Ozempic, the diabetes drug that many are turning to for weight-loss

While giving testimonies on how they achieved the ‘perfect body’ a few celebrities recommend products including solutions, drugs and herbal concoctions.

Ozempic, a medication for type 2 diabetes, has become a social media sensation.

Ozempic's popularity on the internet isn't just due to its blood sugar-regulating capabilities, rather, the medication's proven ability to help diabetic people lose weight.

Celebrities and TikTok influencers have described taking it to lose weight within a short time. Even though Ozempic is not advised for weight loss, this has caused an increase in the number of people attempting to obtain it in the hopes of losing weight.

Demand for Ozempic, a prescribed Type 2 diabetes medication spiralled last year after it hit the headlines for being Hollywood's secret weight loss drug.

Oprah Winfrey during an interview with People in December 2023 revealed that she takes a weight-loss drug, but didn't specify which one. She later resigned from the Weightwatchers board to avoid what she termed as a conflict of interest.

Dr Ian Justus, a physician in Nairobi notes that Ozempic is readily available in the Kenyan market adding that some certain health institutions will source the medication once it has been prescribed by the doctor.

“Ozempic is a brandname for the drug Semaglutide. It is used for the management of Diabetes Type 2 and Chronic Weight Management with people with at least one weight-related condition e.g high blood pressure (hypertension),” explains Dr Justus.

How does the prescription-only drug work?

Ozempic is a prescription drug so a valid prescription is needed before dispensing at authorized pharmacies. The drug works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone.

As those hormone levels rise, the molecules go to your brain, telling it you're full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body.

“The drug also imitates a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 that we naturally produce in our intestines, limiting appetite by signalling to our bodies that we feel full and prompting our stomachs to empty more slowly,’ he explains.

As a result, people with obesity and additional health concerns have lost weight while taking it and they feel full faster.

According to the doctor, Ozempic should not be taken by anyone who has not been reviewed by a qualified doctor as the medication is prescribed. It is also contraindicated for people with certain types of thyroid cancers.

The drug’s rising popularity has led to a rise in off-label prescriptions for weight loss, which triggered global supply issues and created a shortage of diabetes patients in countries like the United Kingdom.

Citizen Digital investigated and found that a simple search for the drug online will lead to online classified page and website known for selling multiple items. The price ranges from Ksh.75,000 to around Ksh.120,000 per dosage.

We tried to ask if the drug could be sold to us without a doctor’s prescription. The merchant promised delivery after one hour.

“There have been reports in different parts of the globe about counterfeit Ozempic partly because of its increasing popularity on the internet,” Dr Justus adds.

People taking Ozempic experience nausea and dehydration. They might also feel fatigue and unease. In extreme cases, patients risk becoming malnourished because of the little nutrients they consume.

“Side effects are there just like all other medications. The long-term effect of concern for Ozempic is thyroid cancer which is similar with other medications of its class,” he adds.