While drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are effective for weight loss, experts warn users of their potentially dangerous side effects.
Mounjaro and Ozempic have been approved for weight loss among diabetic people. On the other hand, Wegovy was developed for this purpose. Although Wegovy and Mounjaro have received the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss, Ozempic has not.
The drugs were originally prescribed only to people with type 2 diabetes. But now many people have turned to them for guaranteed weight loss. Interestingly, the drugs have side effects that could be serious for some individuals.
Dr. Meera Shah, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, told CBS News that the most frequently observed side effect in patients is nausea, followed by abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. While these side effects may improve over time, Shah noted that at least 10% of patients initiating treatment with these drugs must discontinue use due to the lack of improvement in side effects.
The close connection between the stomach and brain means that intestinal issues can trigger stress, anxiety and depression, a phenomenon referred to as the “gut-brain connection.” Persistent nausea and abdominal pain could be unpleasant to users.
Laurie A. Keefer, an academic health psychologist and director for Psychobehavioral Research within the Division of Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai, explained to CBS News that these symptoms can leave patients feeling isolated, overwhelmed and embarrassed.
They may also experience anxiety about the timing and occurrence of symptoms, leading to avoidance of social activities, particularly those centered around food or where bathroom access may be limited. As a result, the emotional symptoms can exacerbate gastrointestinal issues, creating a vicious cycle.
Other serious side effects associated with Ozempic include thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, vision changes, hypoglycemia, gallbladder problems, kidney failure and cancer.
According to Dr. Shah, the most severe complications she has observed in her patients are pancreatitis and gallbladder issues, both of which can necessitate hospitalization.
Although not mentioned on Ozempic’s website, some doctors have reported cases where patients experienced malnutrition due to a significant reduction in appetite caused by the drug.
Dr. Shah commonly advises patients to take multivitamins or protein supplements in addition to the medication because they are not obtaining sufficient nutrients from food.
“There’s a lot of excitement about how good [these drugs] are, and certainly they are very good, but there’s a little bit of an unknown in terms of the long term. At some point, does your body stop responding to them? I don’t know,” Dr. Shah added, highlighting that the long-term effects of the drugs are still unknown.
Published by Medicaldaily.com