Weight loss shots like Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S. over the past six years
These cases are recorded in the FDA’s FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) database, which tracks reports on adverse reactions, safety concerns, and quality issues with medications after they are marketed can be submitted by various sources, including medical professionals.
The reports linking to weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, stored in the FDA’s FAERS database, can be submitted by various sources, including medical professionals, drug manufacturers, and patients themselves.
While none of the deaths have been definitively attributed to semaglutide injections, reports suggest that these medications played a contributing role in the fatalities.
Ozempic was approved by the FDA in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes.
In 2021, Wegovy, a drug using the same active ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide), was approved for treating obesity.
It gained massive attention after Elon Musk mentioned using it during an interview, which significantly boosted its popularity.
Ozempic and Wegovy are essentially the same medication, semaglutide, with the main difference being their dosages. After Elon Musk discussed it, Oprah Winfrey, Tracy Morgan, Amy Schumer, Lauren Manzo, Emily Simpson, and Jessica Simpson, and several other celebrities publicly acknowledged that they had started using Ozempic for weight loss.
The report indicates that the number of deaths associated with these drugs has increased by 40% over the past six months.
This increase is highlighted by various reported complications, such as the case of Juanita Gantt, a Pennsylvania mother who is suing the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy. She claims that she nearly died from taking the prescription drugs and was not adequately informed about the severe side effects.
Last year, an Australian woman who used Ozempic to lose weight before her daughter's wedding died from a gastrointestinal illness, which her family attributes to the medication.
The majority of these reactions have been reported in the past two years, following the rise in popularity of semaglutide.
The FDA has approved Ozempic for managing type 2 diabetes, but it is also being used off-label for weight management.
Within the FAERS database, approximately 10,000 of these reactions were classified as “serious,” involving hospitalization or life-threatening events.
The FDA has approved Ozempic for managing type 2 diabetes, but it is also being used off-label for weight management.
Due to its sudden popularity for weight loss, Ozempic is being prescribed off-label by doctors.
In March 2024, Wegovy was approved as “the first weight loss medication to also help prevent life-threatening cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.”
On the other hand, Ozempic’s website warns of several potential side effects, including pancreatic inflammation, low blood sugar, kidney problems, serious allergic reactions, and gallbladder issues, among others
In 2023, the FDA updated the Ozempic label to include warnings about complaints of blocked intestines among some users.
Commonly reported side effects of the medication include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Additionally, Ozempic has been associated with vision loss and an increase in “reckless behavior.”
Recent research indicates that users often discontinue taking the drugs if they experience frustration due to the side effects.
Despite serious side effects and fatalities, many people continue to use these medications.
A recent Gallup poll found that 6% of all U.S. adults, roughly 15.5 million people, have tried Ozempic or other brand-name medications, with 3% using them specifically for weight loss.
Reference:
1. Maese, By Dan Witters and Ellyn. “Injectable Weight Loss Drugs: Who Uses Them, and Do They Work?” Gallup.Com, June 7, 2024. https://news.gallup.com/poll/644861/injectable-weight-loss-drugs-uses-work.aspx.
2. Andrews, Luke, Senior. “162 US deaths linked to Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs - including 28-year-old who died from...” Mail Online, September 8, 2024. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13816987/deaths-linked-ozempic-weight-loss-drugs-analysis.html.
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