Weight Loss Drug Linked to Serious Side Effects

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted October 28, 2023

I can’t tell you how many times it’s happened. A new prescription medication is introduced by Big Pharma with lots of fanfare.

The press enthusiastically promotes the new “miracle drug.” The med predictably flies off pharmacy shelves. And everyone is happy.

Well, happy, that is, until the truth is revealed.

Because inevitably, after many folks take the drug, we find out it’s REAL cost as people are harmed from the med that’s supposed to heal them.

Now, it appears a new class of drugs may be following this same tired path. And some folks who simply want to lose some weight to be healthier are paying a heavy price.

GLP-1 agonist drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide.

It was first approved as a diabetes drug in 2017. But it wasn’t long before doctors, patients, and researchers noticed it often led to significant weight loss, as well.

So, by 2021, under the brand name Wegovy, semaglutide was approved for weight loss too.

By 2022, prescriptions for drugs containing semaglutide soared to 40 MILLION. And because they’re so wildly popular, some potential side effects are coming into focus.

We’re now seeing a possible link between GLP-1 agonists and an elevated risk for rare but serious stomach problems.

New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that GLP-1 agonists—which include brands like Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Saxenda—may be associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and stomach paralysis in patients with diabetes.

The new research found that, compared to those taking another weight loss drug, participants in the study taking GLP-1 agonists had a:

• nine times greater chance of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). This can cause serious abdominal pain and, in some cases, lead to hospitalization and surgery.
• 4.22 times greater chance of developing a bowel obstruction. When this happens, food can’t move through the small or large gut and causes cramping, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Depending on how severe it is, surgery may be needed.
• 3.67 times greater chance of developing gastroparesis or stomach paralysis. When this happens, food stops moving from the stomach into the small intestine, causing upset stomach, vomiting, and stomach pain.

In general, I advise people NOT to take a new drug (no matter how enthusiastically the press promotes it) until it’s been out for a few years.

A drug is usually approved after only a few hundred people have taken it in clinical trials. But side effects often don’t become clear until after approval when thousands of folks have taken the meds.

The fact is, people are NOT all the same, and our bodies process and detoxify drugs differently. And a drug company trial with a few hundred people is not always diverse enough to capture those variations.

So, a drug that may work fine for you could cause serious side effects in someone else. The risk is often not worth it.

As always, consult with your doctor before making any decisions about your health.

P.S. QUIT calorie counting… here’s what REALLY works.

Source:

Sodhi M, et al., “Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss.” JAMA. Published online October 05, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.19574

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND