Ozempic and Mounjaro seem to be mentioned everywhere these days. They’re the brand names of popular drugs designed to treat diabetes, yet they also help people lose weight.
“While the interest level is there, the overall knowledge about these drugs’ cost, effectiveness, side effects and how they work is not,” said Zoilo Lansang, MD, a board-certified Obesity Medicine specialist with Avera Medical Group Comprehensive Weight Management.
With that idea in mind, Lansang offered these straightforward facts on these drugs.
The Growth of GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide. Wegovy, the weight-loss version of the medicine, and Ozempic are called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1s).
A related class of medication called tirzepatide is known as a dual-GLP1/GIP receptor agonists. The type 2 diabetes fighting version goes by the brand name, Mounjaro. The weight-loss version is called Zepbound. Lansang said these classes of medication have been game-changers in the treatment of both diabetes and obesity.
The number of these drugs continues to grow, particularly as people recognize the weight loss benefits. Yet it’s important to know the difference:
- Brands like Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved only for use as a treatment for type 2 diabetes
- Brands like Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for weight management
That’s one reason it’s important to consult a doctor before starting one of these drugs for weight loss.
“These are not a cure-all for overweight and obesity treatment,” Lansang said, adding that no “magic bullet” exists to safely offer “miracle” weight loss.
How They Work
Doctors began to use Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes in 2017. In that treatment, the medications work like hormones that tell the pancreas to release more insulin into our body. "The amount released is dependent of how much glucose is in our system," Lansang said. "They also prevent the liver from producing more glucose."
Lansang said they help with weight loss in a different way.
"They slow our gut motility, and thereby make you feel fuller or satiated," he said. "Patients feel full, eat less and therefore, they lose weight."
Lansang said results have been mixed, with some patients having a very positive response while other patients do not respond at all. “Every person’s body responds differently to this type of therapy. Patients who do respond well also are involved in intensive lifestyle changes. They lose significant amounts of weight within our clinical setting.”
Who Is a Candidate for These Drugs?
It’s important to remember why there’s such buzz around these medications. With almost 40% of Americans diagnosed as overweight or obese, the weight loss properties of the GLP-1s make them extremely attractive.
Lansang looks for a few criteria when prescribing these drugs:
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Additional health conditions, like acid reflux, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes
- Willingness to make lifestyle changes
People should look at these medications as something to go with diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle changes.
“These medications are one tool in the toolbox along with diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle,” Lansang said.
The same rules apply to weight-loss surgery: no one procedure – or medication – can solve a complex problem like obesity. It is a marathon, not a sprint, and it can include setbacks and steps forward.
Yet the popularity of these miracle meds, as they are sometimes called, continues to boom. Some studies show a 300% increase in the number of prescriptions in the last three years.
What Are Possible Side Effects?
Potential side effects can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, dehydration, kidney disease or worsening of kidney disease in patients with an established diagnosis. In some rare cases, medullary thyroid carcinoma has occurred.
Lansang mentioned that he has seen patients with extreme vomiting that occurs from rapid dose adjustment. That’s why physicians recommend careful discussions between patients and providers and regular appointments to discuss dosing changes.
“The overall knowledge about these medications – cost, effectiveness, side effects and how they work in the body – is not increasing as fast as the demand,” said Lansang.
The drugs are administered via injection. Lansang said it’s likely oral versions soon will arrive. The oral treatment option Rybelsus already is available for diabetic patients.
Cost Considerations
An additional consideration is cost. Private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid often do not cover these medications for weight loss. “If a patient is not diabetic or not covered, out-of-pocket cost can be $600 to $1,600 a month,” he said.
Are you looking for health insurance coverage for weight loss medications? If you live in Brown, Lincoln or Minnehaha counties in South Dakota, you may want to consider MyWeighForward through Avera Health Plans. Learn More
How Popularity Affects Pharmaceutical Medications
Beyond its commonplace commercials, Ozempic and other drugs of this sort are on the pop culture radar. People talk about the signs of “Ozempic face” (a side effect that causes sagging or aging of the face) or look for lower-cost alternatives, so-called “generic” Ozempic.
The FDA has issued warnings about these versions of semaglutide; patients may experience unanticipated side effects with compounded semaglutide. It has also issued warnings about possible infection risks tied to counterfeit versions.
Patients should only obtain drugs containing semaglutide with a prescription from a licensed health care provider, and only obtain medicines from state-licensed pharmacies or outsourcing facilities registered with FDA.
“It’s important to see a board-certified obesity medicine specialist and discuss options,” Lansang said. “Successful treatments are based on your medical history and your patient profile. Any drug, including these in the spotlight, are simply tools.”
Learn more about healthy weight loss tools at Avera.
