Since being approved for weight loss almost two years ago, semaglutide has been hailed as a "game-changer"
Semaglutide originated as a diabetes medication but was FDA-approved to treat obesity in 2021.
The drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk produces semaglutide under the brand names Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. Confusingly, Ozempic has become the byword for the once-weekly shot regardless of which version of the drug a person is taking, or why.
There have been shortages of the drugs as people clamor to get their hands on them, and rumors swirl that celebrities secretly take the medications.
The drugs are expensive, with Wegovy costing $1,349 a month and Ozempic $892 if they're not covered by insurance, Insider's Gabby Landsverk reported.
For this reason, some people have turned to potentially risky compounded semaglutide which can come in different doses, forms, or with alternative ingredients than the original products, but is also cheaper, Landsverk reported.
Semaglutide works by suppressing appetite, but side effects such as muscle loss, nausea, and diarrhea have been reported, and it's common to regain the weight after stopping treatment.
Six women who are taking some form of semaglutide shared their experiences with Insider, from the highs of regaining their to confidence and "food noise" vanishing, to the lows of nausea and constipation.
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