New weight loss drugs send a surprising number of Americans to the Emergency Department

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in the popular medicines Ozmpic and Wegovy, is not without risks. A recent study found that tens of thousands of Americans have ended up in the Emergency Department to accept a semi -grade in the last few years.

Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leaded the Study, published This month at Annals of Internal Medicine. Based on national observation data, researchers believe that semaglutide has contributed to nearly 25,000 ER visits between 2022 and 2023, usually from gastrointestinal complications. The results suggest that doctors can do more to potentially mitigate the severe side effects of these drugs, researchers say.

Semaglutide and similar drugs imitate GLP-1, one of several hormones that play a key role in regulating our metabolism and hunger. GLP-1 drugs have existed for more than two decades, but semaglutide is part of a newer and more effective generation. It was first approved in 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes under the Ozmpic brand. In 2021 it was approved to treat obesity under the Wegovy brand. Since then, doctors have also often prescribed Ozmpic Off-Label for weight loss.

However, each medicine comes with its side effects. People who take GLP-1 usually experience nausea, diarrhea and other symptoms of GI. Usually these side effects are mild and/or tend to decrease over time. But in some cases, they can become serious enough to impose emergency medical attention.

CDC researchers have analyzed data from the national project to monitor adversely monitoring electronic disabilities (to monitor unwanted drugs (Neiss-Cades) which monitors adverse drugs related to

Based on 551 documented cases, researchers have considered that 24,499 ER visits are due to the use of a semi -glutide between 2022 and 2023. Nearly 70% of these visits include symptoms of GI, while approximately 17% included hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and about 6% represent allergic reactions. About a third of hypoglycaemia visits have led to hospitalization, as well as 15% of GI -related visits.

The findings should be taken in some context. Many medicines can cause side effects that can lead to a visit to ER, including common over -the -counter drugs. In a 2021 study by many of the same authors, they discovered this Approximately 1 in 200 Americans Visit ER every year due to medicines related to two -thirds caused by therapeutic use (which means that the medicines are taken to treat a medical problem rather than for entertainment). A survey of 2022 by the same team calculated This OTC cough or cold medicines cause about 27,000 US visits a year.

But the results of this last study also should not be minimized. More than 82% of EP’s visits occurred in 2023, suggesting that with the increase in the use of hemispheres and its potential damage. About 9% of visits included drug errors, such as people who take more than instruction. So we may be able to prevent some ER visits with a better education for patients. In other cases, doctors may reduce the risk of their patients from serious complications by better manage the use of other medicines, and at least they can probably do more to prepare their patients in advance before they start GLP-1 therapy, the researchers say.

“Clinicians could advise patients at the beginning of a semi-giggles on the potential for severe gastrointestinal side effects and corrected jointly prescribed antidiabetic drugs to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia,” the authors wrote.