While the results of GLP-1 inhibitor drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro are clear and evident when it comes to weight loss, doctors and medical experts have outlined newly discovered potential dangers that could put your life at risk.
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic are relatively new in the medical world, and therefore it has been difficult for scientists to truly evaluate the long-term effects they have on people - especially when taken outside of its originally intended use against diabetes.
Certain simulations have shown the disgusting effects Ozempic has on your body when you take it, and one social media star have revealed what happens when you take other similar drugs in unconventional ways.
However, new advice has warned that taking weight loss drugs could lead to health issues that put you at risk of death, prompting further research into the matter.
What has been identified as a new Ozempic side effect?
As reported by Sky News, experts at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have released new figures that indicate a link between weight loss drugs like Ozempic and an inflammation of the pancreas, otherwise known as pancreatitis.
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Across what is widely considered the 'big three' weight loss drugs, Mounjaro has had the highest number of deaths related to this presumed side effect. In 181 reported cases of acute or chronic pancreatitis, five people have died.
Comparatively, across both Wegovy and Ozempic there have been 113 reports, with just one death.
Will this lead to a ban for drugs like Ozempic?
Right now there are no signs that this will lead to Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Wegovy being banned as there is no direct evidence that links GLP-1 inhibitors to pancreatitis, and what the MHRA have found isn't considered strong enough for access to be restricted.
However, the agency has paired up with Genomics England to further research the links between these drugs and pancreatic issues, and aims to concretely indicate whether or not taking them increases the risk of developing pancreatitis.
Individuals who develop pancreatitis while taking GLP-1 inhibitors will be identified by the MHRA and asked to submit saliva samples so that their genes can be tested, and this should help establish a greater understanding of the links between the two.
"GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines, there can be a risk of serious side effects," outlined Professor Matt Brown, chief scientific officer at Genomics England. "We believe there is real potential to minimize these, with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause."