But does Simeoglutide really have a weight loss effect? Do doctors recommend that people with weight loss needs buy and use it privately?
Sugar-lowering drugs have become a "net red weight-loss needle"
Some users say they have lost 20 pounds in one and a half months
Mrs. Wu, a citizen of the city, weighed 140 pounds in her highest weight due to her heavy workload, irregular diet and work and rest. Obesity has brought Ms. Wu a number of complications: mental anxiety, sleep disorders, slow metabolism.
Beginning last year, Ms. Wu resolved to lose weight. She enrolled in a fitness class and insisted on working out two to three times a week, along with diet control, but her weight didn't seem to fluctuate much.
"Because I have a family history of diabetes, it occurred to me that it could be the presence of insulin resistance that makes weight loss difficult." With such doubts, Ms. Wu went to a hospital near her home for a checkup and found that there was indeed a problem with cortisol and insulin resistance. "The doctor told me that if it continued, it would soon develop into type 2 diabetes."
To find a treatment plan, Ms. Wu went to the endocrinology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in February this year, where she was first introduced to the drug "simethicone," according to her doctor.
"Simeglutide is useful for people like us who have difficulty losing weight due to insulin resistance. However, the doctor also made it clear that the hospital cannot prescribe this type of drug to non-diabetic patients at the moment because the supply is tighter and the management is stricter, and at the moment the hospital is only billing for patients with diagnosed diabetes."
Finally, Ms. Wu purchased Simeglutide through an online platform and began using it on her own. "This hypoglycemic injection is like playing insulin on the stomach, only one shot a week, the amount of medicine gradually increased, the first two weeks will appear diarrhea, want to vomit and other feelings; after that the effect of appetite suppression will be reduced, and then increase the amount of medicine. Now I hit the sixth week, but I feel that the effect of the drug has decayed."
Ms. Wu said she has lost 20 pounds in the past month and a half through injections of simethicone coupled with exercise.
In fact, there are many people like Ms. Wu who need to lose weight. The reporter searched on social media platforms for words such as "simethicone" and "weight-loss needle", and found that some people regard the drug as a "miracle drug", and there are also some "past people". The "past" reminds us to be careful with the use.
So, is this hypoglycemic needle really have weight loss effect? The reporter learned that Simeglutide was originally a drug used to treat adult type 2 diabetics.
In December 2017, simethicone was approved by the FDA for use in adult patients with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar;
In January 2020, the FDA again approved simethicone for use in adult patients with type 2 diabetes accompanied by cardiovascular disease in order to reduce the risk of related diseases;
In April 2021, simethicone was approved in mainland China. The indications are the same as the 2 indications mentioned above for which the drug was first approved in the U.S. market, and it was able to enter the health insurance.
In June 2021, the drug was approved for long-term weight management in the U.S., and clinical studies have shown that obese patients who continue to receive the drug are able to achieve an average weight loss of 17%-18% after 68 weeks of treatment.
Currently, the drug has not been approved for weight loss in China.
Experts remind sensible weight loss
Private purchase and use of drugs or risk
In conjunction with clinical experience, the first hospital affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Wei Guohong endocrinology introduced to the reporter, the reason why Simetryglutide can realize the glucose and weight loss, and its main mechanism is that it can be activated through the activation of the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor, to promote the secretion of insulin in glucose concentration-dependent manner, and to reduce weight loss, the main mechanism is that it can be used to promote insulin secretion. The main mechanism is that by activating the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor, it promotes insulin secretion in a glucose-concentration-dependent manner, inhibits glucagon secretion, increases satiety by delaying gastric emptying, and suppresses appetite by inhibiting the hypothalamic ingestion center, thus achieving glucose-lowering and weight-loss effects.
Simeglutide's weight-loss effect has made many people rush to it, and also made the drug soon in short supply.
Citizen Ms. Wang last year because of obesity to a hospital clinic encountered out-of-stock problem, "the same day can not prescribe the drug, after several days, the diabetes care system to notify me of the drug, I then hang up the day of the general outpatient clinic number before I get the drug."
Weiguo Hong told reporters, "Simeglutide just two years ago in the domestic market, the public on its weight loss effect of high expectations, our hospitals do come across a lot of weight loss needs to patients, and even once led to the drug out of stock, diabetic patients have no way to normal use of medication."
"Later we made adjustments to strictly control the indications, only to diabetic patients prescribe the drug, but even so, this drug is still in short supply on the market. And our hospital has now adjusted to limit the privilege of prescribing simethicone to endocrinologists only, and the pharmacy only dispenses simethicone to patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which has ensured that there have been no further supply cuts of the drug."
Since non-diabetics can't be prescribed the drug in regular hospital offline channels, some people have begun to find ways to buy it.
Ms. Pan first learned about simethicone from the media side, and because hospitals in her city have no regulations on prescribing the drug for obese patients, Ms. Pan was able to get the injection through a friend with diabetes by prescribing the drug at a hospital and then reselling it to herself. Within two months, the 120-pound Ms. Pan lost 6 pounds.
More drug buyers are choosing to look to online Internet hospitals, pharmacies, and even through medical beauty organizations or overseas shopping in order to obtain the drugs.
Reporters searching online found that there are a number of platforms that are selling simethicone, including the price of shipping 1.5ml/branch specifications (0.25mg, 0.5mg dosage), priced at 578 yuan to 650 yuan; in addition, there are also 3ml/branch specifications (both 1.34mg/ml), the price of which varies from 1,000 yuan to 1,200 yuan. The price is higher than that of Zhongshan First Hospital, and the drug needs to be eligible for medical insurance reimbursement before reimbursement can be given.
On the network platform, the purchase of the drug is also extraordinarily amazing, some of the purchase page user reviews are broken 5,000, and even some of the evaluation over 20,000 articles. The reporter to need to buy Simeglutide as the reason for the operation, found that only need to go through the Internet hospital online consultation, and then check the "diabetes" option, and do not need to provide proof of the relevant prescription can be purchased online.
While Ms. Wu told reporters that a month ago when she bought simethicone online there was also an option for "obesity", "Now it may also be due to drug management, there is no obesity option."
From the clinician's point of view, Wei Guohong suggests that the public should not take Simeglutide as a "miracle drug for weight loss".
There are many reasons for obesity, and from a professional point of view, it is best to rule out secondary obesity, after regular lifestyle interventions, and then use the drug under the guidance of a doctor if the weight loss effect is not obvious; and healthy lifestyle interventions need to be carried out throughout the entire process of weight loss and subsequent management, otherwise the effect will be greatly reduced, and will rebound after the discontinuation of the drug. For people who do not belong to the obese, if only for the pursuit of the so-called 'thin for the United States', should not buy and use this drug.
"Although current clinical studies have shown that simethicone has a good safety profile, it does not mean that it has no side effects." Wei Guohong added that the use of simethicone often causes side effects on the gastrointestinal tract, such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and even vomiting.
In addition, GLP-1 agonists, including simethicone, have been found to stimulate thyroid C-cell proliferation in animal experiments, so the drug is contraindicated in patients with a past or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, as well as in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
"In addition this drug is used for a long time, appetite suppression and weight loss effect will gradually decrease; after stopping the drug, if you do not pay attention to diet and exercise, weight rebound will also exist, so it is recommended to be cautious to buy the drug privately." Wei Guohong said.
Obesity problem can not be ignored
"Weight loss needle" can not cure the root
According to the reporter's understanding, in addition to the Simeglutide, the domestic approved GLP-1 receptor agonists also include Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Hausen Pharmaceuticals, Ren will be biological and other companies*** counting 7 products, and have a some weight loss effect.
Behind the popularity of these "weight-loss needle" "weight-loss drugs", reveals the current public "body anxiety", but also reflects the obesity problem can not be ignored! The company's website has been updated with the latest information on the latest developments in the industry.
"Especially according to epidemiological studies, China has a prevalence of more than 20% of obesity, the base is very large." Wei Guohong said. And according to a report by the Chinese Nutrition Society, overweight and obesity will increase the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, female breast cancer and other diseases.
"For these patients, the most important thing is still through the intervention of a healthy lifestyle, through the development of good habits, healthy exercise to achieve a gradual decline in weight."
For nearly 10 years, Ms. Wang has spent a lot of effort and money on weight loss. "Now, Simeglutide is a more costly attempt to lose weight." Ms. Wang told reporters that she has spent more than $4,000 on the drug over the past six months.
Dependence on the drug alone isn't a long-term solution either, Ms. Wang argued. And different individuals respond differently to the drug: while some say it took a month and a half to lose 20 pounds, Ms. Wang spent seven months.
"Because I really didn't have time to exercise, I lost weight more slowly." At her highest, Ms. Wang weighed 160 pounds at one point, which left the less-than-40-year-old with herniated lumbar discs, fatty liver and three highs. "In the middle only a year and a half I insisted on playing badminton and controlling my diet to lose 15 pounds, but the weight rebounded again when I didn't stick to it later, plus overeating."
With obesity "against" nearly 10 years, Ms. Wang to understand that simple truth: "which 'weight loss drug', want to be healthy or have to control the mouth, open legs.