What are the contraindications and side effects of Ozempic?
The Ozempic drug prescription includes several precautions and warnings about drug interactions, such as a boxed warning about thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer.
In animal studies, researchers observed that semaglutide caused dose-dependent C-cell thyroid tumors and medullary thyroid carcinoma. However, it is not known if these results are the same in humans. Although it is clear that people at risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma should not be taking Ozempic.
The drug may interact with insulin or a sulfonylurea and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Doctors may need to reduce the dose of these drugs when starting Ozempic if you have to take them together with it.
Common side effects of Ozempic that occurred in at least 5% of patients in clinical trials include:
-Abdominal pain
-Constipation
-Diarrhea
-Nausea
-Vomiting
Mild and frequent side effects of Ozempic, such as nausea, stomach discomfort or constipation, usually disappear when the body gets used to the drug. Otherwise it is important to contact your doctor.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were increased in patients taking the 1 mg dose versus the 0.5 mg dose of Ozempic. During clinical trials, it was seen that there were patients who experienced gastrointestinal problems and discontinued the treatment, compared to those who took a placebo.
Packets of Wegovy at the Novo Nordisk A/S production facilities in Hillerod, Denmark, on Monday, June 12, 2023. The success of Novo’s bestsellers Ozempic and Wegovy, drugs that help people lose significant amounts of weight, has created something of a gold rush in the pharma industry with about 40 companies developing products that will intensify competition. Photographer: Carsten Snejbjerg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Less frequent side effects
Novo Nordisk stated that it has received reports of less frequent and more serious side effects, such as hypersensitivity, rash, swelling, and gallbladder problems, in post-marketing reports. However, since these reports are voluntary, the drug manufacturer cannot definitively link these adverse effects directly to Ozempic.
Other less common side effects of Ozempic include:
Allergic reactions
Changes in blood tests
Dizziness
Fatigue
Gallstones
Hypoglycemia
Increased heart rate
Injection site reactions
Ozempic delays gastric emptying, which means it slows the rate at which food moves through the stomach. It was reported that some patients experienced gastroparesis after taking Ozempic. This means that food moves very slowly or stops moving through the stomach into the small intestine. The drug’s warning label does not mention this possible side effect.
Acute gastroparesis can cause severe vomiting, abdominal pain, problems digesting food, constant feeling of fullness and malnutrition. It can lead to hospitalization. Some patients have filed lawsuits against Ozempic alleging that Novo Nordisk failed to warn that Ozempic could cause this serious side effect. One lawsuit pointed to both Ozempic and Mounjaro as the cause of the serious gastrointestinal side effects.
Copyright: Credit: Sipa USA / Alamy Stock Photo
