(ProsperNews.net) – Popular drugs used for weight loss have been linked to severe stomach problems. The Journal of the American Medical Association conducted the first-ever study into the medicines and found that GLP-1 agonists, contained in drugs including Wegovy and Ozempic, risk causing gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms including vomiting and abdominal pain.
One of the report’s authors, Mohit Sodhi of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, said, “Although rare, the incidence of these adverse events can happen. I’ve seen it happen.”
The medicines in question were originally intended to help diabetic patients control blood sugar levels, but they were later found to aid weight loss. They work by slowing the pace at which the stomach processes food and cause people to feel full for longer. As their popularity has grown, so have instances of abdominal problems, and in August, a patient sued producer Novo Nordisk, alleging that Ozempic caused her to develop a stomach paralysis condition known as gastroparesis.
Jaclyn Bjorklund from Louisiana said she was “severely injured” by the medications and said the manufacturers had failed to warn of potential serious side effects, including gastric problems, pain, and vomiting.
Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a condition that stops the normal function of the digestive system and prevents food from moving from the stomach to the small intestine. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases names diabetes as the primary cause of gastroparesis and says it can be treated by controlling blood glucose levels. Improvements in diet and nutrition are furthermore recommended for patients with the condition.
The Food and Drug Administration refused to comment on Ms. Bjorklund’s lawsuit, and a spokesperson said it remains unclear whether GLP-1 medications cause or contribute to gastroparesis.
A representative of Novo Nordisk said patient safety is the company’s priority, and it always recommends that “patients take these for their approved indications and under the supervision of a healthcare professional.”
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