Until recently, Ozempic was a relatively unknown medication. However, it gained widespread recognition when reports emerged of individuals experiencing weight loss while using this prescription drug designed to manage insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Despite being on the Food and Drug Administration's list of drug shortages for several months, Ozempic continues to generate significant interest. Naturally, this has led to numerous questions about the drug's mechanism and its suitable duration of use.
It's worth noting that Ozempic is not officially approved as a weight-loss drug, but it contains semaglutide, which is FDA-approved for weight management under the brand Wegovy. Both Wegovy and Ozempic are manufactured by Novo Nordisk, and some doctors may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss.
Curiosity often arises regarding the ideal duration for Ozempic use. Is it a short-term solution lasting only a month or two, or can it be a long-term medication? Weight-loss experts shed light on this matter.
How Ozempic Functions
As a quick reminder, Ozempic is an injectable drug typically administered once a week. It is known to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and concomitant heart and blood vessel diseases, according to Medline Plus. By stimulating increased insulin production, it facilitates the transportation of glucose (blood sugar) into the body's cells for energy.
Ozempic has demonstrated its effectiveness in lowering A1C levels (a measure of average blood glucose levels for the past two to three months) to under 7 percent, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), as noted in research available on Ozempic's website.
Regarding weight loss, Ozempic signals the brain to reduce food intake and storage while slowing down the movement of food through the stomach, thereby enhancing feelings of fullness, explains Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician and associate professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
When to Expect Weight-Loss Results with Ozempic
It's essential to recognize that individual responses to Ozempic may vary. Physicians typically initiate treatment with the lowest dose, gradually increasing it every four weeks. Dr. Kunal Shah, an assistant professor in the division of endocrinology, suggests that most people start to observe weight loss effects after reaching a dosage of 0.5 milligrams, usually around one month into the treatment.
Dr. Stanford concurs, emphasizing that patients who respond to these medications can anticipate weight loss within the first month. Those who do not respond within three months may be considered non-responders.
Duration of Ozempic Usage
Ozempic is designed to be a long-term medication. Responders to this treatment are often encouraged to remain on it indefinitely. According to Dr. Stanford, there are currently no restrictions on the duration of Ozempic usage. Dr. Jena Shaw Tronieri, a researcher focusing on weight loss treatment outcomes, notes that these medications are intended for chronic prescription to aid in weight loss and maintenance.
However, it's important to note that the potential long-term effects of using Ozempic to treat obesity remain unknown.
Risks of Long-Term Ozempic Use
The risks associated with long-term Ozempic use are challenging to quantify due to limited data, with one study examining two years' worth of data on semaglutide for obesity treatment.
Notably, Ozempic carries a "black box" warning from the FDA because of its potential to induce specific types of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer, based on rodent studies. Dr. Shah emphasizes that this is a theoretical risk and has not been observed in humans.
Another potential risk is the development of pancreatitis, but this risk is exceedingly low, according to Dr. Shah. In general, there are no significant safety concerns associated with long-term use of semaglutide, according to Dr. Tronieri and Dr. Stanford. Patients are likely to experience improved blood sugar control, greater overall weight loss, and reduced cardiovascular disease risk.
Discontinuing Ozempic
In the short term, such as running out of medication while on vacation, discontinuing Ozempic is unlikely to cause problems since the medication can remain in the system for up to eight weeks, as Dr. Stanford notes. However, ceasing long-term use carries a significant risk of weight regain, which is associated with health complications like heart attacks, strokes, and type 2 diabetes, warns Dr. Shah.
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