Popular weight loss drugs linked to higher risk of serious gastrointestinal problems
Researchers found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, had a higher risk for side effects like stomach paralysis.
Medicines in a popular new class of weight loss drugs including Ozempic and WeGovy may put patients at a higher risk for severe digestive problems, such as stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstructions, according to a new study in JAMA Medical Journal. The researchers determined that the side effects were rare but still carried a higher risk than older classes of weight loss medications.
The researchers found that these side effects are rare among individual patients. For example, only about 1% of people taking Ozempic are diagnosed with stomach paralysis, but with demand for the weight loss injectables on the rise, that percentage isn't inconsequential. The study's authors warned that "even rare risks like these may amount to hundreds of thousands of new cases," CNN reported.
"When you have millions of people using these drugs, you know, a 1% risk still translates to many people who may experience these events," said Dr. Mahyar Etminan, an epidemiologist at the University of British Columbia and the lead author of the study. Still, the "study has limits" since it can't prove the drugs caused the side effects, CNN's Brenda Goodman noted.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The study included drugs in the class known as GLP-1 inhibitors. This includes semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, and liraglutide, the active ingredient in the company's older weight loss medicine Saxenda and diabetes drug Victoza, per Reuters. The researchers compared the drugs to bupropion-naltrexone, the active ingredient in weight-loss drug Contrave, which was approved in 2014.
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson noted that some of the gastrointestinal side effects in the study were already listed on the labels for its weight loss and diabetes medications. The spokesperson added that the company "stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1 medicines when used consistent with the product labeling and approved indications."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
The Nutcracker: English National Ballet's reboot restores 'festive sparkle'
The Week Recommends Long-overdue revamp of Tchaikovsky's ballet is 'fun, cohesive and astoundingly pretty'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - December 18, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - thoughts and prayers, pound of flesh, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The hidden cost of lead exposure on American mental health
Under The Radar Millions of mental health diagnoses have been linked to childhood lead exposure in new study
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu one mutuation from human threat, study finds
Speed Read A Scripps Research Institute study found one genetic tweak of the virus could enable its spread among people
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Dark chocolate tied to lower diabetes risk
Speed Read The findings were based on the diets of about 192,000 US adults over 34 years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ADHD drugs shortage: what's behind it?
The Explainer Supply chain issues and 'tripling' of prescriptions concerns GPs as problems getting medication become 'desperate'
By The Week UK Published
-
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a rare but troubling health risk for cannabis users
The Explainer The illness is sending some chronic marijuana users to emergency care for painful persistent vomiting
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
ACA opens 2025 enrollment, enters 2024 race
Speed Read Mike Johnson promises big changes to the Affordable Care Act if Trump wins the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pink cocaine: the new drug cocktail responsible for an increasing number of deaths
In the Spotlight The substance has been linked to the death of Liam Payne and named in a lawsuit against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
McDonald's sued over E. coli linked to burger
Speed Read The outbreak has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states and left one dead
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published