PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Concerns are growing about popular new weight loss drugs, including: Ozempic. New research shows that these drugs can cause serious and even fatal side effects.
These new drugs used for weight loss were prescribed 40 million times in the United States last year.
However, this new study warns that the drug may lead to an increased risk of severe stomach disease.
Prescription drugs used to suppress appetite have exploded with social media influencers and celebrities sharing their successes with the drug semaglutide, sold as Wegovy and Ozempic, technically known as GLP-1 agonists. is becoming increasingly popular.
Ozempic, developed to treat diabetes, is being driven by off-label use for weight loss.
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But now new research The Journal of the American Medical Association found that for every 1,000 patients who took the drug, someone suffered from moderate to severe stomach problems, such as pancreatitis or gastroparesis.
“All of these complications can be severe enough to be life-threatening,” says gastroenterologist Dr. Mark Pochapin.
Doctors say patients outside the drug’s target population are at higher risk of developing rare side effects.
“The American spirit is giving me pills and medicine to solve my problems,” Pochapin said.
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Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk responded to the study’s findings by saying, “All of our GLP-1RA medicines support safety and efficacy when used in accordance with the product label and approved indication.” Stated.
The research comes as pharmaceutical companies work to produce generic drugs, which, if successful, could make them available to more people.
Doctors say millions of people are doing well with the drug, as long as it is used properly and patients are monitored by a doctor.
