Why is obesity defined as a disease – and when does it really endanger us? (Walla System)
Recently, medications intended to help with weight loss have become popular: the best known of these is probably Ozempic, but also Vigobi and Saxanda. Now another drug called Monjero has been added to the race, which has not yet received FDA approval but submissions for approval are underway. So how does each one work, what are the side effects and what is the difference between the drugs?
Ozempic, Saxanda and Vigovi: All three are called semaglutide, a drug that simulates the activity of the naturally occurring GLP-1 protein in the human body. The protein works in various mechanisms, the main one being increasing the secretion of insulin, which reduces blood sugar. It also reduces hunger and slows intestinal evacuation.
What is the difference between them?
The first was approved for use in 2017 in the indication of diabetes, the second in the indication of obesity, and the third was approved in 2021 in the indication of obesity as well. But they are essentially the same drug, and have been found to be effective in studies in both weight loss and diabetes control. So what's the difference? The answer is in doses.
While Ozempic is available in doses of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 milligrams, in addition to these Vigobi can also be found in doses of 1.7 and 2.4 mg. Both are usually injected starting at the lower dose once a week and gradually increasing the dose. Saxanda is basically Vigovi but with daily injection of the drug, which of course is much less convenient for patients.
Ozempic slimming injection (Photo: ShutterStock)
How long does the treatment take and how much do you lose weight?
The duration of therapy is actually determined by the patient's response. In a study published in 2021, 0.25 mg/week treatment was applied, increasing the dose every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 2.4 mg weekly. Treatment in the study lasted 68 weeks of treatment + 7 weeks of follow-up after discontinuation of treatment. The subjects who used semaglutide, along with behavioral therapy and diet support for the first 8 weeks, lost 16 percent of their weight, compared to the subjects who took a placebo and lost only 5.7 percent of their weight.
What are the side effects?
Side effects from the use of medications may be nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When combined with other diabetes medications may cause episodes of hypoglycemia (hyposugar in the blood). More serious side effects that require a doctor's examination are worsening eye diseases and, more rarely, pancreatitis. Patients should be closely monitored for sugar levels that may drop and cause hypoglycemic events, these may worsen further with the consumption of alcoholic beverages and therefore it is forbidden to drink at the same time.
What is the new drug?
Monjero, or by its generic name Tirzapatide, has been tested in studies under two indications - obesity and type 2 diabetes. This drug also mimics GLP-1 and another protein called GIP. The latter contributes to the feeling of satiety and reduces the deposition of fats in the blood.
The main innovation of this drug is that it has demonstrated in studies the most significant weight loss among the drugs – between 21 and 22.5 percent at its highest dose, numbers similar to those of bariatric surgery. In October 2022, it was on the fast track to FDA approval and is expected to receive approval this year for obesity indications.
- health
- news
Tags
- Ozempic
- trapping
