A disturbing new investigative report has linked the popular weight loss drug Ozempic to 162 deaths in the United States, urging a reevaluation of its safety and regulatory oversight.
At a Glance
- Severe side effects of Ozempic include hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, and thyroid cancer.
- 162 deaths in the US linked to weight loss shots like Ozempic, though not proven to be directly caused by the injections.
- Over 17,600 severe health problems reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System since 2017.
- New clinical trials link Ozempic to adverse psychiatric events like depression and suicidal thoughts.
Report Unveils Severe Side Effects and Deaths
A new report has brought to light severe side effects associated with weight loss drugs like Ozempic, ranging from hypoglycemia to thyroid cancer. The Motley Rice law firm details cases of pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, and gastroparesis among users.
Shockingly, 17,600 severe health problems have been reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) since 2017. These adverse events include various complications, hospitalizations, and even deaths. According to FAERS, 222 deaths have been linked to Ozempic as of April 1, 2024, with five classified as “sudden death.”
Signs of gastroparesis, a severe condition reported among Ozempic users, include abdominal bloating, pain, acid reflux, and weight loss. Acute kidney injury symptoms, another reported side effect, include chest pain, coma, decreased appetite, and seizures. These alarming reports prompt urgent calls for further investigation and caution.
Continued Scrutiny and Rising Use
In the past year alone, Ozempic and other weight loss injections have seen a dramatic increase in prescriptions and use across the U.S. In 2023, around 5.6 million Americans were prescribed a weight loss drug, a 40-fold increase from five years prior, underscoring the drugs’ skyrocketing popularity but also raising concerns about their widespread, perhaps too-hasty adoption.
“Weight loss shots like Ozempic have been linked to 162 deaths in the US.”
More than 100 US deaths linked to Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs – including 28-year-old who died from 'intestinal mass' and a pregnant woman, our analysis shows https://t.co/mVAbCaQ4rj pic.twitter.com/qhl6aDM0BY
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) April 9, 2024
Symptoms of acute gallbladder disease – another potential side effect – include abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, and vomiting. Despite the severe and life-threatening consequences, the drug remains in use, driven partly by its necessity for managing certain health conditions.
Jury Still Out on Psychiatric Side Effects
A new study has emerged linking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, to adverse psychiatric events such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. While these findings are preliminary, they illustrate the need for comprehensive mental health evaluations before prescribing the drug.
The popular TikTok hashtag #ozempic boasts over 1.4 billion views, reflecting the fad status of the medication but also highlighting the often overlooked adverse outcomes.
“We believe that our findings, which highlight potential mental health issues associated with new anti-obesity medications, are of significant importance to both healthcare providers and patients,” the study’s first author, Mansour Tobaiqy, an associate professor in clinical pharmacology at the University of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, told Newsweek. “These medications have become some of the most commonly used. The adverse events reported in this study serve as a reminder to physicians to carefully assess a patient’s mental health before prescribing these medications.”
Contradictory Findings and Need for Further Research
Interestingly, Ozempic and similar drugs have exhibited some significant benefits in clinical studies. For instance, clinical data indicates a 24% reduction in major kidney disease events and a 29% reduction in death from cardiovascular incidents for those on semaglutide. These findings highlight the complexities surrounding the drug’s risk-benefit ratio.
In summary, while weight loss drugs like Ozempic exhibit potential benefits, the alarming reports of severe side effects and deaths underline the urgency for stringent oversight and research. It is imperative to ensure that users are adequately informed and monitored, safeguarding their health and well-being amid the burgeoning use of these drugs.
