Given the attention it’s been receiving, it’s likely you’ve already heard of Ozempic on social media or even on the news.
You might have also heard about stocks of Ozempic as well as Wegovy running dry.
Both of these treatments are versions of Semaglutide, a highly efficient diabetes drug.
That being said, this article is here to explain how it all works and the reason why more and more people are turning to Ozempic over the counter and online alternatives like PhenQ and Zotrim to lose weight these days.
First of all, is it safe to battle obesity by taking an Ozempic injection once a week?
The efficiency of this treatment is undeniable but when it comes to the question of safety, the situation is a lot murkier.
Before you make such a decision, you should be well informed about all the risks you’re exposing yourself to and decide if they’re worth it or not.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know, both the good and bad so you can make an informed decision while also offering you natural, over the counter alternatives to Ozempic.
Alternatives
- PhenQ
PhenQ is a natural appetite suppressant, fat blocker and burner and is probably the best oral diet drug on the market.
- Zotrim
This herbal appetite suppressant contains three clinically proven ingredients that deal with calories consumption and food cravings you may experience daily.
But what about that obesity treatment trending on TikTok?
Ozempic comes in the form of an injection and is actually meant for those diagnosed with type-2 diabetics, as to lower their blood sugar levels.
However, since a common side effect is a loss of appetite, it also often leads to a significant drop in body weight.
On the other hand, there is Wegovy, another form of Semaglutide, marketed as such by Novo Nordisk.
To be very clear, Wegovy is made to be used for chronic weight management and does the exact same thing as Ozempic, the only difference being the dosage.
The maximum dose of Semaglutide provided by Wegory per dose is 2.4 mg while Ozempic provides 2 mg.
In other words, people are getting the same drug whether they choose Wegovy or Ozempic and yet the latter is what became viral for weight loss, despite not being made for it.
Well, there is actually a good reason why this is the case – strict guidelines for one and not for the other!
More precisely, doctors are restricted from prescribing Wegovy for people with a BMI under 30 by the FDA.
Even so, you may still not be eligible to use it if there are other factors of concern, such as if you take other medications it may interact with or your medical history.
Semaglutide presents interaction issues with 245 other drugs and can lead to the worsening of other medical conditions so the experts don’t take prescribing it lightly.
Coronary heart disease, sleep apnea and even suicidal thoughts are known to be exacerbated by Wegovy.
And that is where Ozempic comes in!
While Wegovy is so hard to get prescribed, the same cannot be said about Ozempic!
Due to the fact that the latter is an anti-diabetic and not a weight loss drug, healthcare providers are permitted to prescribe it off label with not nearly the same amount of restrictions as Wegovy.
Add that to the many people who report great weight loss results using Ozempic and you’ve got an internet craze!
That being said, the side effects you may experience using it should not be ignored.
Here are the most common:
– Constipation
– Diarrhea
– Heartburn
– Abdominal pain
– Vomiting
– Nausea
– Vision changes
– Fainting
– Low or high blood sugar levels
– Difficulty breathing
– Heart rate changes
– Difficulty swallowing
Of course, the side effects depend on how your body responds to the treatment on a personal level and it’s worth noting that some patients do not experience any of them.
Some doctors are happy to prescribe it while others are highly critical of the liberal use of this injectable.
The majority seems to recognize its value to obese people really struggling to manage their weight.
The real problem with Ozempic use, however, is that many who turn to this treatment are not obese, some of them not even that overweight.
This means that people with confidence issues, who are desperate to drop a few pounds for an important event or to feel good in a bikini will expose themselves to the potential health risks that medical experts agree are not worth it in this case.
For instance, animal based studies have shown that both Wegovy and Ozempic could cause tumors and cancer.