Not everyone who takes Ozempic is going to lose weight. Yes! However much shocking it may sound, researches have concluded that these drugs only work on 1 out of 5 people. Ozempic, like Wegrovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1 Receptor Agonist) drug that is primarily used to control blood sugar levels of Type 2 Diabetes patients. Weight loss is just a side-effect. However, with celebrities like Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian marketing it openly, it has gained immense popularity as a weight loss drug.

Clinical Trials Show Low Success Rate

In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were "nonresponders" who lost less than 5% of their body weight.

These results are supported by obesity experts, who speaking to The Associated Press, said that nearly 20% patients may not respond well to these medications. They explained that these drugs do not work on one-size-fits-all principle. "It's all about explaining that different people have different responses," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital.

GLP-1 Drugs Suppress Brain Chatter About Food

GLP-1 (a hormone secreted by your intestine) travels to your pancreas, prompting it to produce insulin. It also travels to the hypothalamus in your brain, which gives you the feeling of being full or satiated. These GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic drugs imitate this hormone, thereby, silencing the food chatter in the brain. Interestingly, for some people, this food chatter is really quiet ( people with low appetite); for others, it is an outburst (people who binge eat.) So with drugs like Ozempic, silencing this self-talk in the brain, people tend to lose their appetite and eventually weight.

There are multiple reasons that can prevent weight loss in a person consuming GLP-1 drugs. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea along with certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives can hamper the process of shedding extra pounds. Research shows that it is usually clear within weeks if they will work or not. Another major reason that can hamper weight loss are the side-effects of these drugs that can prompt a person to halt their prescription mid way.

What Are Side-Effects Of Consuming Ozempic?

As reiterated by doctors and health care experts, Ozempic is a drug that is tasked to help diabetic patients manage their blood sugar levels and weight. However, recent research has shown its effectiveness in mitigating various addictions like alcohol and drugs by inhibiting hormones. But what people ignore are its side effects, which include:

Nausea is a frequent side effect, especially when starting Ozempic or increasing the dose, and vomiting may occur along with nausea.

Diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort also show up in people using Ozempic, but they generally resolve as your body adjusts.

Ozempic can reduce appetite but may also lead to unintended weight loss or reduced food intake, causing discomfort for some people.

There are certain less common, but serious side effects also, like Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.

This drug may also cause severe kidney issues, particularly if dehydration occurs from side effects like vomiting or diarrhoea.

Atenolol is widely prescribed for conditions such as high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. While it is suitable for many adults, some people need to be especially careful before starting the beta-blocker.

NHS guidance highlights that certain medical conditions and life stages mean a doctor should be consulted first. This includes people with low blood pressure, Raynaud’s phenomenon, or asthma, among others.

Who Should Be Careful Before Taking Atenolol?

The NHS advises speaking to a doctor before taking atenolol if you fall into any of the following groups:

• People who are trying to conceive, are already pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• People with Raynaud’s phenomenon, which can cause fingers or toes to tingle, become unusually pale, or turn blue
• People with metabolic acidosis, a condition where there is too much acid in the blood
• People with low blood pressure (hypotension) or a slower than normal heart rate
• People with lung disease or asthma
• People who have previously had an allergic reaction to atenolol or any other medicine

How Atenolol Works?

According to official NHS advice, atenolol works by slowing the heart rate, which helps the heart pump blood around the body more easily. In addition to treating blood pressure and heart rhythm problems, it is sometimes prescribed to help prevent migraines and ease symptoms of anxiety.

The NHS notes: “Atenolol is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets or a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital.”

Atenol: Medicines That May Interact With Atenolol

People who take other medicines should also check with a doctor before starting atenolol, as some drugs can affect how well it works or increase the risk of side effects. This applies not only to prescription medicines but also to herbal remedies, vitamins, and supplements.

You should speak to a doctor if you take:

• Other medicines for high blood pressure, as using them with atenolol can sometimes lower blood pressure too much and cause dizziness or fainting
• Medicines for irregular heartbeats, such as amiodarone or flecainide
• Medicines for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Medicines for diabetes, especially insulin. Atenolol can make it harder to notice the usual warning signs of low blood sugar. If you experience low blood sugar without symptoms, speak to your doctor and monitor your levels carefully, particularly after exercise or before driving
• Medicines for nasal or sinus congestion, or other cold remedies, including those bought over the counter
• Medicines for allergies, such as ephedrine, noradrenaline, or adrenaline

The NHS also states: “There’s not enough information to say that herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with atenolol. They’re not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines, and they’re generally not tested for how they affect other medicines.”

Atenolol Dosage And How Long Can It Be Taken?

The dose of atenolol you need depends on the condition being treated. For high blood pressure, the usual adult dose is between 25mg and 50mg once a day, but you should always follow your doctor’s instructions. Your medication packaging will also provide guidance on how to take it.

How long you stay on atenolol varies as well. For long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, it is often taken for many years and, in some cases, for life.

Furosemide is commonly prescribed in the UK to help manage conditions such as heart failure and high blood pressure. The diuretic medication is used by people of all ages, including children and infants. In 2024 alone, it was dispensed around 11 million times, making it one of the 20 most frequently prescribed medicines in the country.

Although it is widely used, doctors stress that furosemide must be taken carefully and in line with medical advice, as misuse can lead to serious health problems.

Furosemide: Why The NHS Is Warning Furosemide Users About Dehydration

To ensure safe use, the NHS has issued guidance urging certain people to speak to a doctor before taking furosemide. This is particularly important for anyone showing signs of dehydration, which can include feeling unusually thirsty, having a dry mouth, or noticing dark-coloured urine. Because furosemide increases urine output, it can raise the risk of fluid loss if not managed properly.

Who Should Speak To A Doctor Before Taking Furosemide?

The NHS advises the following people to consult a doctor before using furosemide:

• Anyone who has previously had an allergic reaction to furosemide or any other medicine
• Anyone with low blood pressure, also known as hypotension
• Anyone showing signs of dehydration, such as thirst, dry mouth, or dark urine
• Anyone diagnosed with liver disease
• Anyone living with diabetes
• Anyone who has difficulty passing urine
• Anyone diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare disorder affecting the adrenal glands
• Anyone diagnosed with gout

Furosemide: When Should Users Contact A Doctor Or Delay Treatment

Beyond these groups, the NHS also says furosemide users should seek medical advice if:

• You are due to have a glucose test
• You are scheduled for a scan or X-ray that involves an iodine-based dye being injected into your blood
• You are preparing for major surgery or a procedure that requires a general anaesthetic

How Furosemide Works And Why It Is Called A ‘Water Tablet’

Official NHS guidance explains that diuretics are often referred to as “water tablets” because they increase how often you urinate. This helps the body remove excess fluid.

“Furosemide is only available on prescription,” the NHS states. “It comes as tablets and a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital.”

Medicines That Can Interfere With Furosemide

The NHS also warns that certain medicines can reduce how well furosemide works or increase the risk of side effects. This includes some commonly used over-the-counter treatments, such as paracetamol, co-codamol, and remedies for heartburn or indigestion.

Common Painkillers And Remedies To Use With Caution

Anyone prescribed furosemide is advised to speak to a doctor before taking:

• Medicines used to treat mental health conditions, including amisulpride, lithium, pimozide, or risperidone
• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure, or drugs that may cause low blood pressure as a side effect
• Sucralfate, a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers. Patients should leave around two hours between taking sucralfate and furosemide
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, or naproxen

Why Potassium Supplements Can Affect Furosemide?

Other medicines can also interfere with how furosemide works, including:

• Potassium supplements, steroids, or other diuretics that affect potassium levels
• Medicines used to treat, or that may cause, irregular heart rhythms, such as amiodarone, digoxin, disopyramide, flecainide, or sotalol
• Soluble paracetamol
• Soluble co-codamol

Certain Treatments For Heartburn And Indigestion

The NHS advises patients to tell their doctor if they are taking potassium supplements, as these can alter potassium levels in the blood and affect how furosemide works.

The health service also cautions against combining furosemide with herbal remedies or supplements. According to NHS guidance, there is not enough evidence to confirm they are safe to take alongside the drug.

Unlike prescription and pharmacy medicines, herbal products are not tested to the same standards and are generally not assessed for how they interact with other medications.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is usually thought of as an adult health issue. But doctors are now raising serious concerns after a study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health in November 2025 showed that rates of high blood pressure among children and teenagers have nearly doubled over the past two decades.

Blood Pressure In UK: The Lancet Study and Why Doctors Are Concerned in the UK

Hypertension has long been associated with people in their 30s and 40s, often linked to work stress and ageing. Today, however, shifts in daily habits and increasingly inactive lifestyles mean the condition is appearing more often in children and adolescents too. For years, young people were largely overlooked in discussions around blood pressure, and routine screening was rarely carried out. As a result, the true scale of the problem remained unclear. UK doctors are now calling for a nationwide testing programme to assess how widespread the issue is and to identify children who may need early support and treatment.

What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension is the clinical term for high blood pressure. It develops when the force of blood pushing through the arteries remains higher than what is considered healthy over time. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain and the rest of the body. High blood pressure is often described as a silent killer because it can cause lasting damage without clear warning signs or symptoms.

Blood Pressure: How Is It Diagnosed?

Blood pressure is usually checked using a monitor with an inflatable cuff placed around the upper arm. The reading is shown as two numbers, measured in millimetres of mercury, written as one over the other. The top number, known as systolic pressure, reflects the force of blood when the heart beats and pumps blood around the body. The bottom number, called diastolic pressure, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.

The definition of high blood pressure varies between countries. In the UK, a normal adult reading falls between 90/60 and 119/79. Readings from 120/80 to 139/89 are considered raised, while 140/90 and above is classed as high blood pressure. In the United States, readings between 130/80 and 139/89 are labelled stage 1 hypertension, with stage 2 beginning at 140/90.

Diagnosing hypertension in children is more complex. Blood pressure naturally changes as children grow and depends on age, height, and sex. Rather than fixed numbers, doctors diagnose high blood pressure when a child’s readings fall within the highest five per cent for others of the same age, height, and sex.

Blood Pressure In UK: Who Is At Risk?

High blood pressure is widespread, particularly among older adults. Around one in three adults in the UK and nearly half of adults in the US live with hypertension. Age plays a key role because arteries gradually lose flexibility and become thicker over time. Family history also matters, as genetics can increase risk. People from Black African, Black Caribbean, and South Asian backgrounds are known to face a higher likelihood of developing the condition.

Lifestyle choices also have a strong influence. Diets high in salt, being overweight or obese, lack of regular physical activity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and prolonged stress can all contribute to raised blood pressure.

What About Children?

In babies and very young children, high blood pressure is usually linked to underlying medical issues such as heart defects, kidney disease, or genetic and hormonal conditions. This form is known as secondary hypertension. Since the 1990s, however, rates of high blood pressure among children and adolescents have risen more than fourfold, reaching around six per cent. Poor diets, low levels of physical activity, and increasing rates of overweight and obesity are major factors behind this rise.

Why Is Hypertension Harmful?

High blood pressure can quietly harm the body for many years before symptoms appear. Constant strain on the blood vessels can lead to aneurysms, where weakened artery walls bulge and may rupture, sometimes with fatal consequences. The heart is forced to work harder, increasing the risk of heart failure. Damage to the inner lining of arteries can trigger inflammation and the buildup of plaques, making blood vessels narrower and less flexible. This restricts blood flow and raises the risk of chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and heart attacks.

The kidneys are especially sensitive to high blood pressure. Damaged blood vessels can stop them from filtering waste effectively, potentially leading to kidney failure that requires dialysis or a transplant. The eyes can also be affected, as their delicate blood vessels are prone to damage, causing bleeding, blurred vision, or even blindness.

When blood flow to the brain is reduced by narrowed or blocked arteries, it can lead to vascular dementia or mini-strokes. Severe cases may result in major strokes caused by clots or bleeding linked to long-term high blood pressure.

In children, hypertension can harm vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and eyes at an early age. This makes early detection and treatment crucial to protect long-term health.