What happens when you go cold turkey on Ozempic as celebs speak out about use
What happens to your body after you stop taking Ozempic has been revealed, after the use of weight loss medications has surged in recent years.
In case you've not heard, Ozempic is a medication that helps to bring down a person's blood sugar levels.
It's primarily used for those with Type 2 diabetes, but in recent years, it has become increasingly popular as a weight loss drug, with many people, including celebrities, using it to drop the pounds.
How does Ozempic work?
Ozempic works by injecting the medication into fatty tissue, like your tummy or the back of your arms, on a regular basis.
The medicine triggers an insulin rush that simply pushes sugar out of your bloodstream and in to cells for your body to use.
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The result means those using the medication should feel less hungry more often and fuller for longer.
What happens if you stop taking Ozempic?
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in several weight loss medications.
Semaglutide is known as a 'GLP-1 receptor agonist' which is a drug that imitates your body’s natural hormone, GLP-1.
GLP-1 is involved in a number of functions in the body, including blood sugar regulation and promoting feelings of fullness.
According to Healthline, going cold turkey on semaglutide can lead to a an 'internal imbalance' known as a withdrawal.
"When you stop taking semaglutide, you’re no longer providing your body with the medication that’s been boosting your natural GLP-1’s effects," the site explains.
"This can result in a resurgence of your original symptoms, also known as a rebound effect."
Withdrawal symptoms
Possible withdrawal symptoms of finishing semaglutide treatment can include:
- increased appetite
- decreased feelings of fullness
- heightened blood sugar
- weight gain
- cardiovascular changes
Elevated blood sugar can also cause nausea and vomiting, a dry mouth, shortness of breath, and sweet-smelling breath.
Meanwhile, cardiovascular effects can lead to:
- headaches
- chest pain
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- nausea and vomiting
- nosebleeds
- abnormal heartbeat
- vision changes
- anxiety
- confusion
- buzzing in the ears
It's important to seek medical advice if you're concerned about the symptoms you're experiencing.
What have celebrities said about using Ozempic?
Gemma Collins
Gemma Collins has previously explained how she lost around two stone (12.7kg) while on Mounjaro, a semaglutide that is approved by the NHS for weight loss (which Ozempic is not).
Saying she feels like she looks ‘older’, the candid star said she didn’t think she had got ‘Ozempic face yet’.
“I've always had a fuller face, as you know,” she said as she began noticing a change in her appearance.
“I do like expression around my eyes. I want to look natural still. But this just isn't right. What has happened? I am 44 but this is taking it to levels that I never, ever imagined it'd get to.”
Jeremy Clarkson
Clarkson previously revealed he had tried out Ozempic for weight loss two years ago but that he’d suffered extreme nausea.
"My body lost the ability to deal with gluttony but once the initial enthusiasm had worn off, my mind still wanted to breakfast on Cadbury Fruit & Nut," he wrote in his The Times column. "This meant I was sick a lot."
Amy Schumer
Schumer also said she suffered from nausea while using the medicine.
In a candid health update for fans she previously explained: "I tried Ozempic almost three years ago and I was like, bedridden.
"I was like, vomiting — and then you have no energy. But other people take it and they’re all good."
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne revealed that she had previously taken Ozempic to help deal with her weight, but didn't want to continue taking it in the fear of losing too much.
Speaking on Piers Morgan podcast, via E! news, she said: "I lost 42 pounds now and it's just enough."
“I didn’t actually want to go this thin, but it just happened and I’ll probably put it all on again soon."
On top of that, she also experienced nausea, and 'that feeling' of throwing up without doing it physically.
"I was about two, three weeks where I felt nauseous the whole time. You get very thirsty and you don’t want to eat. That’s it,” she recalled.
Topics: Celebrity, Food And Drink, Health
Lucy Devine