Becoming slim is no major feat if it is detrimental to one’s health. An increasing number of people are turning to weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight, with many hailing them as ‘miracle’ drugs. However, recent reports now say that the drugs might have some rare but serious side effects, like gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying).
As a result, the FDA has issued an updated advisory urging healthcare providers to monitor symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.
Patients have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of Ozempic and Wegovy. In their legal claims they allege severe side effects after using the drugs, among these gastroparesis and intestinal blockages. They say they were not adequately warned about the potential risks. The FDA is currently investigating.
Common side effects of both medications include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. Serious but rare side effects may involve pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, kidney problems, and potential thyroid tumours.
Practicing Safe Drug Usage
The FDA has expressed further concerns related to counterfeit products, compounded versions, and potential side effects.
Counterfeit Ozempic injections circulating in the U.S. drug supply have been identified. These fake products may contain incorrect ingredients, improper dosages, or contaminated substances, posing significant health risks.
Healthcare providers and consumers are advised to verify the authenticity of their medications and report any suspicious products to the FDA.
Due to previous shortages of Ozempic and Wegovy, some pharmacies also began compounding semaglutide. The FDA has cautioned against the use of these compounded versions, especially those made with salt forms of semaglutide, as they have not undergone rigorous testing for safety and efficacy. The agency emphasises that compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and may pose health risks.
The FDA has issued the following precautions to ensure safe usage of Ozempic and Wegovy. First, they have advised obtaining these drugs from reputable pharmacies. Patients are asked to remain wary of buying from online sources at significantly discounted prices. Often, these are compounded or counterfeit products.
People experiencing side-effects which they are concerned about upon using the medication are urged to seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional. All unexpected and concerning side-effects should be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch programme. They will be able to assist with ongoing safety monitoring.
Research Into The Drugs Continues
An interesting research finding by Prime Therapeutics and Magellan Rx Management (MRx) in 2024 showed that three of four patients had stopped taking Ozempic or Wegovy two years after being prescribed the blockbuster drugs for weight loss.
This research investigated 3 364 people with insurance plans that covered the GLP-1 drugs. All of the patients had been diagnosed with obesity and received new prescriptions between January and December 2021. Patients using the drugs for type 2 diabetes were excluded.
The report did not look at why the patients stopped using the drugs, but as an article on Drugs.com states: ‘It does offer a sobering view of the real-world experiences of people taking the drugs.’
“Given the drugs’ newness and skyrocketing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all body systems, leaving no stone unturned, to understand what they do and what they don’t do,” said the study’s senior author, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a clinical epidemiologist and nephrologist who treats patients at the WashU Medicine-affiliated John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis, in an article in Scitechdaily.com.