A Canadian study has warned of the rare side effects of drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, which can cause serious gastrointestinal disorders in non-diabetic patients.
- For several years, type 2 diabetes medications have been used for weight loss, particularly in the United States.
- An association between the use of these medications for weight loss and the risk of gastrointestinal disorders has been observed by Canadian researchers.
- The risks of pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction were 9.09 times and 4 times higher, respectively, in non-diabetic patients using these drugs.
Medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus are originally prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. These treatments notably mimic a gastrointestinal hormone (GLP-1), which participates in the regulation of appetite. . Nevertheless, these GLP-1 agonists are considered an effective means for weight loss by non-diabetic patients, particularly in the United States.
A link between taking weight loss medications and gastrointestinal disorders
Taking these medications for weight loss would not be without health risks. A study carried out by a team from the University of British Columbia (Canada) recently observed that the use of these treatments by non-diabetics could increase the risk of serious gastrointestinal disorders.
To arrive at this finding, researchers examined the health insurance records of 16 million American patients. They then looked at people who had received prescriptions for semaglutide, a molecule used in the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, and liraglutide, a molecule used in the drug Saxenda, between 2006 and 2020. These elements are the two main GLP agonists -1. As part of their work published in the journal JAMAthe scientists included patients with a recent history of obesity and excluded those who were diabetic or who had been prescribed another antidiabetic medication.
Nearly 9 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer
After analyzing medical records, the Canadian team determined the number of patients who developed stomach paralysis, pancreatitis or intestinal obstruction, and compared this rate to that of patients using bupropion-naltrexone, another type of weight loss medication.
Results: GLP-1 agonists were associated with a 9.09-fold increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to bupropion-naltrexone. The risks of pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction were respectively 9.09 times and 4 times higher in patients treated with the molecules semaglutide or liraglutide.
For those responsible for the study, it is essential that the manufacturers of Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus mention the risk of gastrointestinal disorders as undesirable effects on the labels of their products. “Given the wide use of these medications, these adverse effects, although rare, should be taken into account by patients considering their use for weight loss (…) This is essential information that patients need to know in order to be able to consult a doctor in time and avoid serious consequences”warned Mohit Sodhi, lead author of the study and a fourth-year medical student at the University of British Columbia.
