0
0
Popular weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, known to aid in weight loss and combat diabetes, may pose an increased risk of severe gastrointestinal issues in individuals without diabetes, according to a study led by an Indian-origin researcher.
Published in JAMA, the research revealed that GLP-1 agonists, initially designed for managing Type-2 diabetes and including brands like Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Saxenda, are linked to heightened risks of serious medical conditions like stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, and bowel obstruction. Mohit Sodhi, a graduate in the University of British Columbia’s experimental medicine program and the study’s first author, emphasized, “Given the wide use of these drugs, these adverse events, although rare, must be considered by patients thinking about using them for weight loss.”
Sodhi further explained that the risk assessment would differ based on whether a patient is utilizing these drugs for diabetes, obesity, or general weight loss. Otherwise healthy individuals might be less inclined to accept these potentially serious adverse events.
The research team analyzed health insurance claims for approximately 16 million US patients who were prescribed either semaglutide or liraglutide, the two primary GLP-1 agonists, between 2006 and 2020.
Compared to bupropion-naltrexone, another weight-loss drug, GLP-1 agonists were associated with a 9.09 times higher risk of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to severe abdominal pain, hospitalization, and in some cases, surgery.
Individuals using these drugs faced a 4.22 times higher risk of bowel obstruction, a condition where food is obstructed from passing through the small or large intestine, resulting in symptoms like cramps, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Surgery might be necessary depending on the severity.
The risk of gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, was 3.67 times higher. This condition hinders the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine, resulting in symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain.
The study also noted a higher occurrence of biliary disease, a group of conditions affecting the gallbladder, although the difference was not statistically significant.
The researchers emphasized that while these events are rare, with millions worldwide using these drugs, it could still lead to hundreds of thousands of people experiencing these conditions.
Sodhi expressed concern about the increasing accessibility of these drugs, with some individuals able to order them online without a full understanding of the potential risks, contradicting the principle of informed consent.
The researchers are hopeful that regulatory agencies and drug manufacturers will contemplate updating the warning labels for their products, which currently do not include the risk of gastroparesis. Sodhi stressed, “This is critical information for patients to know so they can seek timely medical attention and avoid serious consequences.”
