Ozempic is one of the few drugs that can be described as “hip”. The injectable medicine, indicated for type 2 diabetes, began to be used “off label” for weight loss and, since then, has become a sales success.
Endocrinologist Érika Fernanda de Faria, from the Santa Lúcia hospital, in Brasília, explains that the active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, a substance analogous to the GLP-1 protein. It acts in our organism by stimulating the release of hormones that induce satiety and reduce hunger.
Semaglutide also slows gastrointestinal transit, giving you that feeling of bloating. Therefore, those who take the medication feel fuller, according to the doctor.
What if the person stops taking Ozempic?
Ozempic is recommended for chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and if a disease is chronic, the medicine that controls it cannot be stopped.
“Our body memorizes the maximum weight it has ever reached, and it has mechanisms to maintain itself at that weight. So, if the patient who is being treated for obesity discontinues the use of Ozempic, he will regain the weight he had before the medication”, explains Érika.
The endocrinologist adds that, as Ozempic acts by decreasing satiety, when you stop taking it, hunger returns to normal and the patient regains his appetite.
She reinforces that it is important to seek a change in lifestyle during treatment to prevent the rebound effect. “Dietary education and physical exercises are part of the treatment with Ozempic, you can’t think that the medicine alone will solve it”, says the doctor.
The endocrinologist also highlights the importance of the drug being used under the supervision of a health professional. “The interruption of use cannot be done in any way, it needs to be gradual”, advises the doctor.
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