Off-label drug use is inherently risky since the pharmaceutical product has not been proven safe or effective through Health Canada's strict regulatory process. Canadians who use Ozempic off-label for weight loss may be exposing themselves to several common and additional serious side effects. Health Canada alerts consumers that common side effects in Ozempic users include may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. Even in the face of all these potential risks linked to the drug, Ozempic users may not be able to achieve prolonged weight loss from their use of the medication. A 2022 study found most people taking Ozempic off-label gained much of their weight back within a year of stopping use.9Special thanks to Victoria Stephenson, Summer Law Student, who helped research this article.
