Semaglutide, an active ingredient found in popular weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, has been found to have a range of adverse health issues for users, including serious stomach conditions like paralysis and gastroparesis in diabetics, according to a new study.
- Biliary disease which is a group of conditions affecting the gallbladder.
- Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas that can result in severe abdominal pain and end up requiring hospitalization and surgery.
- Bowel obstruction, in which the food cannot pass through the large or small intestine, leading to symptoms like cramping, nausea, bloating, and vomiting. Depending on the seriousness of the condition, surgery may become necessary.
- Gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, restricts the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. This can also cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea.
The research was conducted by the University of British Columbia, Canada. “While previous studies highlighted some of these risks in patients with diabetes, this is the first large, population-level study to examine adverse gastrointestinal events in non-diabetic patients using the drugs specifically for weight loss,” according to an Oct. 5 news release by the University of British Columbia.
“Given the wide use of these drugs, these adverse events, although rare, must be considered by patients thinking about using them for weight loss,” said author Mohit Sodhi, a graduate of UBC’s experimental medicine program.
Risk of Gastrointestinal Issues
GLP-1 agonists were initially developed to help manage type 2 diabetes. But, over the past decade, the use of these drugs skyrocketed due to their use as off-label weight loss medication. In 2022, around 40 million of these drugs were prescribed in the United States.Some GLP-1 agonists were approved for obesity treatment only in 2021. The initial randomized clinical trials, which looked at the efficacy of the medication on weight loss, were not designed to assess gastrointestinal events that can occur due to their use.
The UBC researchers aimed to fill this gap in knowledge. Though the adverse events measured in the latest study are rare, hundreds of thousands of people could still be impacted as the drugs are consumed by millions of individuals worldwide.
“These drugs are becoming increasingly accessible, and it is concerning that, in some cases, people can simply go online and order these kinds of medications when they may not have a full understanding of what could potentially happen. This goes directly against the mantra of informed consent,” Mr. Sodhi said.
Researchers hope that drug regulators and manufacturers would consider updating warning labels related to GLP-1 agonists, said the university news release.
“This is critical information for patients to know so they can seek timely medical attention and avoid serious consequences,” Mr. Sodhi said.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are manufactured by Danish pharma company Novo Nordisk. In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, Kate Hanna, Director of Communications at the firm, said that the company “stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1RA medicines when used consistent with the product monograph and approved indications,”
The company admitted that product monographs for Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Victoza and Wegovy include details of potential side effects like “pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease and delayed gastric emptying.”
“As the authors acknowledge, the study has limitations, including potential confounding by indication and by other factors. It is also important to note that the study analyzed data collected during the period between 2006 and 2020. During this time, Wegovy was not on the market in Canada,” she said, adding that Ozempic was only approved in the country in 2018.
FDA’s List of Risks for Ozempic
The UBC study comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month updated its safety-related labeling for Ozempic. On Sept. 22, the agency added the gastrointestinal disease “Ileus” as an adverse reaction.
Out of the 14,149 adverse reactions, 6,177 were related to gastrointestinal disorders, 3,789 were concerning injury, poisoning, and procedural complications, and 3,599 were linked to general disorders and administration site conditions.
There were 2,598 nervous system disorders, 2,549 metabolism and nutrition disorders, and 1,211 skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders.
Other complications like eye disorders, musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders, infections and infestations, and psychiatric disorders had around 1,000 adverse events each. Cardiac disorders, renal and urinary disorders, and respiratory disorders were also reported.
It advised users to inform their healthcare provider in case they develop a lump or swelling in their neck, have trouble swallowing, or suffer shortness of breath, as these may be symptoms of thyroid cancer.
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