Common adverse effects are predominantly gastrointestinal and typically emerge during dose escalation: Nausea (affecting 2050% of users initially) Vomiting and diarrhoea Constipation Abdominal pain and bloating Reduced appetite (therapeutic effect but may be excessive) Fatigue and headache Injection site reactions (redness, swelling or itching) These effects usually diminish over several weeks as the body adjusts
Practically, this means protein goes on the plate first
CVS/MedImpact, regional Blues PBMs) have analogous policies: standard BMI thresholds, diet/exercise verification, and often a requirement to try older weight-loss drugs (like phentermine or orlistat) before GLP-1 coverage
While Ozempic is FDA-approved as a medication to help with diabetes, the jury is still out when it comes to using it for weight loss
DiStefano shares his insights on the risks of compounded GLP-1s, how celebrity culture and rising costs are shaping demand, and what consumers should know as new weight-loss treatments seem too good to be true