There has been a lot of positive coverage about the weight loss drug Ozempic. It is a drug that was a breakthrough in tackling obesity. But now that people have been using it for longer, stories of severe and unexpected side effects are coming out. What is this exactly, and does Ozempic really cause hair loss?
What is Ozempic?
A long list of slim celebrities shows Ozempic's success well. What this at least makes clear is that the weight-loss drug works. The effect has to do with our hormones.
Ozempic is the name of the brand, the drug is called; semaglutide. Our body has hormones that send a signal to our brain during or after a meal that makes us feel full. These satiety hormones can become disrupted in overweight people. As a result, you get a feeling of fullness less or not until later, and it is easier to overeat. Semaglutide mimics one of these hormones and makes you feel satiated. You therefore feel less hungry and eat less. Add to this a healthy lifestyle and the pounds melt away.
It sounds easy as that, but the discovery of semaglutide is seen by researchers as a real game changer. It had already been available as a drug for people with type 2 diabetes for 14 years. But now it turns out that in higher doses it helps suppress the feeling of hunger. For now, Ozempic is officially approved in the United States and European Union only for blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. But this new development created a huge demand for the drug, as well as global shortages. This particularly affected people who need the drug to treat their diabetes.
Ozempic is not the only drug for obesity. There are similar drugs on the market. Wegovy also has the active ingredient semaglutide and — unlike Ozempic — is approved for the treatment of obesity. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is authorised as a weight loss drug. Incidentally, most of these drugs are not reimbursed by health insurers.
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Can you buy Ozempic?
If you are thinking of buying Ozempic, we have to disappoint you. Shortages aside, it is not simply available in shops. You have to visit your doctor to be able to get it. After all, it is a medicine and can only be obtained by prescription. In addition, medical supervision is important when using this kind of drug. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) therefore warns not to use these medicines without the supervision of a doctor. Your doctor will then draw up a treatment plan, of which Ozempic can be a part. This is because the drug does not work in isolation. Guidance and a healthy lifestyle are essential for the drug's success.
Is hair loss a side effect of Ozempic?
There is no evidence that hair loss is a direct side effect of using Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. The hair loss is probably due to the stress of rapid weight loss on the body. This stress can lead to temporary hair loss. Many hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, causing a lot of hair to fall out at once. Generally, this persists for several months. This phenomenon is called telogen effluvium. People who have undergone gastric bypass also report experiencing hair loss. This is the same mechanism.
Fortunately, hair loss after taking the drug is not common, according to EMA. Hair loss is reported, but it does not seem to be a common or permanent side effect.
Treatment Telogen effluvium
The rapid weight loss from using Ozempic can cause a stress reaction in the body, resulting in telogen effluvium. Fortunately, there are treatments for this. Telogen effluvium is tackled by reducing stress in your life and in the body. The following products can help nourish the body with the right vitamins and minerals.
Sources
- Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Kandler, K., Konakli, K., Lingvay, I., McGowan, B. M., Oral, T. K., Rosenstock, J., Wadden, T. A., Wharton, S., Yokote, K., & Kushner, R. F. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism/Diabetes, Obesity And Metabolism, 24(8), 1553-1564. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14725
- Ozempic | European Medicines Agency. (z.d.). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/ozempic
- Medicines Evaluation Board. (2024, 17 April). CBG warns of continued shortage of diabetes drug Ozempic. News release | Medicines Evaluation Board. https://www.cbg-meb.nl/onderwerpen/medicijninformatie-medicijntekorten/nieuws/2023/03/17/cbg-waarschuwt-voor-aanhoudend-tekort-diabetesmedicijn-ozempic
