Semaglutide drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity in recent years due to their effectiveness in diabetes control and weight loss.
Research has revealed additional benefits beyond these major uses, but some negative side effects have also emerged.
Gastrointestinal problems are the most common side effect, but a recent study by the University of British Columbia found that GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists (a class of drugs containing semaglutide) have been associated with increased risk of hair loss.
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The researchers analyzed data from 16 million patients from the health claims database and narrowed it down to 1,926 semaglutide users and 1,348 users Bupropion-Naltrexone.
A recent study by the University of British Columbia has associated GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists (a class of drugs containing semaglutide) with increased hair loss risk. (istock)
After adjusting for other factors, they found that semaglutide users were overall 50% more likely to experience hair loss compared to other groups.
Women were more likely to have this outcome, at twice the risk of men.
“Not surprised.”
Researchers were not surprised by the results, according to Dr. Mahyar Etminan, an epidemiologist and CEO of Epithics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
“there were [previous] Anecdotal reports of hair loss and reports of hair loss in drug clinical trials,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Dr. Patrick Davis, a plastic surgeon and hair repair expert at Beverly Hills, agreed that the findings were not surprising.
“We’ve heard this anecdote when patients consult us about facial surgical recovery after rapid weight loss,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
After adjusting for other factors, the researchers found that users of semaglutide were 50% more likely to experience hair loss compared to other groups. (istock)
“Hair growth (and loss) is heavily dependent on factors like diet, essential vitamins, physical stress, and genetics.”
The first three factors come up during weight loss, he pointed out — “And semaglutide-driven loss is probably no exception.”
Previous studies have shown that inducing stress and affecting nutritional intake can increase the risk of hair loss.
“Hair growth (and loss) is heavily dependent on factors like diet, essential vitamins, physical stress, and genetics.”
“The study mentions that people who lose more than 20% of their body weight have a higher rate of hair loss than those who don’t,” Davis pointed out.
“The study theorizes that this may be due to suspected physiological stress, which could be a symptom of such rapid weight loss.”
He said long-term hair loss is not very likely, as “stimulating events” (weight loss and stress) are often normalized when reaching the target’s weight.
Potential limitations
The study had several limitations, noted researcher Etominan.
They included the fact that hair removal could not be verified via medical records, but only the medical code for hair removal could be identified.
Women were more likely to experience semaglutide-related hair loss at twice the risk of men. (istock)
Plastic surgeon Davis also noted that in this study, Wegovy users refer to another study where hair loss risk (3.3%) was increased compared to the placebo group (1.4%).
“This clearly shows an increased risk, but 3.3% is still a very low incidence,” he said.
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This early study published in Preprint Server MedRXIV has not yet been peer-reviewed.
“Future research is needed to confirm the association between semaglutide and hair loss,” the researchers wrote.
Doctor’s advice
Anyone who has experienced hair loss while taking semaglutide medication should consult with a dermatologist to determine whether the adverse effects of these medications are the cause, Etominan advised.
“This is a relatively new adverse event and not much is known about it,” he said. “Questions about who is at the most risk and whether future research will reverse hair loss when drugs are stopped.”
When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, confirmed that hair removal is an identified risk of Semaglutide and is listed as a side effect in the product information. (Getty Images)
Davis agreed and encouraged patients to have an open conversation with their doctor about how best to care for them.
“I think patients should consider potential side effects before taking the medication,” he said.
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“While the incidence of hair loss is still clearly low, it is a potential trade-off that patients should consider.”
Davis also recommends that patients adopt a “heartful diet” consisting of fiber, protein and nutritious foods to ensure proper nutrition while taking semaglutide medications.
Experts advised that anyone who has experienced hair loss while taking semaglutide medication should consult with a dermatologist to determine whether the adverse effects of these medications are the cause. (istock)
“Not only does this help with hair removal, but more importantly, a strong diet can control the unnecessary loss of muscle mass that often occurs,” he said. “A proper diet, a conservative timetable for weight loss, and an exercise plan are essential when taking this medication.”
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When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, confirmed that hair removal is an identified risk of Semaglutide and is listed as a side effect in the product information.
“In Wegovy’s clinical trial, hair loss was reported in 1.0% of adult patients treated with Wegovy, compared to 2.5% of adult patients treated with Wegovy,” a spokesman for the company said.
“While the incidence of hair loss is still clearly low, it is a potential trade-off that patients should consider.”
“Hair loss is reported more frequently in patients with large weight loss (>20%), suggesting that hair loss events are potentially related to the magnitude of weight loss.”
“Patient safety is paramount to Novo Nordisk,” the statement continued. “We continuously monitor our product safety profiles and work closely with authorities to ensure patient safety, including appropriate information regarding hair removal.”
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The study was funded by an internal research fund from the Faculty of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of British Columbia, the journal article states.
