So, there are GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP shots that are taking Hollywood, and not only by storm! Are they suitable for you?
If you struggle with increased appetite, binging, or cravings and cannot lose weight, the Magic shots might be the way to go!
So, is it true that they are magic? For us, weight loss Doctors, who have been struggling for years to help our patients using very limited and often times weak weight loss medications, they indeed appear as game changers.
How are they different?
For once, they are much more effective than any weight loss medication currently on the market. While newer weight loss medications like Qsymia and Contrave target just 5-10 %of weight loss, with Semaglutide ( Ozempic, Wegovy), people would lose 20 to 30 % of their body weight. Even highly overweight people can achieve their almost ideal body weight. With Tirzepatide ( Mounjaro), the seemingly impossible task seems to come true: the target is now to treat to an Ideal Body Weight! (Tirzepatide, or Mounjaro, is prescribed for weight loss off-label as currently, it’s only FDA approved for diabetes, but Weight loss indication is expected to be FDA cleared this year.
So how do the Magic Shots work?
It so happens that your stomach can communicate the sensation of satiation when you are eating to your brain; in other words, if your stomach has gotten enough food, it would tell your brain:” Hey, stop being hungry. I am full!”. This sensation is transmitted to the brain by GLP1 and GIP, which have been lately identified as satiety hormones. Unfortunately, naturally occurring satiety hormones are super short-lived. Their chemically produced analogs (the magic shots) stay in the body for a week and suppress your appetite by making your brain think your stomach is full. As a result, you would be less hungry and, when eating, would be satisfied fully with a much smaller amount of food.
Are those the same medications given to people with diabetes, and if so, could they make me diabetic? Or would they lower my sugar?
Yes, those medications are given to people with diabetes, and no, they would not lower your sugars if they are normal or give you diabetes. It is hard to explain as we are used to medications that are doing just one thing and one thing only ( for example, blood pressure medications or antibiotics). Still, as I mentioned before, the Magic shots are a different breed of medication – it’s “smart,” like in “smartphone.” So it is equally good at lowering blood sugars in people with diabetes and suppressing appetite in people who want to lose weight. They do both somewhat independently.
Previously, I could not take weight loss medications because I have high blood pressure and heart disease. Can I be on the Magic shots?
Yes. Magic shots do not affect your blood pressure and might benefit your cardiovascular health; unlike the “first generation” appetite suppressants, they don’t make you jittery or increase your blood pressure.
What are the side effects, and how well are the shots tolerated?
Significant side effects include nausea, indigestion, constipation, or diarrhea. Usually, the side effects are mild and well tolerated.
So should I order some stuff online and start using it?
Absolutely not! As with any medication, Magic shots are contraindicated in some rare medical conditions and should only be started with Doctor’s supervision! Beware of multiple online schemes that lure you into useless or dangerous situations! Unfortunately, in our world, some people take advantage of anything to make money.
So remember: Magic Shots ( Semaglutide, Ozempic, Wegovi, Tirzepatide/Mounjaro) can and should be prescribed to you only by a health care professional after a thorough physical examination and laboratory testing!
Look for more information in our upcoming blogs!