin does not have time to shrink back, so it looks droopy.
A team of doctors in London called the Cadogan Clinic explained, "The overlying skin hasn’t been able to return to its original position," which leaves behind a "loose and saggy appearance." They said, "One of the areas this is often most noticeable is around the buttocks. This is due to there being a high amount of fat in the buttocks and can be exacerbated if there is a decrease in muscle mass affecting the glutes – two of the largest muscles in the body."
Dr. Iman Saleh, a doctor at South Shore University Hospital in New York, said, "It's the rapid weight loss that is occurring with the use of these medications that are giving those the Ozempic face and the Ozempic breast and the Ozempic butt." So, it is not Ozempic itself that causes this. It is losing weight too fast that makes the skin loose and muscles weaker.
Important Things to Remember
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Ozempic is a medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes. It helps control blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin. Some people use it to lose weight, but this is not what it was made for. There are other medicines approved for weight loss, like Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound, but Ozempic is not one of them.
Doctors and the makers of Ozempic say you should only use this medicine if your doctor tells you to. If you have side effects, talk to your doctor right away.
What You Can Do
If you or someone in your family is taking Ozempic, it is important to see your doctor often. Tell your doctor if you feel weak, tired, or have pain in your muscles or bones. Always ask before you start or stop any medicine. If you notice changes in your smell, taste, or skin, let your doctor know.
Remember, losing weight quickly is not always safe. It is important to eat healthy foods, move your body every day, and get help from your doctor or another trusted adult.
Summary
- Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes but is being used for weight loss.
- Doctors warn about muscle loss, bone weakness, and changes in smell or taste.
- Rapid weight loss can make skin loose, like 'Ozempic butt.'
- Stopping Ozempic might make you gain weight again.
- Always talk to your doctor before changing medicines.
If you are worried about your health or medicines like Ozempic, talk to a trusted adult or your doctor. They can help you make the best choices for your body. Stay healthy and listen to your body!
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