‘Ozempic’s Head’: understand the side effect that went viral on the networks

It’s not news to anyone that Ozempic, a Novo Nordisk drug originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes, has become one of the world’s best-selling drugs after being linked to weight loss through several studies and user reports. However, like every drug, it has side effects.

One of them, the so-called “Ozempik head”, This video, in which people’s heads are disproportionate to the rest of the body, went viral on social media, especially after singer and YouTuber Mari Fernandez’s video reached more than 5.9 million views on TikTok. Thousands of comments began to be received regarding the so-called side effects of the drug.

The post, in which users described the “growth” in their heads as a result of body weight loss, moved Ozempic, which has already received a lot of comments, into trending topics. Its active ingredient is semaglutide, The price of the Danish pharmaceutical company’s injectable pen varies between R$ 700 and R$ 1000 in Brazil.

Does Ozempic make your head bigger?

these people need to stop using ozempic pic.twitter.com/9AgRb95JA0

— Cassie (@thxpxtt) March 25, 2024

To date, there is no scientific evidence or reports that semaglutide can increase the size of users’ heads.In the case of video, this is a result of the “big head effect,” a recording artifact caused by a short focal length.

But another term attributed to the drug is — Oemphatic face — has been reported by some users, both those using the drug to treat diabetes and those using it to lose weight. The side effect causes the skin on the patient’s face to sag and make the person look older.

According to website Today’s Medical News“Oemphatic facial” occurs when weight loss causes dermatological changes and shrinkage of the facial skin. Because facial oils, which serve a protective function and cushion the skin, disappear with the use of medication.

Is it dangerous to take Ozempic?

Like any medication, Ozempic has a number of side effects. But this gets even more serious, losing weight if the drug is used incorrectly and without medical advice. In Brazil, Anvisa has approved the use of Wegovy (also semaglutide) for the treatment of obesity and overweight in adolescents over 12 years of age.

Semaglutide is a compound similar to the GLP-1 hormone, which affects the secretion of insulin by the pancreas and helps regulate blood sugar levels. The molecule causes weight loss because it delays gastric emptying and prolongs the feeling of fullness, as well as affecting appetite regulation pathways in the central nervous system.

Semaglutide may cause other side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headache, hair loss, allergic reactions, which can be found in the instructions for use.