A recent study published in the journal JAMA has found that medications similar to Ozempic, used for weight loss, may be associated with a slightly increased risk of severe gastrointestinal (GI) issues, including pancreas inflammation and slowed stomach movements, often referred to as “stomach paralysis.”
Researchers compared the occurrence of serious GI problems in individuals taking Ozempic-like drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, for weight loss with those taking a different type of weight-loss medication called bupropion-naltrexone.
Those who took GLP-1 agonists had higher rates of bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, and gastroparesis, which is characterized by slowed or halted stomach contractions leading to delayed digestion and the potential formation of food masses known as “bezoars.”
Mohit Sodhi, a medical student at the University of British Columbia and the study’s first author, emphasized that individuals considering these drugs for weight loss, especially those without diabetes (for which these drugs were initially approved), should be aware of these rare but significant adverse events. Some GLP-1 agonists are now marketed specifically for weight loss under different names, like Wegovy.
Previous trials examining GLP-1 agonists for weight loss were limited in size and duration, creating gaps in our understanding of their side effects. Notably, people with diabetes have an inherently higher risk of severe GI problems, so the risks for non-diabetic individuals may differ.
The study utilized PharMetrics Plus, a large database of U.S. health insurance claims. Participants in the study had obesity but not diabetes and were taking either GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide and liraglutide) or bupropion-naltrexone.
Compared to bupropion-naltrexone users, GLP-1 agonist users had a significantly higher risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis, although the absolute rates of these conditions remained relatively low.
While some medical professionals speculated that these side effects might be linked to rapid weight loss rather than the specific drugs, others suggested that this study underscores the importance of close monitoring by healthcare providers when prescribing GLP-1 agonists.
