2024-04-10 14:56:14
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the Ozempic weight loss injection in recent years. Now there is apparently a previously unknown side effect. The manufacturer reacts.
Ozempic is the trade name for the active ingredient semaglutide. It has been approved in the USA for several years for the treatment of diabetes-related obesity. In Germany, the fat-away syringe has been on the market since June 2023 (also in higher doses under the name “Wegovy”).
Since its approval, hype has developed around the drug not only in the USA, but also here. Many people misuse it and use it exclusively to lose weight. Many celebrities are also fueling the hype about the drug.
There are now increasing reports that the drug could cause a previously unrecognized side effect. On social media such as TikTok, Facebook and Reddit, women report that they became pregnant while taking Ozempic – both unplanned or unexpectedly as well as unwanted.
“Ozempic babies” on social media
As American and British media report, the name “Ozempic babies” is already established for the offspring. Women share their experiences of how they quickly became pregnant while taking medication, often after years of trying.
Others report becoming pregnant despite taking birth control pills. Some gynecologists and diabetologists also confirm the observations, although they have so far been isolated.
How does Ozempic work?
Semaglutide works similarly to the body’s own small intestinal hormone GLP-1. It slows gastric emptying and lowers blood sugar levels. It inhibits appetite and increases the feeling of satiety. Studies have confirmed weight loss success in the range of 10 to 20 percent of body weight.
Gynecologist and director of the Obesity Center at Northwell Health, Dr. told People. Iman Saleh: “I’ve actually seen some patients of mine who came to us after a few months of taking the weight loss medication and had these surprise babies or surprise pregnancies.”
The effect is not yet entirely clear
Two reasons are given for this effect.
On the one hand, it is known that obesity and the associated metabolic disorders lead to reduced fertility. Fat has a hormonal effect and can affect menstruation and ovulation and therefore fertility. Conversely, this means that if fat is lost, fertility can increase.
So it’s not all that surprising that weight-loss medications can help many women get pregnant, Utsavi Shah, an assistant professor of gynecology and obesity medicine in Houston, told USA Today.
The second reason is more complicated and has apparently not been sufficiently researched so far. An interaction with the contraceptive pill cannot currently be ruled out. Since medications such as Ozempic delay gastric emptying, they could affect the absorption and thus the effect of oral medications (tablets, capsules). This could reduce the contraceptive effect of the pill. Other manufacturers of comparable medications advise women who use contraception to also use condoms – at least in the initial phase.
The manufacturer reacts
As the Washington Post reports, Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk responded with a statement: “Pregnancy or the intention to become pregnant were exclusion criteria in our studies of semaglutide in both obesity and type 2 diabetes.”
The concern: Taking the drug could pose a risk to the fetus. The company is collecting data to evaluate the safety of pregnancy while using semaglutide, the company spokesman said.
“From a scientific perspective, it’s true that these drugs could make it easier for people to get pregnant,” said Dr. Allison Rodgers, a gynecologist and reproductive endocrinologist in Illinois, told USA Today. “But you have to be careful because taking it during pregnancy could have dangerous consequences as the drugs can remain in the body.”
Effect on the fetus is still unclear
Experts warn that women should under no circumstances take weight loss medications in order to become pregnant. Studies on rats, rabbits and monkeys have shown that these drugs can cause miscarriages and birth defects when taken during pregnancy. There are no studies on humans. Drug manufacturers would recommend that women stop taking weight loss medications at least two months before a planned pregnancy.
Users of comparable medications such as Ozempic also report similar experiences with regard to the possibility of becoming pregnant. The Drug Commission of German Pharmacists (AMK) has not yet received any corresponding spontaneous reports, according to the “Pharmazeutische Zeitung”.