Page 89 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 3 | February - March 2024

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

When asked how he was looking so fit and
ripped, the owner of X, Elon Musk, replied to
the tweet with “fasting and Wegovy.” Among the
wealthy, semaglutide use has quickly become
normalised. However, the general public has
not had the same luck gaining access to the drug.
A three-month cycle on Ozempic in Thailand
will set you back between THB 27,000-50,000,
depending on the provider (Pulse, 2023).
Meanwhile, in America, the treatment costs
up to USD 900-1300 per month, keeping the
drug out of reach for many due to its high cost.
Sadly, with celebrities and rich dieters being
able to pay more for the drug, there is now a
worldwide shortage of semaglutide, depriving
diabetes patients from their own medication
(CBC, 2023).

Like any drug, Ozempic and Wegovy have their
own unique side effects. Patients should expect
nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting as potential side
effects of using semaglutide. While regulators
say the drug is safe for children as young as
12, pediatricians are reluctant to prescribe it
to children as of now, as little is known about
its long term effects. If you or a loved one are
considering using semaglutide for weight loss,
make sure to speak to a physician about its
effects and potential interactions with other
medication.