Macy Gray rushed to hospital after revealing “painful” side effects of Ozempic
American singer Macy Gray has suffered an Ozempic emergency as another weight loss drug is set to be sold in Australian pharmacies.
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American singer Macy Gray was rushed to hospital after complaining about the “painful” side effects of the weight loss drug Ozempic.
In the latest episode of MTV’s The Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets, the 56-year-old said she was left with shortness of breath and unable to walk after taking the drug.
After previously disclosing that Ozempic had caused her a painful bout of constipation, the singer faced additional complications so severe that the production team rushed her to the emergency room.
“It’s really hard to catch my breath. This sucks because I’m here all the way in Colombia and I really just want to give it my all, but I just feel awful and I just want it to go away,” Gray said in the show.
“This is not going well. I can’t even walk very much without losing my breath.”
A medic and security personnel then quickly checked up on her.
“Last time I felt like this, I had to go to the hospital,” she said. “I’m just tired.”
After being assessed, a medic shared: “You are taking some medicine that can affect your pancreas. Your pancreas can’t fight.”
The medic then advised her to go to hospital, before she was pushed into a hospital emergency room in a wheelchair.
Season 8 of MTV’s hit reality series challenges eight celebrities to push their limits with missions aimed at unpacking their past and uncovering their deepest secrets inside a villa in Medellín, Colombia.
It comes as Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and is approved to manage chronic weight conditions, has been given the green light to be sold in pharmacies from August 5.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are manufactured by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and use the same active ingredient Semaglutide, which mimics the hormone released by the gut after eating, reducing cravings and controlling hunger.
Like Ozempic, the drug is administered through a once-weekly pen, however it contains a higher amount of the active ingredient and is used to manage chronic weight conditions, whereas in Australia Ozempic is only approved to manage type 2 diabetes and it is not yet approved for weight loss.
The drug has been approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration since 2022, which allows its use for weight loss and weight management of people who are classified as obese or overweight when combined with increased exercise and a reduced-calorie diet, however it has never been sold in Australia.
However, Wegovy will not be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and details on costs have yet to be released.
The introduction of the drug on the market follows a supply shortage of Ozempic, which Novo Nordisk advised the TGA would continue throughout 2024.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) spokesperson said: “All medicines, including Ozempic (semaglutide), carry potential risks. Most of these are minor, but sometimes, in rare circumstances, they can be potentially serious.
“The TGA applies scientific and clinical expertise to its decision-making to ensure that the benefits of a product, when used for the approved indications and in the intended population, outweigh any risks.
“Gastrointestinal side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, are well recognised with Ozempic and are documented in the Product Information (PI) and Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) documents, along with other potential side effects.
“If patients have any questions or concerns about their medicine, they should speak to their treating doctor.”
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