There have been hundreds of reports of acute and chronic pancreatitis from people who have taken drugs such as Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy, although none are confirmed as being caused by the medicines. Weight loss jabs study begins after reports of pancreas issues – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ged0r1n3wo
Yikes.
Compound pharmacies that bulk produce weight-loss drugs without FDA approval are doing so without that oversight. And because compounding pharmacies aren’t required to report instances of patient harm involving their medications, problems may go undetected.“It’s kind of like ‘Whack-A-Mole,’” said Al Carter, a pharmacist and executive director at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. He said state boards will only investigate when they receive a complaint.“There are bad actors out there, purporting to be compounding pharmacies that are licensed in specific states or have the credentials to be able to compound when in actuality they don’t,” said Carter. “My understanding is most licensed, legitimate pharmacies aren’t compounding” weight-loss medications. ‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators – https://stateline.org/2024/07/08/compounded-weight-loss-drugs-are-a-growing-problem-for-state-regulators/
A website sold patients obesity drugs at affordable rates. Now they’re paying the price.– https://www.npr.org/2025/02/08/nx-s1-5246124/a-website-sold-patients-obesity-drugs-at-affordable-rates-now-theyre-paying-the-price
“The two main goals of the medication are weight loss and diabetes management, so patients should stay on the lowest dosage possible until they feel like they’ve plateaued,” said Charu Sawhney, DO, MPH, an internal medicine physician with Harbor Health in Round Rock, Texas. When patients move up on the dosage too fast, they’re going to have more trouble, said Sawhney. “This is when we see the most severe side effects like the malnutrition and dehydration that can sometimes land patients in the hospital,” she said. Considerations for Prescribing GLP-1s Get More Complicated – Medscape – February 07, 2025 – https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/considerations-prescribing-glp-1s-get-more-complicated
I admit as a Former Fat Man that the world of obesity and now a miracle drug to fight the disease fascinates the hell out of me. Caveat emptor!
Caroline Apovian, MD, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Boston.
“Doctors who are obesity medicine specialists like myself in academic centers do not prescribe compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide,” she said.
Many of the compounded prescriptions, she said, come from telehealth virtual–only companies interested in profits.
GLP-1 Prescribing Decisions: Compounded or Brand-Name? – Medscape – November 14, 2024 – https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/glp-1-prescribing-decisions-compounded-or-brand-name-2024a1000krd?
To be clear, all of my GLP-1 posts are not anti-pharma. If you can afford these medications and they work for you on your weight loss journey that’s great. Just be aware of the possible side effects and the fact these medications are for life. You will regain all that you’ve lost if you stop taking the drug.
Here’s the link to Complications? What Complications? (just another GLP-1 receptor agonist post)
Adverse events are common in those using GLP-1 agonists, but the vast majority of these are minor. GI adverse effects are most common (20-70% of patients). Greater rate of GI effects with higher doses.
emDOCs Podcast – Episode 94: GLP-1 Agonist Complications — https://www.emdocs.net/?s=glp-1
- Most common problems: nausea (overall most common), vomiting, and diarrhea. Others included abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and constipation.
- Symptoms are typically more severe within the first four weeks of therapy or with sudden escalation of therapy and tend to decrease over time.
- Thought to be due to reduced gastric emptying and activation of centers involved in appetite regulation and nausea.
- Severe diarrhea and vomiting may lead to volume loss, dehydration, and hypotension (not common).
- There is an association with pancreatitis. GLP-1 agonists may stimulate pancreatic islet beta cells and exocrine duct cells leading to overgrowth and smaller duct size, which increase the pancreatic weight and risk of ductal occlusion.
- Retrospective study published in 2022 of 81,752 adverse events associated with GLP-1 agonist therapy found an increased risk of pancreatitis, particularly with liraglutide (ROR 32.67; 95% CI 29.44-36.25). 2023 observational study found increased risk of pancreatitis (adjusted HR of 9.09, 95% CI 1.25-66).
- Other GI issues include gallbladder and biliary tract disease (usually after 26 weeks of therapy and included cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, cholangitis), elevated LFTs, hepatitis, liver injury.
New Wonder Drug! Treat Diabetes, Obesity AND Addiction – (yup another GLP-1 receptor agonist post)
Why People Stop Using Drugs Like Ozempic – Wired (yet another GLP-1 receptor agonist post)
What the Scientists Who Pioneered Weight-Loss Drugs Want You to Know – Wired Magazine
The recent analysis in JAMA focused on serious stomach disorders and GLP-1 agonists.
Researchers in Canada compared safety outcomes for GLP-1 agonists and bupropion-naltrexone, an older class of weight-loss medication. The retrospective analysis included 4144 people with obesity who were prescribed liraglutide, 613 prescribed semaglutide, and 654 prescribed the older treatment. People with a diabetes code in their health record were excluded from the study.
The GLP-1 group had a 9 times greater risk of pancreatitis, a 4 times greater risk of bowel obstruction, and a more than 3 times greater risk of gastroparesis, which causes stomach paralysis. The absolute risks in the GLP-1 group, however, were all about 1% or less per year of GLP-1 use. And semaglutide and liraglutide were not associated with biliary disease, which affects the gallbladder and bile production.
As Semaglutide’s Popularity Soars, Rare but Serious Adverse Effects Are Emerging — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2812192
Sorry, but as a reasonably normal human who lost >200 pounds without surgery or drugs I just don’t get it. We all want the easy way out I guess.
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