Health
Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Are Putting You at Higher Risk for Stomach Issues
- Novo drugs more likely to cause side effects than an older one
- Diabetes drug Ozempic is commonly used for weight loss
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Novo Nordisk A/S drugs that are commonly used for weight loss were linked to a higher risk of bowel obstructions and other gastrointestinal side effects in patients with obesity than an older treatment.
Using a health database, researchers compared side effects from Novo’s drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Saxenda with those of a weight-loss medication called Contrave. Patients on the Novo drugs, called GLP-1s, were roughly nine times more likely to develop swelling of the pancreas than those taking Contrave. GLP-1 drugs were also associated with higher risks of bowel obstruction and delayed stomach emptying, known as gastroparesis.