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About two-thirds of those in the United States who started taking a drug of this class, known as GLP-1 agonists, in 2021 had stopped using them within a year, according to an industry analysis. In FDA's records there are at least 422 reports about patients taking semaglutide or tirzepatide that mention the term alopecia, which doctors use to describe hair loss. A spokesperson for Eli Lilly, which produces Zepbound and Mounjaro, said the newly identified safety signal followed "rigorous study for many years in clinical trials and a robust approval process" of the medications.
Possible Ozempic side effects, including hair loss, probed by FDA; no link found to suicidal thoughts
Mercer's survey said 41% of employers with large staffs covered these drugs for obesity; an additional 19% of large companies were considering such coverage. More than 23,000 people on North Carolina's health plan were using these prescription drugs for weight loss. The medication cost the state more than $800 per member per month, on average, after rebates.
Can Weight Loss Drugs Cause Hair Loss? Experts Explain
Males were dosed for 4 weeks prior to mating, and females were dosed for 2 weeks prior to mating and throughout organogenesis until Gestation Day 17. In females, an increase in estrus cycle length was observed at all dose levels, together with a small reduction in numbers of corpora lutea at greater than or equal to 0.03 mg/kg/day. These effects were likely an adaptive response secondary to the pharmacological effect of semaglutide on food consumption and body weight.
Side Effects of Wegovy: What You Need to Know
’ ‘No, I didn’t get it.’ ‘Okay, well, then don’t worry,’” Lofton said. For now, the FDA is just “evaluating the need for regulatory action,” so it’s not clear if anything will change with these drugs going forward. As researchers and health officials continue to dig into GLP-1 drugs and any side effects not currently listed on their labels, experts agree that the review is not a cause for concern. In vitro studies have shown very low potential for semaglutide to inhibit or induce CYP enzymes, or to inhibit drug transporters. The safety and effectiveness of WEGOVY have not been established in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age.
FAQ about Wegovy’s side effects
Check with your physician for additional information about side effects. Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above. For those who may be taking or considering a GLP-1 receptor agonist, all experts agree it is important to go through a physician who will continuously monitor them and keep them updated on any side effects they may experience. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not use this medicine for at least 2 months before you plan to become pregnant. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly.
Study: Ozempic, Wegovy Not Associated With Risk of Suicidal Ideation - Health.com
Study: Ozempic, Wegovy Not Associated With Risk of Suicidal Ideation.
Posted: Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Experts think hair loss with Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound may occur due to a medical condition known as telogen effluvium, and is not a direct effect of the medicine itself, although more research is needed. It occurs due to disruption of the normal hair follicle growth cycle. Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) are both approved by the FDA for chronic weight management, while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are both approved for blood glucose (sugar) control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Working with a nutritionist to make sure patients have sufficient protein and nutrients can lower the risk of developing hair loss and other complications, Weintraub said.
FAQs about the side effects of Wegovy
These changes could end up causing hair loss in some people, though again, more research is needed. However, this phenomenon has been observed in people who undergo a large amount of weight loss via sleeve gastrectomy. Though alopecia (also know as hair loss), aspiration, and suicidal ideation were identified in the FDA’s adverse reporting system, it doesn’t necessarily confirm that these side effects were caused by the medications.
More serious, but less common or even rare side effects include a risk for thyroid cancer, which has been seen in animal studies, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallstones (stones in the gallbladder), and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Hair shedding due to rapid weight loss after bariatric (weight loss) surgery and in patients with type 2 diabetes has also been reported. There’s no evidence that hair loss is a direct side effect of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound.
Cases of MTC have been seen in patients treated with another GLP-1 receptor agonist known as liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) after it was approved by the FDA. However, it is not known if liraglutide caused these tumors because there was not enough data in the reports to draw a final conclusion. Do not use Wegovy if you are allergic to it or have had an allergic reaction with any semaglutide product or its inactive ingredients.
A type of temporary hair loss known as telogen effluvium is a known side effect of rapid weight loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Telogen effluvium, which is also known as stress shedding, can be triggered by many factors, including illness, surgery, fever, and pregnancy, Susan Bard, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Vive Dermatology, previously told Insider. Nausea was one of the most common side effects that people taking Wegovy reported in clinical trials. You may experience nausea more often when you first start taking Wegovy or when your doctor increases your dose. Stomach side effects tend to occur at the beginning of treatment and when your dose is increased too quickly. Because of this, your healthcare provider will slowly increase your dose every 4 weeks over a 16 week period, until you reach your normal dose.
The FDA investigation is not the first time an association between suicidal ideation and GLP-1 medications has been reviewed. Despite the possible side effects, GLP-1 drugs are considered safe. Medical News Today spoke with three obesity experts to learn more. This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. Also tell your doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, including feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared.
This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed. The side effect is also often discussed on social media, including TikTok and Reddit.
It’s possible for Wegovy to increase your risk of thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. In fact, Wegovy has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The purpose of a boxed warning is to alert patients and prescribers about the possible risks of taking a medication. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin.
