Understanding Associated Health Risks Linked To Ozempic
- British fashion model Lottie Moss has admitted that taking Ozempic, without a prescription, was “the worst decision” she’s ever made as it led her to feeling “so sick” and needing an emergency hospitalization.
- Ozempic, the brand name of Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a highly popular drug also known under the brand names Rybelsu and Wegovy, is an FDA-approved prescription medication for adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug, which is administered as a weekly injection, assists the body by helping the pancreas make more insulin, ultimately lowering blood sugar levels.
- Although Ozempic it has not been FDA-approved for weight loss, the drug has been prescribed by some doctors. If you’re considering taking a weight loss drug, talk with your care team about whether that’s a good option for you. And make sure you consider good diet and exercise practices as a part of your treatment plan.
- Remember, it’s important to learn to appreciate your body no matter what it looks. This is also a message that can likely resonate with many cancer survivors out there who’ve struggled with body image after treatment.
- “Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, tells SurvivorNet. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”
British fashion model Lottie Moss, 26, the younger half-sister of iconic supermodel Kate Moss, 50, has admitted that trying Ozempic without seeing a doctor was "the worst decision" she's ever made as it led her to an emergency hospitalization. Speaking on her most recent podcast episode of "
Dream On with Lottie Moss ," Moss described her reasoning for taking the Ozempic, the brand name of Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, without a prescription as "the worst decision I've ever made" in an effort to warn her listeners about the dangers of taking medication.
RELATED: How To Find Your Confidence and Be Bold Alongside a video clip of the
podcast episode, which she shared on her Instagram page, Moss wrote, "My OZEMPIC story. Comment 'Lottie' and I’ll DM you the full episode. "TW: Eating disorders, body image, weight loss. In this weeks episode of Dream On I open up and tell you the truth about my experience with Ozempic. This is such a trend at the moment and celebrities and the media have normalized taking this medication so I think it’s important to share my experience. She also noted that this episode features her talking about her Ozempic experience, beauty standards, and body image in the modeling industry.
RELATED: Comedian Amy Schumer Stopped Taking Ozempic After Side Effects Made Her Feel “So Sick”— What Is The Risk of New Blockbuster Weight Loss Drugs? Moss said on her podcast, "Ozempic ... I'm not going to lie to you guys, I definitely tried it. When I tell you it was the worst decision I've ever made, so if this is a warning to anyone if you're thinking about doing it, please do not take it. "It's so not worth it. I took if for two weeks and I've never felt so sick in my life." She recounted telling her friend that she needed to go to the hospital when she felt "so sick" and couldn't keep any liquids or food down.
RELATED: Lose Weight, Drink Less, Stop Smoking— New Research Suggests Anti-Obesity Medications, Such As The Semaglutide Injection Ozempic, May Lead To Less Tobacco Use & Alcohol Consumption Looking back on when she informed the emergency room nurse on the Ozempic dosage she was taking, she was told, "Oh my god, that’s so not what you’re meant to be taking." She explained further, "The amount that I was taking was for people who were 100 kilos [220 pounds] and over and I’m in the 50s [110 pounds] range. It’s these small things I wish I’d known before taking it."
As for the symptoms she suffered from, Moss continued, "I literally had a seizure from how dehydrated I was, which honestly was the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life. "My friend had to hold my feet down. It was so scary, the whole situation. My face was clenching up, my whole body was tense." Moss than put down how the skinny trend is not something people should be looking to do, adding, "This heroin-chic trend right now coming back, which was something that happened in the ‘90s, we should not be going back there. Where did body positivity go?”
Expert Resources On Healthy Living
The fashionista also pointing out on her podcast how she started taking Ozempic when she weighed approximately 132 pounds and she ultimately dropped 16 pounds very quickly. She admits, there were "small things" she'd wish she had been aware of before taking the medication. For example, she later discovered the the dosage she had been injecting into her body would normally be prescribed to someone weighing around 220 pounds.
RELATED: It’s Kate Moss’ 50th Birthday, Doctors Say She and Millions of Women Should Now Get Critical Cancer Screenings She explained, "A few months ago, I was not feeling happy about my weight, I had a friend, and she could get it for me. It was below board, from a doctor, but it wasn't like you go into a doctor's office and he prescribes it for you, takes your blood pressure, and takes tests, which is what you need when you go on something like Ozempic. "At the end of the day it is a medication, it is dangerous and really meant for weight loss of people of a very large size. When I was taking it, the amount that I was taking was meant for people who are 100 kilos and over and I'm in the 50s range." Moss added, "It's these small things I wish I'd known before taking it. But I took it, you inject it into your leg, and it was the worst decision I ever made. This is a warning to everyone. "Please, if you're thinking of taking it, do not take it, it's so not worth it."
Health Risks Associated With Ozempic
Although many people have had success with weight loss thanks to Ozempic, healthcare company Lexicomp has reveals there are negative side effects of the medication, including an increased risk of cancer. It's also important to note that any type of non-over-the-counter drug, like Ozempic, should only be taken if prescribed by a doctor.
Lexicomp explains Ozempic as "an injectable prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus that: along with diet and exercise may improve blood sugar (glucose)," noting it's not the first choice of medicine for treating diabetes. As for the most important information people should know before taking the drug, Lexicomp says Ozempic may cause serious side effects. Some of the possible side effects include:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
- changes in vision
- low blood sugar, kidney problems
- kidney failure
- serious allergic reactions.
"The most common side effects of OZEMPIC may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain and constipation. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away,"
Lexicomp states . "These are not all the possible side effects of OZEMPIC. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088." The
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also says, regarding Lexicomp's warning, "This drug has been shown to cause thyroid cancer in some animals. It is not known if this happens in humans. If thyroid cancer happens, it may be deadly if not found and treated early. Call your doctor right away if you have a neck mass, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or have hoarseness that will not go away. "Do not use this drug if you have a health problem called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), or if you or a family member have had thyroid cancer." The side effects that call for immediate medical attention, in regard to all uses of the drug, the MSKCC lists as:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
- Signs of gallbladder problems like pain in the upper right belly area, right shoulder area, or between the shoulder blades; change in stools; dark urine or yellow skin or eyes; or fever with chills.
- Severe dizziness or passing out.
- A fast heartbeat.
- Change in eyesight.
- Low blood sugar can happen. The chance may be raised when this drug is used with other drugs for diabetes. Signs may be dizziness, headache, feeling sleepy or weak, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, hunger, or sweating. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. Follow what you have been told to do for low blood sugar. This may include taking glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or some fruit juices.
- Severe and sometimes deadly pancreas problems (pancreatitis) have happened with this drug. Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain, severe back pain, or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
RELATED: What Are The New Weight Loss Drugs Everyone Is Talking About & What's The Connection Between Weight And Cancer? For anyone using the drug for weight loss, they should speak with their doctor if they notice "new or worse behavior or mood changes like depression or thoughts of suicide."
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Integral to blood sugar control,
GLP-1 is a hormone released by the gut in response to food. It causes the pancreas to release insulin. A rising blood insulin level causes all the body tissues to start absorbing glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood glucose levels. GLP-1 also prevents the release of glucagon, which is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels by stimulating liver cells to release glucose and helps people feel full for longer. These effects can also cause people to lose weight. Modern studies on GLP-1 have shown that it has a role beyond glucose control. It modulates the immune system cells, including NK cells, in a way
necessary for weight loss . Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning that it
mimics the effects of GLP-1 in the body. Given as weekly subcutaneous injections It is normally prescribed to manage blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. It also leads to a significant amount of weight loss in these patients.
FDA On Illegally Marketed Semaglutide & Counterfeit Ozempic
The
FDA has warned that it's found illegally marketed semaglutide online and counterfeit Ozempic in the U.S. "FDA vigilantly monitors the internet for fraudulent or unapproved products and has issued warning letters to stop the distribution of illegally marketed semaglutide. These drugs may be counterfeit, which means they could contain the wrong ingredients, contain too little, too much or no active ingredient at all, or contain other harmful ingredients," the FDA states on its website. It adds, "FDA is aware and is investigating reports of counterfeit Ozempic being marketed in the U.S. The agency investigates any report of suspect counterfeit drugs to determine the public health risks and the appropriate regulatory response, and remains vigilant in protecting the U.S. drug supply from these threats. "While we understand certain drugs are in short supply and patients are having difficulty obtaining their medication, FDA urges patients to obtain prescription drugs only from state-licensed pharmacies that are located in the U.S., where FDA and state authorities can assure the quality of drug manufacturing, packaging, distribution and labeling. FDA’s BeSafeRx campaign helps consumers learn about how to safely buy prescription medicines online. FDA recommends patients to talk to their doctor if they have questions about their medicines."
Coping with Body Image Issues
It’s important to understand that body image problems are not unusual, especially for so many people dealing with health challenges. You should try to work on how you view your body because it can positively impact your emotional and physical well-being as a whole.
Learning to Accept Yourself — A Huge Part of Living With Cancer “Every day of our lives is really filled with uncertainty” but those facing a cancer diagnosis tend to feel that uncertainty at a more extreme level,
Dr. William Breitbart , the chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. Dr. Breitbart also said that learning to embrace that uncertainty is a part of living, not just for those fighting cancer, but for everyone. “What the task becomes is having the courage to live in the face of uncertainty, realizing that you cannot necessarily control the uncertainty in life, like the suffering that occurs, challenges both good and bad,” Dr. Breitbart said. Meanwhile,
Dr. Marianna Strongin , a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, also has some helpful advice. She explained that spending time in front of the mirror can actually improve body image. Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self-esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t. Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself. “Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body."
SurvivorNetTV Presents: ‘SN & You Body Image: Embracing Your Body’ Whether you are living with cancer or some other type of illness, it’s important to know you’re not alone if you’re having a hard time with how you view your body after receiving a diagnosis or going through treatment.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff 
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