What problems do I see in patients on or after taking Ozempic?

In my clinic, I often see patients referring to me after finishing their Ozempic journey as they start to gain the weight they lost while on drugs. These patients not only complain about weight gain but also of tiredness and constant hunger. This situation can be very frustrating as those patients desperately try to keep the weight gain at bay but feel too tired to exercise and are battling strong hunger signals.

While Ozempic might initially seem like a magic wand to lose weight effortlessly, it is important to remember that it is still a drug and that your journey should be monitored by a registered medical doctor, starting after a face-to-face appointment and the all-clear from blood test results.

Some of my patients have stopped taking those drugs before finishing the quantity they have purchased because of side effects, mainly gastrointestinal distress or feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

Studies report that, depending on the symptom and the specific drug, anywhere from one-third to one-half of patients will experience some kind of stomach trouble.

In a clinical review, which looked at studies of three GLP-1 medications — semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) — semaglutide users fared comparatively worse. Nausea was reported most frequently — 44.2% of semaglutide users dealt with it, compared with 40.2% for liraglutide and 31% for tirzepatide. Diarrhoea, constipation, and vomiting also struck one-quarter to one-third of semaglutide patients, and slightly fewer for the other two medications.

I have worked with clients who have started their Ozempic journey prompted by a social media advertisement or a TikTok video. When purchasing off the internet or without medical advice, you will never be sure of the quality of the product you are injecting yourself, the real quantity of active principle, and how it is going to affect you. The BBC has done an amazing investigation called “The Skinny Jab Uncovered” which I will recommend anyone interested in purchasing Ozempic off the internet to watch.

But what happens after taking Ozempic, even if the side effects aren’t strong and you have managed to finish your treatment?

To provide an answer, I always ask my clients to perform a general blood test, as those data will speak louder than my words.

What I see most of the time is a scenario where most vitamins and minerals are on the low side or deficient, altered hormonal levels and very low blood sugar levels, as well as altered liver function parameters.

This is because taking Ozempic for a few months equals starving yourself for that amount of time. Ozempic reduces dramatically appetite and consequently food intake, and that leads the road to possible nutrient deficiencies, especially if the diet during the treatment is void of whole foods and nutritious foods. 

This situation of deep undernourishment can have also an impact on thyroid and sex hormones, which in many cases I see altered in blood tests.

I have also seen a few cases of altered pancreatic and hepatic (liver) values which I had to refer to a GP for further investigation and care.

Is Ozempic worth it?

This leads to a question – it is worth taking Ozempic? If this treatment was recommended by your GP, after carefully assessing your case study and your blood, yes go ahead.

If you are choosing to start this journey to lose some weight, and looking for a magic wand that will make this happen without dietary and lifestyle changes, I would recommend thinking twice.

Without implementing dietary changes the weight you would have lost will creep up again. Research on 670 adults, showed that on average they lost 20.9% of their weight after 36 weeks, after 88 weeks of starting the treatment they all regained almost half the weight they'd lost, finishing at 9.9% below their starting weight. 

For long-lasting results without all the possible side effects, refer to a nutrition healthcare professional who will be able to guide and motivate you towards dietary changes that will help you achieve safely your goals while improving your health, not diminishing it.