Self-administering Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs without medical supervision can trigger serious side effects, including pancreatitis, according to endocrinologist Natalia Tananakina of JSC Medicina, the clinic run by academician Grigory Roitberg. Tananakina raised the alarm in an interview with the Russian news outlet Lenta.ru.
Ozempic and other drugs based on semaglutide are designed to treat obesity, particularly in patients with complications such as diabetes or hypertension, Tananakina said. She stressed that any decision to use them should only be made after a full medical examination and after ruling out contraindications.
Many Patients Are Not Obese
Tananakina said that roughly 40 percent of people who come to her seeking a prescription for these drugs do not actually have obesity. Instead, she said, they simply want to shed weight without changing their lifestyle, and many arrive at their appointment having already bought the medication themselves.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic, a drug originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes that has become widely known worldwide for its weight-loss effects, prompting off-label use by people without diabetes or obesity.
Risk of Pancreatitis
Tananakina warned that taking Ozempic and its analogues without professional guidance carries real dangers. She said the most common mistake is starting treatment straight away with high doses instead of letting the body adjust gradually.
This approach raises the risk of severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration and disturbances in electrolyte balance, she said. In some cases, she added, it can trigger a pancreatitis attack or worsen an existing case of the condition.
Warning Over Weight-Loss Supplements
Tananakina also cautioned against popular weight-loss dietary supplements. She said the effectiveness of most such products has not been proven, and some contain undeclared stimulants, laxatives or other substances that can cause heart rhythm disorders, raised blood pressure, insomnia and other complications.
Advice on Painkillers
Separately, pharmacist Elvira Rybina-Kuznetsova has previously explained how painkillers should be taken correctly. She recommended taking them during or after meals, washed down with enough plain water, and said one of the main rules is that they should not be taken for more than five days in a row.
