Social networks, the pressure for aesthetic perfection, and the immediacy that governs our lives are causing many people to choose the quickest option to lose those extra kilos. In recent years, the use of Ozempic for weight loss has become fashionable. It is a weekly injectable medication that contains semaglutide, intended for treating type 2 diabetes in adults. However, this drug also causes a loss of appetite and weight, something many see as the perfect ally for slimming down.
As explained by Elena Jerez, an endocrinologist at Hospital José Molina Orosa, Ozempic "is the commercial brand name for the molecule semaglutide, and this distinction is important because there is also a semaglutide specifically for obesity." According to the specialist, it is a drug that "mimics the action of a hormone secreted by the intestine that helps regulate glucose on one hand, but also, it has added benefits because it increases the feeling of satiety and has cardiovascular or renal benefits."
This medication is administered subcutaneously on a weekly basis, usually in the abdomen, although it can also be used in the thighs and arms. "Treatment always starts at low doses and is gradually increased to improve the digestive tolerance of the drug," notes Jerez.
Furthermore, it is prescribed with a medical prescription and "has financing conditions because, as a treatment for diabetes, it is approved by the National Health System for prescription in diabetes mellitus with poor control that also have obesity and poor diabetes control." However, according to the endocrinologist, it can also be given in other non-financed conditions "if the patient has chronic kidney disease or heart failure."
Jerez recalls that the same molecule, semaglutide, is used in weight loss treatments and in diabetes treatment, but it is marketed under different names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. "Many people use Ozempic for weight loss, but in Spain, the drugs indicated for obesity are Wegovy at different doses, because the doses for obesity are higher than those normally used for diabetes, and also Mounjaro, which has a dual action," she points out.
A Use That Has Spread Rapidly
Ozempic-type medications have spread rapidly among a society that increasingly focuses on physical appearance. This use as a weight-loss tool has been boosted by social media, which become effective amplifiers and disseminators of these treatments.
"I think the fact that it provides significant appetite reduction and increased satiety is a major factor, because many people who are trying to lose weight due to obesity or being overweight reach a point where they feel hungry," highlights the endocrinologist.
However, the specialist also emphasizes its dissemination on social media, the scientific studies that support its use, and also word-of-mouth after achieving positive results in a relatively short time. "We've called the success Ozempic, but the success isn't due to the drug itself, but to the molecule semaglutide," she recalls.
A cost that reaches 400 euros
The price range is from 100 euros to 400 euros per month. In the case of Ozempic for uses that are not funded, the price reaches 116 euros, but for obesity doses (Wegovy), it can cost more than 200 euros. For its part, Mounjaro's range is between 200 and 430 euros.
Side effects of the treatment
Treatment with this molecule can cause side effects, especially gastrointestinal ones, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. For this reason, the patient starts with low doses and they are increased each month "to minimize side effects".
It can also cause constipation, reflux, and a small percentage of patients may suffer from gallstones and acute pancreatitis. "For this reason, these are drugs that must be subject to medical prescription and must be monitored," declares Elena Jerez.
Despite this, the specialist recalls that it is a "very safe" treatment as long as the patient receives adequate advice, is explained the side effects that may appear, and how the follow-up should be done. "I use it very often in my daily clinical practice," she continues. In this regard, she emphasizes the importance of medical follow-up because the misuse of this drug is spread on social media.
Although its use is currently highly regulated, the endocrinologist has seen cases of misuse of this treatment in her practice, from prescriptions without a medical prescription that have not been followed up by any doctor to purchases on the black market. "The worst thing that happens today is abandoning the treatment without consulting the doctor beforehand, and it is usually due to not being able to afford the price of the drug," she indicates.
Before stopping the treatment, the priority is to discuss it with the responsible doctor, whether it be the endocrinologist or the primary care physician, in order to explore different maintenance strategies. "The maintenance phase is something that specialists are still looking for strategies for, from spacing out the intake of the drug, reducing the doses to the minimum effective dose, or trying to gradually withdraw the treatment, but complete withdrawal is not entirely recommended because there are phenomena of weight regain (popularly known as the rebound effect)," she concludes.
'Ozempic face', one of the effects of sudden weight loss
One of the most visible effects that people undergoing treatment with semaglutide molecules can suffer is the so-called 'Ozempic face', a term that describes the haggard appearance, facial sagging, and loss of volume in the face.
This occurs due to the rapid weight loss that causes facial fat compartments to be lost, which support the skin. To treat it, experts recommend using techniques that help the tissues to "reposition themselves", such as collagen inducers or structural hyaluronic acid. Also, other techniques that tighten the skin to help the dermis retract and adapt again to the face's own contour.
However, to prevent this effect, it is recommended to use creams with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin during treatment, maintain a healthy and nutritious diet, or avoid rapid weight loss.
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