For several months, the antidiabetic Ozempic, prescribed for type 2 diabetics, has quickly become a “trend” on TikTok. It is diverted from its use for its supposed slimming benefits, a worrying phenomenon.
To lose weight, some are ready for anything. For several months, the antidiabetic Ozempic, manufactured by the Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, has been diverted from its use for its supposed slimming benefits. Prescribed for type 2 diabetics, it plays an important role in controlling blood sugar. Today used by many Hollywood celebrities to lose their unsightly pounds, it quickly became a “trend” on the social network.
Concretely, this treatment would increase the feeling of satiety and would therefore make it possible to reduce the quantities of food ingested. It would suffice to inject the product into the stomach, thigh or arm, once a week. Delivered on medical prescription, this drug is marketed at a price of 80 euros in France.
Many shortages around the world
But be careful because this injectable drug, used more and more to lose weight, has undesirable side effects, which are often ignored. Patients have reported nausea, vomiting, constipation and severe diarrhea.
And beyond the potentially dangerous aspect of this treatment, the frenzy of which it is the subject on social networks leads to many shortages around the world, especially in Australia and the United States. A phenomenon that harms the people who really need it. Faced with the sudden increase in demand, the FDA therefore had to add Ozempic to its list of drugs “at risk of shortage”, as reported by the Doctissimo site.
According to figures reported by the World Health Organization, the number of people with diabetes increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. As a reminder, this disease is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, myocardial infarction, strokes and amputation of lower limbs.
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