Chelsea Handler was taking one of the most talked-about drugs of the moment and she didn't even realize it. Social media can't seem to stop talking about Ozempic, a drug originally prescribed to patients with diabetes but that is now being used off-label for weight loss. The prescription injection is said to be particularly popular with Hollywood celebrities, with blind item blogs throwing around names of stars who are supposedly taking it to slim down. And while some famous names have come out to say that they aren't using the drug, Handler just did quite the opposite.
In a new interview with the podcast Call Her Daddy, 47-year-old Handler became the rare star who admitted that she has used Ozempic, opening up about the doctor who gave it to her and how it made her feel. Read on to find out more.
READ THIS NEXT: People Are Saying Ozempic Is a Weight-Loss Miracle. Is It Worth the Brutal Side Effects?
Ozempic's popularity has caused a shortage.
Ozempic and other drugs like it are commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes. According to NBC News, it mimics a hormone in the body that regulates insulin. For those with diabetes, this can help them avoid blood sugar spikes. Now that people who don't have diabetes are using Ozempic off-label, there is a shortage for those who actually need it to maintain their health.
Ozempic is a brandname of the drug semaglutide. Semaglutide is also sold in a different dose as a weight-loss medication under the name Wegovy. The Wegovy website notes that it is for adults "with obesity" or who are "overweight" and "who also have weight-related medical problems."
Handler said her doctor "hands it out to anybody."
On Call Her Daddy, Handler explained, "My doctor—my anti-aging doctor—just hands it out to anybody, right? Obviously, now I can't say her name. I didn't even know I was on it."
The comedian said that the doctor told her, "If you ever want to drop five pounds, this is good."
She took the medication without realizing what it was.
"I came back from a vacation, and I injected myself with it," Handler continued. "And I went to lunch with a girlfriend a few days later, and she's like, 'I'm not really eating anything. I'm so nauseous, I'm on Ozempic.'"
Handler said she realized she was nauseous as well. "And then I'm like, 'But I'm not on Ozempic.'" she continued. Her friend asked whether she was sure about that, and Handler told her she was on semaglutide. "She goes, 'That's Ozempic,'" the comedian recalled.
She stopped taking it.
Handler stopped using Ozempic after realizing what it was.
"I'm not on it anymore," she said. "I stopped taking it. That's too irresponsible. I'm an irresponsible drug user, but I'm not gonna take a diabetic drug. I tried it, and I'm not gonna do that … That's not for me. That's not right for me."
Handler also joked in the interview that she's basically a doctor herself because she's helped friends of hers use the drug. "I've injected about four of five of my friends with Ozempic, 'cause I realized I didn't want to use it 'cause it's silly," the star said. She also called the drug "too good to be true."
For more celebrity news delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
She joked about the celebrity obsession with Ozempic at a recent event.
The Call Her Daddy podcast wasn't the first time Handler talked about Ozempic. When she hosted the Critics' Choice Awards on Jan. 15, she joked about the drug while talking about the TV series Gaslit in her opening monologue.
"Gaslighting is when someone tries to convince you that your own perceptions of reality are wrong," Handler said. "Like when celebrities say they lost weight by drinking water, but really it's because everyone's on Ozempic." She added, "Even my housekeeper's on Ozempic."
Lia Beck Lia Beck is a writer living in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to Best Life, she has written for Refinery29, Bustle, Hello Giggles, InStyle, and more.Read moreFiled UnderCelebrities • Entertainment • Health Advice • NewsRead This NextThe FDA Warns of a Shortage of This Drug
Experts say "it's going be a frustrating shortage," but urge people not to panic.November 2, 2022This Star Said Angelina "Seems Like a Demon"
"I just don't like Angelina Jolie. I think she's just not a girl's girl. I like girl's girls."May 13, 202214 Celebrities Who Don't Drink
Whether it's because they've dealt with addiction or abstain for other reasons, these stars are sober.May 12, 202210 Things You Didn't Know about Justin Trudeau
Athlete, nerd, hopeless romantic, thespian. Yes, there’s a lot more to Canada’s Prime Minister than just politics.March 21, 2017Jon Hamm: The Best Life Interview
Jon Hamm, star of TV's Mad Men, reveals the secrets of manliness in a postmodern world.November 15, 2016Driving Tips Smart Men Know
Ten easy ways to be the safest driver on the road. April 3, 2017Men Who Set the Time: Cash Warren
The successful producer, entrepreneur and husband of Jessica Alba reveals how you, too, can live your best life.October 31, 2016Dr. Oz: The Best Life Interview
Mehmet Oz, M.D., asks the toughest question: Are you living or dying?October 23, 2016Dr. Oz's 15 Best Life Tips
October 23, 2016The One That Got Away
A single nutrient—omega-3 fatty acids—may have turned early humans into civilized man. Has stripping it from our diet given rise to cancer, diabetes, and other civilized diseases? Our correspondent investigates.February 23, 2017
