The Ozempic Epidemic

 by Lissiana Jakaj

In the recent years, there has been a surge of Ozempic use, fundamentally coming from the persistent posts on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok which influences viewers to try it themselves. Despite all this media coverage on ozempic, it is important to note that the intended use of the drug is to help those with type 2 diabetes and the abrupt weight loss is only a side effect that has led to the exploitation of the drug. 

Ozempic, an injectable drug, contains an active substance called semaglutide which mimics the Glucose-like Peptide-1 hormone secreted by the intestinal epithelial endocrine L-cells in response to eating. GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion thereby reducing blood glucose levels, so for those who fail to control their blood sugar, an imitation of the hormone would certainly better their health. However, not only does GLP-1 aid in blood sugar regulation, but it also slows the rate of digestion making users feel fuller for longer and also hinders will appetite control in the brain, therefore semaglutide, a duplicate of this hormone, amplifies these effects and gives the similar results to those of basteric surgery, and causes this swift weight loss. When tested in a clinical trial of diabetics, the main side effects were found to be nausea, constipation, diarrhoea and vomiting and yet, with widened use, users started to notice changes in their body.

Currently, there is a shortage as there is a high demand for prescriptions of Ozempic for intentions of weight loss which leads those who need it for health reasons to. According to DiabetesUK, the supply is not expected to return to normal until 2025, meaning that type 2 diabetics are forced to change their treatment. In September 2023, a new drug targeted for weight loss (Wegoby) was licensed in hopes to lighten the demand for Ozempic. It contains a higher dose of Semaglutide than Ozempic meaning it has a stronger effect. As stated by the Important Safety Information on the Wegovy website, depression or thoughts of suicide are side effects among the nausea and abdomen pain. The European Medicines Agency has received around 150 complaints about increases in suicidal thoughts yet, there is no mention of this side effect on Ozempic. This shows that the effect of semaglutide on mental health has been researched when it is for a weight loss drug however, there remains no warnings about depression on Ozempic. This is because, when Ozempic was tested in clinical trials, it was tested among a group of diabetics. The researchers were looking out for effects that had a correlation with those who had diabetics. It was not tested for weight loss, so it does not have any warning on mental health. Therefore there is little knowledge as to whether Ozempic actually causes depression, based on the relation with Wegoby it is plausible that even a smaller dose could cause these problems.

The demand for ozempic is very unlikely to slow down, with more and more celebrities showcasing their experiences with the drug. Although Wegovy has started to be prescribed within the NHS for obesity, it cannot substitute Ozempic for diabetics so unfortunately those who are suffering from the shortage firsthand have to find an alternative course of treatment until the supply is restored.