Plus, practical tips for healthier hair.By Brian UnderwoodPublished: Oct 18, 2024 12:02 PM EDTSave Article

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These days, it seems like nearly everyone I talk to is either on Ozempic or knows someone who is. A good portion of these people talk about the drug as if it were some sort of magic bullet, helping them to shed pounds when seemingly nothing else has.

Ozempic is actually one brand name for a drug called semaglutide, and it’s FDA-approved to help manage insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. A separate version of medication, called Wegovy, has a higher maximum dose (2.4 mg versus 2 mg with Ozempic) and is indicated for weight management (though some doctors are prescribing Ozempic off-label for this purpose). Its buzzed-about effects on weight and the glut of celebrities who’ve admitted to using it have resulted in an ongoing shortage of the drugs.

Now, chatter about the side effects—nausea, constipation, a strange phenomenon known as “Ozempic face”—is also hitting a fever pitch, and one that seems to be emerging as part of that discussion: hair loss.