What is wegovy, the fashionable slimming medicine in Hollywood that Elon Musk takes

The technology tycoon and CEO of Tesla mentioned it as his secret to being fit along with fastingApproved in the US, it was born to help diabetes, but now it is also prescribed for chronic weight control, triggering its demand with problems of scarcityHow is it different from Ozempic and Saxenda? How it works, how much it costs and what are its side effectsA fan of Elon Musk asked him what he did to stay in shape and have an “amazing” body, and the richest man in the world did not hesitate to reveal his secret: fasting and “wegovy” Fasting is well known for its fame acquired in recent years as a method to lose weight or prevent certain diseases, always recommended with medical supervision. But what is wegovy? It is an injected medication, prescribed for diabetes, which has also been found to have effects on weight loss. Approved last summer in the United States as a drug to treat obesity, its demand has increased significantly in recent months. What is Wegovy? The drug used by the Tesla tycoon (51 years old) and other celebrities is a semaglutide from the Novo Nordisk brand, similar to Saxenda or Ozempic, but with some differences that we will see later. The injection was born for diabetic patients (type 2), obese, overweight, or have high cholesterol, but got FDA approval for “chronic weight management” (the first to be approved for this goal since 2014). That is why its demand has skyrocketed, causing its scarcity. This is a problem as diabetics and pre-diabetics, numbering more than 130 million people in the US, are having difficulty accessing medication that controls blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association expressed concern about this shortage to the Journal. How does it work? Semaglutide has a receptor that causes the pancreas to release insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar, but it also slows down the passage of food from the stomach, decreasing the person’s appetite. Wegovy, which is injected once a week (2.4 mg) into the stomach, thigh, or arm. It balances the hormones responsible for hunger, also delaying digestion. Specifically, it mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite. It is indicated in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or greater than have at least one weight-related condition or patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater. The FDA recommends combining it with a low-calorie diet (provided by the drug itself) and exercise. What is its effect on the body? It has been shown to lead to 15% to 20% body weight loss over 68 weeks. How much does it cost? It is an expensive treatment, only available to people with a high purchasing power, such as Elon Musk. Its price is around 1,500 dollars (1,547 euros) per month. Dangers and side effects Its most common side effects are gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and diarrhea. The dose of the drug should be increased gradually over 16 to 20 weeks to 2.4 mg once a week to reduce these gastrointestinal side effects. Wegovy should not be used in combination with other products containing semaglutide (such as Ozempic), other GLP-1 receptor agonists, or other weight loss products. How the “Hollywood drug” has become popular “In a matter of months, it has become Hollywood’s worst-kept secret, especially since its most enthusiastic users are not pre-diabetic and do not require the drug,” Variety warned in a recent report on the rise of celebrities addicted to this new drug. “drug” to lose weight. It was rumored, although never confirmed, that Kim Kardashian was among them, after experiencing a remarkable weight loss in a short time to fit into the Marilyn Monroe dress that she wore at the last MET Gala, where she coincided with Elon Musk. Would they share their secrets to lose weight?:Kim Kardashian with Elon Musk at the MET GalaKevin MazurSocial networks have contributed to the popularization of Ozempic and Wegovy (similar), becoming viral on Tik Tok, with users who tell their experience under the hashtags # Wegovy or #MyOzempicJourney. Difference with Ozempic and Saxenda Ozempic and Wegovy are the two brands that Novo Nordisk uses to market injectable semaglutide. The former is used to treat type 2 diabetes and prevent major cardiovascular problems, while the latter adds the use for chronic weight control. Both Wegovy and Saxenda are approved injections for weight loss. Saxenda is also marketed by Novo Nordisk. The difference is in the active ingredient. Wegovy contains semaglutide while Saxenda contains liraglutide, both from the same family of medicines known as GLP-1 agonists. They work in a similar way, regulating appetite, but their results are different, according to clinical trials to date. The reason Novo Nodisk created its own competing medicine is because it found that Wegovy was easier to administer with better results. and fewer side effects. The Saxenda is a daily injection (3 mg) while the Wegovy (2.4) is weekly, since it remains active in the body for 7 days, which is contributing to its greater popularity. Is it sold in Spain? new diabetes drug that has also been shown to be effective against obesity, tirzepatide (Lilly laboratories), a drug marketed as Mounjaro, approved last May by the FDA and which may possibly be available in two or three years in Spain.