‘Ozempic tongue’ is latest side effect of drug a number of celebs shared experience using
In case you've been living under a rock, Ozempic has become a hugely popular drug in recent years, despite it primarily being a treatment for people with Type-2 diabetes.
A wide range of celebrities have admitted to using it as a way of losing a few pounds, although some have moved over to Mounjaro - a medication that works in a similar way to Ozempic and has been approved for weight loss in the UK.
Ozempic works by mimicking a hormone known as GLP-1, which plays a key role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. This means those with Type-2 diabetes are able to produce more insulin and less sugar when needed.
It also slows down how quickly food is digested and can lead to feeling fuller for longer - though, as with any drug, users may experience some side effects.
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And 'Ozempic tongue' is the latest on a seemingly long list of Ozempic side effects, and unsurprisingly, it doesn't sound like much fun.
What are the main side effects of Ozempic?
The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and constipation.
That feeling of sickness was something Amy Schumer spoke about as she said it left her ‘bedridden’, while Jeremy Clarkson also shared that he was 'sick a lot' when taking the drug, before finding more success with Mounjaro.
Some have even suffered from something known as 'Ozempic face', with the removal of subcutaneous fat near the cheeks and mouth resulting in a sagging look that can affect your mouth, cheeks and eyes. This means the skin can often appear more wrinkly.
The list doesn't end there though, with a dentist also warning about 'Ozempic mouth', suggesting that oral health could be at risk if people stop producing as much saliva by avoiding food.
What is Ozempic tongue?
So, what is this latest side effect that you need to look out for?
New York-based obesity specialist Dr Daniel Rosen told the Daily Mail that taking the injection is leading a lot of people to change the way they view food, due to different taste receptors on the tongue.
He said: "You have to remember that taste is not just in your tongue it is also in your brain.
"We know GLP-1s lessen the dopamine hit from food, making the experience less enjoyable, which could be why tastes start to shift.
"Think of seeing a photo of a juicy burger on a menu and that first bite with the explosion of flavour in your mouth and juices dripping down to your chin.
"That is the pleasure system in the brain responding to food. If all of that is dampened or turned off in the brain because of the GLP-1 medications you can see why someone would say food tastes different or that things don't taste the same.
"Patients might say everything tastes the same, or food tastes so bland."
Dr Rosen said that some Ozempic users have struggled with a 'metallic' taste when enjoying usually flavourful meals, such as steaks and sausages.
On the other hand, he claimed that he's seen some vegetarians go the other way entirely, with them starting to crave meat.
Which celebrities have admitted to using Ozempic?
We live in a world where it feels like we know everything about some celebrities and they're certainly not shy about sharing when they're on Ozempic, despite it not being approved for weight loss in the UK and US.
Clarkson and Schumer have both spoken out about their struggles with the side-effects, while James Corden and Sharon Osbourne have also admitted to using it.
Other big names include Kathy Bates, Rebel Wilson and Boy George, while several others such as Oprah Winfrey and Kelly Clarkson have revealed that they used weight loss drugs, but never specified which one.
James Moorhouse