You’ve probably heard the excitement round slimming injections, the key behind quite a few superstar weight-loss transformations. These weekly injections, referred to as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, had been initially used to handle Kind 2 Diabetes. Nevertheless, they’ve now taken the weight-loss trade by storm. Ozempic and Wegovy (Semaglutide), Saxenda (Liraglutide), and Mounjaro (Tirzepitide) injections are hovering in recognition, usually delivering exceptional weight-loss outcomes similar to bariatric surgical procedure. Uncover what it’s worthwhile to know earlier than embarking in your journey to a slimmer you.

How do Ozempic and Mounjaro work?

“These new hormone courses primarily influence intestine hormones,” says Chicago, IL bariatric and life-style specialist Neha Shah, MD. “These intestine hormones talk starvation, fullness, and insulin secretion to the mind. With drugs like these, we tackle the foundation reason behind cravings, significantly for sweets. Sufferers usually expertise a profound sense of fullness they might have by no means felt earlier than.”

Who can get a prescription from a Telehealth supplier?

Telehealth choices like Sequence, Push, or Alpha medical can diagnose and prescribe weight-loss drugs with out critical dangers. Dr. Shah emphasizes that many Telehealth suppliers now prescribe these drugs however cautions that they’ll’t exchange specialist monitoring. With out assist, accountability, and dietary adjustments, these drugs received’t be totally efficient. A dietician can present a metabolic workup to uncover underlying points like thyroid circumstances, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or anemia. This stage of study and assist might not all the time be accessible by way of Telehealth.

Are the unintended effects onerous to handle?

The principle unintended effects embrace nausea, vomiting, fuel, stomach ache, bloating, constipation and bouts of fatigue, however they’re short-term. Whereas their major intention is glycemic management, they’ll elicit unintended effects in some people. Negative effects can progressively enhance because the physique adjusts. There’s additionally a threat of hypoglycemia, primarily when used with different diabetes medication like insulin or sulfonylureas, and occasional injection web site reactions.

The most important concern to notice, nonetheless, is the chance of thyroid most cancers. “It’s not beneficial for folks with a private or household historical past of thyroid most cancers as a result of the treatment might trigger thyroid tumors in some,” notes Dr. Shah.

Does the place you inject assist with unintended effects?

There are three beneficial locations you may inject the treatment into each week: the higher arms, the interior thighs or the abdomen (about 4 inches away out of your stomach button). In case you’re experiencing unintended effects usually and for extended durations of time when injecting within the abdomen, Dr. Shah says change to your interior thigh which can assist lower nausea and upset abdomen, however might delay barely the onset of urge for food suppression.

Does Mounjaro trigger hair loss?

The potential hyperlink between Mounjaro, or any weight-loss treatment, and hair loss has raised issues and is topic to particular person variation. Some people utilizing Mounjaro and Ozempic have reported experiencing hair loss as a aspect impact, whereas others might not encounter this subject. The prevalence and severity of hair loss can range primarily based on elements equivalent to genetics, dosage, and particular person reactions to the treatment. 

Fast weight reduction can set off hair loss and thinning as a result of a stress response referred to as Telogen effluvium. In line with New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD throughout this part, round 40 p.c of the hair prematurely enters the resting part, resulting in hair loss. Sometimes, solely about 10 p.c of hair is within the resting part. “This resting part lasts for roughly three to 4 months earlier than the affected hair falls out, and new hair begins to develop, making a time lag between the onset of stress and hair shedding,” she says.

Why are there a number of doses of every injection?

Every drug has a prescribed loading dose to start the primary 4 weeks. Within the following months, sufferers will progressively enhance the dosage to keep up effectiveness. For instance, Mounjaro’s dosing begins at 2.5mg and goes up in increments of two.5mg (5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg). Nevertheless, in case your present dose is efficient and also you’re attaining weight reduction, there’s no want to lift it.

Metamora, IL household medication and weight problems skilled Jennah LaHood Siwak, MD means that decrease doses usually lead to milder unintended effects. She advises in opposition to speedy will increase, as long-term treatment use could also be essential, and escalating too shortly might restrict future choices. “Usually at decrease dosages, folks have much less extreme unintended effects. If a dose is working for you then why enhance? Additionally, needless to say the objective with GLP drugs is that you could be should be on this treatment long-term. If we enhance you too shortly, there’s no the place else to go from there.”

What’s the greatest weight loss program to observe whereas on these injections?

To cut back stomach-upsetting unintended effects from these injections, consultants advocate boosting protein consumption whereas decreasing sugar, fats, and carbs. In line with Dr. Siwak, protein helps protect lean muscle mass, resulting in a sooner metabolism and elevated calorie burning with out weight acquire. Protein additionally has the next diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) in comparison with carbs or fats, that means it requires extra vitality to digest. Moreover, protein promotes a larger sense of fullness.