Drugs that have become popular for weight loss, such as Ozempic, increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems, researchers warned in a study published Thursday.
These side effects remain rare and should be compared to obesity-related health problems that can be avoided through weight loss. But experts emphasize that these results show the need to prescribe these medications to patients who benefit from them, are informed of the risks and are monitored by health professionals.
“With millions of people taking these medications around the world, this could cause hundreds of thousands of people to suffer from these problems,” says a statement from the University of British Columbia (Canada), whose researchers carried out the study.
9 times more likely to develop pancreatitis
The researchers looked at the molecule semaglutide, used in the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as liraglutide, in the drug Saxenda. They are all produced by the Novo Nordisk laboratory.
These new injection treatments, which have become popular because they are more effective for weight loss than previous generations, mimic a gastrointestinal hormone (GLP-1) that plays a role in regulating appetite.
The researchers included approximately 5,400 obese patients without diabetes in their analysis and compared those taking semaglutide or liraglutide with those taking another obesity treatment (without GLP-1).
According to their results, patients treated with semaglutide or liraglutide had approximately 9 times the risk of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and more than 4 times the risk of developing intestinal obstruction.
For gastroparesis, a digestive disorder that limits the passage of food and can cause nausea, vomiting and pain, the risk was more than 3 times higher.
Use with caution
These medications “should be used with caution and only in patients at increased risk for obesity-related health problems or complications,” said professor of pharmaceutical medicine Penny Ward, who was not involved in the study.
“It is vital that regulations are strengthened to ensure that these drugs are only prescribed in the right circumstances,” said Dr Simon Cork, from Anglia Ruskin University, calling the study data “reliable”.
In the United States, Ozempic is only approved for diabetes, but after causing a stir on social media, it is also widely used off-label for its weight loss properties.
Saxenda and Wegovy have been approved by US health authorities for weight loss since 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Mais les essais cliniques réalisés pour leur authorization étaient trop petits et brefs pour détecter ces risques gastro-intestinaux, selon les chercheurs de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique, qui arrent qu’il s’agit de la première étude d’ampleur sur issue.
Source: BFM TV
