'People want to take Ozempic because they have a wedding or something, but it’s not going to work like that'

A Manchester doctor has spoken out about Ozempic – saying it isn’t a quick fix for those looking to lose weight fast.

Demand for Ozempic has skyrocketed after it hit headlines for being popular with celebrities looking to lose weight.

Ozempic, a branded medicine manufactured by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk Inc, was designed to treat people with type 2 diabetes.

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The drug works by lowering blood sugar levels and slowing down food leaving the stomach. It does this by helping the body to produce more insulin when needed and suppressing the amount of glucose produced by the liver.

While Ozempic isn’t licensed as a weight loss treatment, its active ingredient semaglutide can help regulate appetite, keep people fuller for longer and reducing cravings.

However, the treatment, which is given via an injection, can pose common side effect risks including nausea, diarrhea, stomach pains, vomiting and constipation.

Serious side effects include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), changes in vision, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), kidney failure, serious allergic reactions and gallbladder problems. All side effects can be found listed by Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk on its website.

There’s also the worry of ‘Ozempic face’, a term used to describe the hollowed look on some users’ faces following rapid weight loss.

Dr Riccardo Frati, who owns a cosmetic clinic Harley Surgery in Manchester city centre, has now told the Manchester Evening News what advice he gives his clients about the drug.

“It’s a very popular medicine,” the 50-year-old, who opened his Manchester surgery 15 years ago, said.

“It’s been used for diabetes from the beginning and obviously the use has been extended for weight loss.”

Dr Frati says those with underlying thyroid problems are best avoiding the drug, however, it’s not clear if taking Ozempic long term increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer.

He added those with pancreatitis, where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short period of time, should also avoid the treatment. He also does not recommend it for those with kidney problems.

But the doctor says the main course of action anyone should take before starting Ozempic is visiting a specialist.

“People want to take it because they have a wedding or something, but it’s not going to work like that,” he added.

“Anyone undergoing treatment needs to be seen by a specialist. Because my type of patients are cosmetic surgery patients, in some cases they want to lose weight and they have a weight management issue.

“We obviously do recommend seeing a specialist and of course I’m not a specialist who can give great advice in terms of dosage and a treatment plan.

“They can get all the bloods done and see whether they can be able to start treatment. Most people tend to buy it by themselves and get some rough idea over the internet in terms of dosage and then they get in trouble.

“Not everyone is treatable because of their medical history, objectives, goals and potential side effects. They can give you sickness and you need to see how people are going to respond.”

Under UK law, it is illegal to sell semaglutide as a medicine without a prescription. Drugs manufacturer Novo Nordisk is the only company approved to sell and market semaglutide, branded as Wegovy in the UK, but it is now battling against knock-off online sales.