‘Ozempic face?’ dr. Siegel warns of bizarre side effects of popular diabetes drugs
It’s the weight loss drug people have been dreaming of – or isn’t it?
Diabetes drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide have taken the medical community by storm, helping not only to keep certain endocrine disorders at bay, but also showing promising signs of appetite control, improved insulin sensitivity, and, with both, weight loss. But the miraculous effects of TikTok are known Ozempic injections come at a price.
“I talked to some dermatologists about this yesterday,” Dr. Siegel said of “Ozempic face,” a bizarre side effect reported in Ozempic patients who claim the drug makes them look older. “It’s the overuse of a drug that makes you lose weight too quickly. The buccal mucosa—the fat—leaves your face, and you become emaciated.”
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Siegel warned on “Fox & Friends Weekend” Sunday that the side effect could be irreversible.
Semaglutide injections have taken center stage in the ongoing search for the perfect weight loss solution.
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“It’s something that happens to us as we age anyway,” he explained.
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Reports of sagging skin, an older appearance and a “skinny face” are now following the wildly popular “weight loss” injections, but Dr. Siegel still praised the drug for its potential to do great things.
“Ozempic is actually a great drug. It’s the first weight loss drug I’ve seen that I think really works,” he said. “It actually improves insulin, improves sugar release, reduces hunger . . .”
A patient with diabetes is being prepared for an injection of Ozempic into the stomach.
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TikTok has turned semaglutide injections like Ozempic into the latest weight-loss craze for its purported benefits, creating a long-term shortage and fueling a debate over whether patients should have access to the drug over-the-counter.
Celebrities have also embraced the trend and spoken publicly about their use, creating an alarming recipe for ongoing shortages.
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Losing weight with diabetes medication is becoming an increasingly common craze.
(Photo by Annette Riedl/picture alliance via Getty Images))
Since the popular drug has become a household name in the weight loss community, the FDA has approved another stronger injection of semaglutide and a glucagon-like peptide agonist (GLP-1 agonist) for long-term weight loss called Wegovy.
The drug has also seen shortages after demand surged last year.
In addition to concerns about the “Ozempic face” and the older appearance it allegedly causes, experts have warned that the drugs can cause other, more serious side effects, including an increased risk for rare forms of thyroid tumors, vision changes, kidney and gall bladder problems.
Sudden weight loss also poses a health risk, potentially causing problems with the gallbladder, metabolic problems and hormonal imbalances.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide injections are also used to help treat or control other endocrine disorders such as insulin resistance or prediabetes and metabolic syndrome.
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Fox News’ Julia Musto contributed to this report.
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