Note: This page’s discussion of eating disorders may be upsetting to some readers.
On social media, American singer-songwriter Avery shared two videos cautioning followers to “be careful” when using Ozempic unless a doctor instructs them to do so.
Avery, whose true name is Anna Iannitelli, recently posted a video on Instagram claiming to have been diagnosed with osteoporosis after supposedly using Ozempic for a year.
Ozempic is a weekly injection that lowers blood sugar levels by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. In 2017, it received a U.S. authorization to treat individuals with type 2 diabetes.
According to UC Davis Health, the University of California medical center, Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss, while Wegovy, a drug that has a higher dose of semaglutide and is covered by both Ozempic and Wegovy, is.
According to Diabetes UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that people with type 2 diabetes be prescribed Ozempic if “taking three medications has not been helpful” or if “you have not been able to take the prescriptions.”
In her first social media post, Avery stated that she had gone for a checkup to determine if her body was in “better shape” because she had “been off Ozempic for two months now.”
However, she says she was “in shock” when she was told she had osteoporosis, which according to the Mayo Clinic may cause bones to “become weak and brittle—so brittle that a fall or even slight stressors like leaning over or coughing might cause a break.”
According to her, she “wasn’t anticipating this” and adds, “I guess Ozempic may cause bone density loss, and I didn’t believe it would happen to me, because I was only on medication for a year, but I have considerable bone loss.”
“I don’t know why I have osteopenia and osteoporosis. To be honest, I wasn’t prepared for that, and I had a couple of these.
She noted in her description that she had an eating disorder and that she lacked a prescription from a physician, highlighting how easy it is to obtain one these days.
I was mistaken. I accept responsibility for my deeds. She vowed to take medicine and adhere to a treatment plan, saying, “Please learn from my mistakes.”
“Please, please, use caution if you are not someone who needs to take Ozempic.” Avery continued.
In a follow-up video, she stated that her intention was not to “demonize” Ozempic but rather to “make people aware of what can happen” when it is used without a prescription.
A representative for Novo Nordisk, the company that manufactures Ozempic, told UNILAD that the business “does not condone, suggest, or encourage the misuse of any of our medicines outside of their approved indications.” Ozempic, an injectable semaglutide drug, is not approved for use in weight loss treatments.
“The safety and well-being of individuals who use our medications is our first priority, and we are aware of the health issues this individual has had.
“All patients should stay in close contact with their healthcare provider in order to receive an accurate diagnosis, ongoing support, and careful monitoring.”
They said that it’s crucial to remember that Ozempic (semaglutide injection) is a prescription-only medication that needs to be administered by a medical practitioner under close supervision.
To find out if a prescription is appropriate for their specific medical profile, patients must discuss treatment options with their physician.
“One’s health may be directly jeopardized if prescription-only drugs are obtained without a valid prescription or medical supervision.”
