While Ozempic and Rybelsus are not explicitly marketed as weight loss medication, Wegovy has been approved by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK and by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US for the treatment of obesity independently of type 2 diabetes, and will soon be available over the counter from pharmacists in the UK
Results Oral semaglutide was safe and well-tolerated in both trials
In 2023, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued more specific recommendations: discontinuation 1 day prior to surgery for patients using daily formulations, and 1 week prior for weekly formulations
Amid all of these developments in the space, one digital health marketing veteran I spoke with said theres still a significant market demand for more affordable weight-loss medications, with consumers seeking alternatives to expensive brand-name drugs
So, lets break down what we currently know about semaglutide long-term side effects and whether theyre something to be concerned about
The difference lies in how effectively and persistently each medication activates GLP-1 receptors