Gracie McGraw, the 26-year-old daughter of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who took to Instagram late last month to explain why she uses Mounjaro, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes that is also awaiting FDA approval to be prescribed for weight loss, after commenters on Instagram made snide remarks.
On a May 26 post of McGraw in a bikini, one commenter implied she had taken Ozempic, another type 2 diabetes drug that is also used off-label for weight loss, to which McGraw replied: “I did use ozempic last year, yes. I am now on a low dose of mounjaro for my PCOS as well as working out. No need to accuse when I have been open about it.”
As Business Insider reports, McGraw has indeed been open on social media about both her PCOS, as well as her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro to treat it. She first shared her diagnosis of PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, in a March 1, 2022 Instagram post. “To get the correct diagnosis you would need 2 out of the 5 characteristics of PCOS and I had 4,” she said.
On the same post, she revealed that she had been prescribed Ozempic, along with weight-loss medication Qysmia which is also prescribed to treat weight gain from PCOS, by her doctor. “It’s weird to see how your body can change so rapidly but I’m finding new ways to love her and new things to love about her everyday,” McGraw wrote on the post.
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormone disorder that affects between 5 and 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. The exact cause of the disorder is unknown, but one of the results is that the ovaries may produce higher-than-normal levels of androgens, commonly known as the “male sex hormones.”
Many women with the disorder have cysts on their ovaries, while others do not, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Some women with the disorder have insulin resistance, meaning the body can’t regulate insulin well. People with PCOS are not always diabetic, but many are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of PCOS can be subtle, and may include: Irregular periods or heavy bleeding during periods, acne, excess hair on the face and body, thinning of hair on the scalp, cysts on the ovaries, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, and infertility.
How is PCOS usually treated?
Insulin resistance is traditionally treated by lifestyle modification, diet, and exercise. The goal is to lose weight. Even a slight loss of weight can dramatically improve PCOS symptoms and increase your chances of getting pregnant. No diet has been shown to be better than another to treat PCOS-related symptoms, and some people may have to try more than one to find what works for them. It is also important to make sure that the lifestyle changes you make are sustainable.
One diet that does appear to work well for many is the Mediterranean diet, which is also good for your overall health. The best diet, though, is the one you are happy to stick to in the long term. Fad diets, crash diets, and fasting should be avoided, as you tend to put more weight back on once you stop dieting.
Exercise on its own also appears to improve PCOS symptoms. For many people with PCOS, however, diet and exercise are not enough on their own.
Traditionally, most doctors prescribe the diabetes drug metformin, which has been shown to improve weight loss and enhance ovulation. This makes it an important treatment if you are trying to get pregnant. However, oral contraceptives lower androgens further if you are not seeking to conceive. Metformin is a biguanide medication, which means it works by increasing your body’s sensitivity to insulin. It can also help you lose weight.
How can Ozempic and Mounjaro help PCOS?
According to Health Match, the biggest issue with metformin is that it is not well tolerated by everyone. Metformin can have some very annoying side effects, including:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
- Metallic taste
- Loss of appetite
Metformin can also interfere with your ability to absorb vitamin B12, so you may be recommended a B12 supplement. If you exercise too much, drink alcohol on an empty stomach, or fast, you can end up with low blood sugar. Additionally, it is possible to be allergic to metformin. Somebody who is allergic to metformin will need to take an alternative drug.
Ozempic enters the picture as a possible alternative to metformin for people who have difficulty tolerating the drug. Metformin is often the first-line treatment because it is known to be highly effective. However, Ozempic is an option if you cannot tolerate metformin or if metformin is not working well.
In other words, Ozempic is another option for people who cannot take metformin and may also work in combination with metformin to further improve fertility outcomes. As it has not been well studied during pregnancy, you should stop taking it if you become pregnant unless your doctor decides the risk of stopping is greater.
McGraw is part of a growing number of PCOS patients that are turning to medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro to aid with this weight loss. Popular PCOS advocate Shelby Echard has also shared her own use of Ozempic for PCOS on Instagram with her 66,000 followers, revealing that after two years on Ozempic her A1c test, which can be used to diagnose or predict diabetes, is normal.
Though these drugs are not currently approved to treat PCOS, doctors are able to prescribe them to patients “off-label” if they think a patient would benefit.
The Bottom Line
Metformin is a first-line treatment for most people with PCOS who are trying to get pregnant. Ozempic may be prescribed if metformin makes you sick or does not work, or it may be prescribed alongside metformin. It is harder to take, being an injection, although some people may benefit from an oral alternative, Rybelsus.
Ozempic can help you conceive, but if you are not trying to get pregnant, you should use contraceptives, and you should discontinue Ozempic if you do become pregnant, as it can harm the fetus. It can also help control insulin resistance and prevent it from developing into type 2 diabetes and can help you lose weight. For some patients with PCOS, Ozempic is a highly beneficial drug.
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