At this point, it's likely that Ozempic has somehow come into your personal zeitgeist. The expensive, name-brand version of semaglutide — which, importantly, was originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes — has been in high demand after going viral on TikTok, where it's picking up a reputation as an effective weight loss aid.
"It's the most common medication that I get asked about," Dr. Sudeep Singh, a medical director at a concierge medical practice in Miami, told The Cut. "Everybody knows. Everyone's asking about it. My mom's asking. My neighbors are asking about it. The news is out."
Per a number of reports, Ozempic has been a celeb-guarded secret for some time now, oft-used by starlets who might feel the need to fit into a certain dress for a red carpet. Now the drug is becoming so popular that Novo Nordisk, its creator, has declared a shortage. Tragically, this is all starting to wreak havoc on the lives of actual diabetics, who don't just need the drug to lose a few pounds. They need it to live, and doctors are saying that they're starting to see panic from diabetic patients.
"We're getting calls from our patients who can't find it," Dr. Jonathan Fialkow, chief of cardiology at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, told the Sun Sentinel. Per the paper, Fialkow works with a number of diabetic patients with heart conditions.
"People need it for medical conditions, and pharmacies are out of it," he continued. "The manufacturers aren't able to keep up."
Ozempic, which first went to market in 2017, is what's called a "GLP-1 receptor agonist," which means that it stimulates insulin production and inhibits excess glucose from entering the bloodstream. In other words, it manages blood sugar. And while it's certainly a necessary medication for a lot of type 2 diabetics, there are a lot of very not fun side effects including diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.
But shedding a few pounds is one of those side effects too, and for a lot of consumers out there, it seems that the lure of drug-assisted pound-shedding is enough to outweigh the diarrhea and vomiting of it all — not to mention the reality that the drug, and now others like it, is in short supply for those with the illnesses that Ozempic actually intended to treat. (Last year, Novo Nordisk also started selling a version of semaglutide known as WeGovy that's specifically intended for weight loss, but that one is experiencing shortages as well.)
"Ozempic is not a weight-loss medication," Fialkow continued, adding that "these medications need to be monitored by your doctor."
To that note, while it's possible for weight loss hopefuls to buy Ozempic out-of-pocket, the long term effects still aren't known because nobody has been taking it for very long.
"These medications have been studied in certain populations of people with certain medical conditions," Fialkow additionally told Axios. "When we start using medications and other populations that haven't been studied, while they may be safe, we don't know."
Diet culture is insidious, and it creates immense pressure to slim down. But clearly, the price tag on Ozempic isn't just its extremely high literal price tag, or even the potential "puking your brains out" thing. If you're trying to get your hands on it for the sake of a few pounds gone, maybe, for the sake of those who need it to manage their chronic illness, consider putting it back on the shelf.
READ MORE: Florida diabetics scramble to find drugs suddenly popular for non-intended use: weight loss [Sun Sentinel]
The post So Many People Are Using a Diabetes Drug for Weight Loss That Actual Diabetics Are Having Trouble Getting It appeared first on Futurism.
Read the original here:
- NASA's Guardian Angels: Pararescuemen and the SpaceX launch - SOFREP - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX Vs Blue Origin: Who Wins The Space Race - Analytics India Magazine - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX delays launch of latest batch of Starlink satellites, with two hitchhiking spacecraft - The Verge - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX's next batch of Starlink satellites back on the launch pad - Spaceflight Now - July 14th, 2020 [July 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX launch postponed due to bad weather - Gruntstuff - July 16th, 2020 [July 16th, 2020]
- Astronauts to tackle another spacewalk on extended SpaceX mission - UPI News - July 16th, 2020 [July 16th, 2020]
- Edinburgh scientists to blast asteroid-eating bacteria into orbit on a SpaceX rocket - Edinburgh Live - July 17th, 2020 [July 17th, 2020]
- Need to Get Away? Heres Every Space Tourism Vacation You Can Book Right Now - Observer - July 18th, 2020 [July 18th, 2020]
- SpaceX stacks Starship nose section for the first time in months - Teslarati - July 21st, 2020 [July 21st, 2020]
- Science News Roundup: SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts slated for August 2 return; Mexican cave artifacts show earlier arrival of humans in... - July 24th, 2020 [July 24th, 2020]
- Tesla is like a SpaceX rocket to stock investors, but the car makers bond holders are down to earth - MarketWatch - July 24th, 2020 [July 24th, 2020]
- WATCH: SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Drone Ship 'Just Read the Instructions' Returns to Port Canaveral - SpaceCoastDaily.com - July 26th, 2020 [July 26th, 2020]
- SpaceX Astronauts Preparing To Leave ISS To Return To Earth - International Business Times - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- Elon Musk says SpaceX will try launching a full-size Starship prototype 'later this week,' and the rocket may fly 150 meters high - MSN Money - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- Watch The SpaceX Crew Dragon's Return To Earth LIVE This Sunday On 'Space Launch Live: Splashdown' - Science Fiction - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- How Much Is SpaceX Worth and How Does It Make Money? - Barron's - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX is raising up to $1 billion at $44 billion valuation - CNBC - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- How SpaceX, social media and the 'worm' helped NASA become cool again - CNBC - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- SpaceX Starship factory and rocket prototypes weather Texas hurricane - Teslarati - July 29th, 2020 [July 29th, 2020]
- SpaceX, NASA watch weather for historic astronaut splashdown on Sunday - Space.com - July 30th, 2020 [July 30th, 2020]
- Taking on SpaceX, Amazon to invest $10 billion in satellite broadband plan - Economic Times - July 31st, 2020 [July 31st, 2020]
- SpaceX Crew Dragon Departs, Carrying NASA Astronauts Toward Home - The New York Times - August 2nd, 2020 [August 2nd, 2020]
- r/SpaceX, the premier SpaceX discussion community - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- Whats on TV Sunday: Connected and the SpaceX Landing - The New York Times - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- SpaceX crew returned to Earth and other space news you missed - Winston-Salem Journal - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- 'I prayed for this one - Space.com - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- You Can't Buy SpaceX Stock Right Now, but Here's How You ... - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- SpaceX Launch Schedule - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- SpaceX's toasted Crew Dragon returns home after historic NASA astronaut splashdown - Space.com - August 9th, 2020 [August 9th, 2020]
- Explained: What is SpaceXs SN5 Starship prototype that completed its first test flight? - The Indian Express - August 10th, 2020 [August 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX launches and lands prototype of its Mars rocket Starship in key short flight test - CNBC - August 10th, 2020 [August 10th, 2020]
- Virgin Galactic Updates: Whats Happening With SpaceX Rival - Forbes - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX Increases Latest Funding Round to $2 Billion - Bloomberg - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX ramping up Starship prototype tests in Texas (and looking for a resort manager) - Space.com - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX hopes to 'hop' another Starship prototype this weekend - CNET - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Three launches this weekend? SpaceX to try back-to-back launches this Sunday - Florida Today - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- SpaceX & NASA To Explore Gold-Filled Asteroid: Where Do Investors Flee If The Main Safe Haven Becomes Worthless? - The Punch - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Elon Musks SpaceX vs Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin: Which Space Project Will Dominate the Cosmos? - Robb Report - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- SpaceX Just Launched Its 100th Rocket In A Major Milestone For The Company - Forbes - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- What's Up in the Sky: Here's what to expect in 2021 - Akron Beacon Journal - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- SpaceX among Perry broadband project awards - pennlive.com - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- Lockheed Martin buys Aerojet Rocketdyne to better compete with Musk's SpaceX, Bezos' Blue Origin - CNBC - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- Watch every SpaceX launch from 2020 and say Auld Lang Syne with fire - CNET - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- Relive SpaceX's Starship SN8 test launch with this epic recap video - Space.com - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- SpaceX cargo mission to carry water bears, baby squids to space station - UPI News - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Squid, cotton and 'water bears' among cargo headed to the International Space Station - WTSP.com - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Close Up Photo Shows the SpaceX Resilience Capsule Still Tied to the ISS - autoevolution - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Starlink snag forces users to build idiotic contraptions to access Elon Musks space internet - The Independent - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- SpaceX Rival OneWeb Plans Next-Gen Constellation Thats Better Than Starlink - Observer - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- What is that?! SpaceX's Starlink satellites explained - EarthSky - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Weekly Bytes | SpaceXs floating spaceport, Ransomware attack on Fujifilm, and more - The Hindu - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Dragon delivers solar arrays to the International Space Station - Electrek.co - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- USAF wants to deliver cargo around the world with reusable rockets - Aerospace Manufacturing - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Is the Space Force about to acquire SpaceX Starships? | TheHill - The Hill - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- It's Launch Day! Here's what you need to know for today's SpaceX launch - Florida Today - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- See the citizen astronauts of Inspiration4 learn how to fly a SpaceX Dragon (photos) - Space.com - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Everything You Need to Know About the Rise of SpaceX - Analytics Insight - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- The Pentagon wants to use private rockets like SpaceX's Starship to deliver cargo around the world - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX sends cargo to the space station, with the company on a record launch pace for 2021 - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Marc Benioff reveals investment in SpaceX, but says he'd need 'a couple of Ativans' to leave Earth - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Relativity Space raises $650 million from Fidelity and others to build 3D-printed SpaceX competitor - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Converts Oil Rig Into a Launch Pad for Starship in ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Tests Experimental Starlink Terminal That Uses 2 ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Dragon docks at space station to deliver new solar ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceXs Starlink is in talks with several airlines for in-flight Wi-Fi - The Verge - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Relativity Space raises $650 million for 3D-printed SpaceX ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Ex-SpaceX engineers are working on portable nuclear reactors that can power over 1,000 homes - Business Insider India - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Cathie Wood Piled Up Another $994K In This Company Linked With Elon Musk's SpaceX On Friday - Benzinga - Benzinga - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Supporters and opponents of SpaceX launch site air their concerns - Ars Technica - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Its not the heat, its the humidity that grounded Boeings Starliner - Ars Technica - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Morgan Stanley says SpaceX's Starship may 'transform investor expectations' about space - CNBC - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Updates: Watch as SpaceX launches a South Korean mission to the moon from Florida - Florida Today - August 5th, 2022 [August 5th, 2022]
- SpaceX's Starlink has soared, but a course correction may be on the horizon - Fast Company - August 5th, 2022 [August 5th, 2022]
- Musk Tries a New Way Out of Twitter - Bloomberg - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Elon Musk reveals hidden meaning behind the swooping 'X' in SpaceX - TweakTown - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, world's most powerful rocket, launches after three-year hiatus - CNN - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Experts Excoriate NASA Report Claiming James Webb Wasn't Homophobic - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]
- Elon Musk Locks Twitter Employees Out Office, Then Asks Them to Meet Him on the 10th Floor - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]
- NASA Tells Astronauts That Tweeting Isn't As Important as Staying Alive - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]
- Behind the Lawsuit Against Celebs Who Shilled FTX Before Its Spectacular Meltdown - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]