Long Term Effects of Ozempic

The Long-Term Effects of Ozempic: What We Know So Far

Ozempic (semaglutide) has gained significant attention as a medication for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. While its short-term benefits are well-documented, questions remain about its long-term effects. Let’s explore what current research tells us.

Sustained Weight Loss

One of the most notable long-term effects of Ozempic appears to be sustained weight loss:

• Studies show that a majority of patients (56.2%) maintain significant weight loss for at least 1 year after the medication is discontinued (Bartelt et al., 2024).

Glycemic Control

For patients with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has demonstrated:

• Improved long-term blood sugar control (Aroda et al., 2019)

Cardiovascular Benefits

Emerging evidence suggests potential long-term cardiovascular benefits:

• Reduction in Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) (Sattar et al., 2021)
• Potential reduction in cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke for patients with type-2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk (Marso et al., 2016)

Gastrointestinal Effects

Some patients report ongoing gastrointestinal side effects:

• Patients may experience gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea and vomiting which are commonly cited as the main reason for treatment discontinuation (Pratley et al., 2018).
• Compared to other medications for weightloss such as Contrave ^©, GLP-1 agnonists like Ozempic may be associated with increased risk of pancreatitis and gastroparesis (Sodhi et al., 2023).

Bone Health

Unlike oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) which have well documented effects on bone mineral density, there is emerging evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic may have differing effects on bone health:

• Some studies suggest no associated impact for GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic on bone mineral density or fracture risk (Daniilopoulou et al., 2022).

Conclusion

While Ozempic shows promise for long-term weight management and diabetes control, many questions about its long-term effects remain. As with any medication, the decision to use Ozempic long-term should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider, weighing individual risks and benefits.