Doctors Reveal What They Really Think Of Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic - HuffPost

It’s also meant to supplement physical activity and dietary changes, which is why obesity specialists like Azagury recommend that patients work with a comprehensive team of providers, including dietitians and therapists, if they can afford to.

These GI-related side effects should subside as your body gets used to the injections; until then, they can mostly be handled by eating smaller, more frequent meals or taking over-the-counter medications like bismuth subsalicylate or heartburn relief tablets, Duah said.

The injections aren’t a quick fix, and most people will have to stay on the medications for at least a year (and likely longer) to meet their weight loss goals and improve their health, according to Azagury.

One study found that many people who stop taking the medications rapidly gain the weight back, supporting the growing belief that the injections are meant to be taken for the long haul.

Other than a slightly higher risk of gallstones (which is common with many types of rapid weight loss), we haven’t seen any long-term effects with liraglutide, a similar drug that’s been on the market since 2010.

“If insurances covered weight loss medications like Wegovy and supply was increased, we wouldn’t be seeing these issues with keeping Ozempic stocked on our pharmacies’ shelves,” Duah said.