The buzzy injectable drug for type 2 diabetics, Ozempic, has become a household name in 2023 thanks to reports that the medication can be prescribed off-label and used for significant weight loss.
Last month, the FDA warned users of a possible serious side effect to look out for intestinal blockage.
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, a medication that helps people with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels by mimicking a protein called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), explains Mir Ali, M.D., a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Ozempic can also help decrease your hunger cues and slow digestion in your gut, Dr. Ali says—which can lead to weight loss.
Mir Ali, M.D., is a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. Suneal Agarwal, M.D., is an associate professor of Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine.
But as with many medications, Ozempic can result in other side effects. And since hitting the market, at least 16 people have reported serious intestinal blockages linked to Ozempic so far.
In response, the FDA updated the Ozempic label with a warning about this potential side effect on Sept. 22, so it’s understandable to have some questions.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic mimics the naturally occurring GLP-1 protein in your body. It binds to GLP-1 receptors in your digestive tract, telling your body to release insulin, a hormone that helps your body use and store sugar for energy.
Ozempic can also help decrease your hunger cues and slow digestion in your gut, Dr. Ali says—which can lead to weight loss.
While it’s technically approved to treat type 2 diabetes, a smaller-dose semaglutide medication, Wegovy, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss, so Ozempic has been prescribed off-label for weight loss.
