Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania was among the first crop of celebrities who openly and unabashedly admitted to using Ozempic or a similar drug to lose weight.
Now, after two years of taking it and getting down to her high school weight, Ms Catania said: ‘I know it's time for me to wean myself off or go on a lower dose.’
The reality star takes Mounjaro, a medication similar to Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide that mimics hormones in the brain responsible for regulating appetite and feelings of fullness.
Ms Catania weighed 157 lbs when she started taking medication two years ago, starting first with Ozempic and transitioning to Mounjaro. She has since lost at least 30 lbs.
She cautioned that anyone considering the medications ‘must always go through a real doctor, though who knows what they are doing.
‘Research is everything.’
Many people eager to try the groundbreaking obesity medicine find that their insurance plans will not cover the cost, which can be a high $1,200 per month. In that instance, they often shift to online prescribing platforms involving a brief medical professional consultation.
The medication typically comes from a compounding pharmacy, where pharmacists hand-mix it using its main ingredients. The FDA does not regulate this practice, so disingenuous or inattentive practitioners may use faulty ingredients or incorrect dosages.
2024 vs 2018: The 53-year-old reality star has shed more than 20 lbs thanks to the drug
