United States: Three new studies presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024 analyzed real-world patient data to evaluate the frequency of gastrointestinal adverse effects, such as gastroparesis, in users of common anti-obesity and diabetes medications.
These medications include GLP-1 receptor agonists, the semaglutide class of drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy), and twincretin-containing drugs such as tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), which act on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
Associated Side Effects
It has been established that these drugs are accompanied by a high prevalence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
However, there can also be occasions which are not always seen and associated with them. It also includes others such as gastroparesis, ileus, and acute pancreatitis, as healthline.com reported.
It is important to note that most of the diseases covered by the law belong to rare diseases that are only beginning to receive attention at the research level, thanks to the sharing of information by patients and prescribers in the real world. For example, the FDA issued a new warning solely regarding Ileus for Ozempic and Wegovy in October 2023 only.
Since millions of Americans are taking GLP-1 and twincretin drugs (as a recent survey suggests that percentage is about 13 percent of the adult population, or one in eight people, are using these kinds of drugs ), the data on side effects of these drugs quickly arrive.
A survey done by scientists showed that Gastropares is affects more people who takes GLP 1s than those who don’t take the medication. Still, Scott cannot agree with the experts he has consulted at Healthline on how far that discovery has been made.
Gastroparesis and GLP-1 Drugs
Three independent researchers delved into the relationship between GLP-1 drugs and gastrointestinal side effects, with a particular focus on gastroparesis, in studies presented this week.
The first study, conducted by researchers from the University of Kansas, used the TriNetX database, which contains electronic medical records from around the world. They analyzed data from patients diagnosed with diabetes or obesity and prescribed a GLP-1 between 2021-2022, comparing them with a similar group not using GLP-1 drugs.
Among the 300,000 patients studied, those taking GLP-1 drugs were 66 percent more likely to be diagnosed with gastroparesis compared to those not using these drugs.
Prateek Sharma, MD, a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and lead investigator of the study, told Healthline, “Patients need to be informed about these side effects before treatment is started. There is a lot of excitement and demand for these medications, but side effects are critical points for discussion,” as healthline.com reported.