2024-09-15 15:35:38
Ozempic has been the drug that has been the most talked about in 2023, for better or worse. This drug is only the most visible face of a string of compounds known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Reviewing the effects. Now the agency responsible for regulating drugs in the United States, the FDA, is studying possible new side effects of this family of treatments, originally designed to fight diabetes but which have gained popularity as weight-loss drugs.
This investigation is part of the agency’s monitoring mechanism, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). It is therefore an ongoing investigation in which data is still being collected.
The agency therefore speaks of problems potentials safety. “This means that the FDA has identified a potential safety concern, but it does not mean that (…) it has identified a causal relationship between the drug and the cited risk,” clarifies the FAERS system page.
Hair loss, aspiration and suicidal thoughts. The potential adverse effects added to the monitoring system are three: hair loss, aspiration (accidental inhalation of foreign objects, for example when eating food) and suicidal thoughts.
The drugs on the list are GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. This family of drugs includes semaglutide, liraglutide, or tirzepatide, active ingredients in a variety of drugs marketed under various brand names, from Ozempic to Zepbound.
These compounds were originally designed as treatments for diabetes, but their approval as drugs for overweight and obesity boosted their popularity as a weight loss method.
What we already knew. So far, we know of some side effects of these drugs, very often related to the digestive system, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation, as well as headaches.
The most serious adverse effects detected in this family of drugs, however, are related to the possible appearance of kidney failure or pancreatitis. However, a possible increase in the risk of developing thyroid cancer has also been considered.
Surveillance on several fronts. The news came just a few weeks after the FDA itself warned consumers about the existence of counterfeit products. The agency therefore recommended paying attention to details such as serial numbers.