What is 'budget Ozempic?' Experts warn about TikTok's alarming DIY weight loss 'trick'

Ozempic, the blockbuster diabetes drug that took the weight loss world by storm in recent years, has become something of a hot commodity.

Semaglutide, the clinical name for the drug in brands like Ozempic, has been in short supply for about two years as manufacturers have struggled to keep up with demand for off-label use. Recently, versions of the drug intended primarily for weight loss, such as Wegovy, have come onto the market to help keep up with the medication's popularity.

Even if you are able to secure a prescription, however, paying for ongoing semaglutide treatment is no easy feat, as the monthly cost without insurance can easily climb into the thousands. Many people, especially young adults and adolescents, are not able to gain access to the real thing, which has led some to look closer to home for weight loss fixes.

One such DIY trick has gained popularity on the social media platform TikTok, sparking concern from some experts. One such trend, "budget Ozempic," has led to its own shortage. Here's what to know.

What is Ozempic and how does it work?

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Popular drugs known by name brands including Ozempic were originally formulated and prescribed for the treatment of diabetes, though versions such as Wegovy have since been created for the express purpose of weight loss. As previously reported by USA TODAY, semaglutide, the clinical name for the drug, mimics the hormone GLP-1, which helps the pancreas release insulin.

These medications work by sending signals to the brain's appetite center, reducing feelings of hunger and increasing feelings of fullness.

Semaglutide has been shown to help patients lose 15% to 20% of their body weight but is also costly, running around $1,000 a month, and often not covered by insurance if used primarily for weight loss purposes.

What is "budget Ozempic?"

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Because prescriptions for semaglutide run such a steep cost, people desperate for a similarly effective weight loss solution have turned to alternative means.

While some may turn to shady telehealth options, bootleg drugs or ordering from other countries, others have turned to DIY hacks circulating on TikTok which claim to offer a similar effect.

Influencers posting under hashtags like #guttok, which has 1.12 billion views, have begun suggesting the use of laxatives to young people looking to shed the pounds. Many also present the use of laxatives and stool softeners like Miralax, Dulcolx, Ex-Lax, and Glycolax as health measures that have benefits such as "flushing you out," "detoxing your body" or "improving your gut health."

The abuse of laxatives for weight loss is not new but has proven an ongoing problem, according to research. A new study published in "JAMA Network Open," recently found that nearly 1 in 10 adolescents globally have used non-prescription weight loss products in their lifetime, with laxatives, diuretics and diet pills being the most commonly used.

While laxatives are cheap and easily available, they are not effective for real, sustainable weight loss. Despite being referred to as "budget Ozempic," laxatives do not contribute to meaningful weight or fat loss and instead simply flush water weight from the body, which can give an initial appearance of weight loss.

What are the risks of "budget Ozempic?"

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), laxative abuse is a common tactic among people struggling with disordered eating.

Often, people misuse laxatives as a means of purging unwanted calories from their bodies, mistakenly believing food can be flushed out of their bodies before calories are absorbed.

In reality, most food calories have long since been absorbed by your small intestine by the time laxatives take effect on your large intestine. While you may feel "emptier" or less bloated after the laxatives do their thing, little to no food fat or calories actually leave your body.

Instead, you lose "water weight," or water, minerals, electrolytes, fiber and colon waste. Though you may temporarily have a flatter stomach, this "water weight" will be regained once you consume more fluid.

Misuse of laxatives has multiple health implications, including severe dehydration, colon and kidney damage, colon infection, irritable bowel syndrome, liver damage and a lack of ample electrolytes and minerals, according to NEDA.