Jakarta –
The diabetes drug Ozempic suddenly became the talk of the people of the United States. Not because of the good effect for people with diabetes, but because of the side effects that are said to be able to lose weight.
The content of semaglutide in Ozempic has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss in 2021. However, because of its popularity, many doctors are worried.
Many doctors worry that the side effects of these drugs may reduce access to these drugs. Moreover, many patients who really need it.
In general, semaglutide is actually safe to use. But the myths that develop on social media can be dangerous.
Many false claims are circulating online, providing exaggerated side effect information and misleading success stories.
“Semaglutide is a legally effective drug. It provides health-modifying weight loss. It has an excellent overall safety profile and is generally well tolerated,” said Dr. Chris McGowan, gastroenterologist quoted from InsiderSunday (26/03/2023).
This drug has side effects such as mild diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. McGowan continued that the claims on social media were worrying. This can prevent patients from understanding how the drug works and how to use it safely.
“My biggest concern is there is misinformation everywhere. People see on social media these are quick fixes or ways to lose weight. That’s not how they were learned or meant to be used,” she continued.
Effect on Fertility
Professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University Dr. Mary Jane Minkin revealed that semaglutide can be related to reproductive health.
“The main concern I have about it is reports of people losing weight, and sometimes even more, when they stop taking the drug,” he says.
“We know that fertility is enhanced by approaching ideal body weight, being significantly overweight or underweight can contribute to ovulation difficulties. Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to achieve this,” he continued.
On the FDA warning label, semaglutide should not be taken while pregnant and advises patients who wish to become pregnant to stop taking the drug 2 months beforehand.
It’s Worried It Could Cause Muscle Loss
Not all weight loss that occurs in a person is the same. The benefits of weight loss arise from reducing fat tissue without reducing muscle mass.
But evidence shows that patients who consume them can also lose significantly more muscle mass than other weight loss methods.
“They are losing muscle mass at a rate that worries me,” said Dr Peter Attia, a longevity specialist.
Not only Dr Peter Attia, Dr Mark Hayman who is known as an aging specialist expressed similar concerns.
“These are not benign compounds. You have patients who are losing muscle and slowing their metabolism, that’s unrealistic and you have to stay on them for life. We need to address systemic causes of problems in the food system instead.”
Watch Video “Study Calls Low-Fat Diet More Effective Than Keto“
(dec/naf)
