There are plenty of benefits to taking semaglutide weight loss drugs sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy. As good as they are, however, the drugs, also known as GLP-1RAs, have a number of drawbacks that users and potential users should be aware of.
The potentially serious side-effects of the GLP-1RA drugs were uncovered in a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Health Care System.
The findings could affect a lot of people. One in eight of us have taken, or are currently using, these drugs to treat diabetes, heart disease or obesity. Though the medications are well-established and have been FDA-approved since 2017 to treat diabetes, information on their long-term effects on our organs hasn't been studied on a wide population — until now.Though the medications are well-established and have been FDA-approved to treat diabetes since 2017, information on their long-term effects on our organs hasn't been studied on a wide population — until now.
The scope of the study is impressive. The dataset covered more than two million veterans who were treated for diabetes from October 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023. and included patients of diverse ages, races and sexes.
Taking these medications offered significant neurological and behavioral health benefits, the researchers found. People taking GLP-1RA medications had:
- A reduced risk of seizures
- A lowered risk of addiction to substances such as alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids
- A reduced risk of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia
- Decreased incidence of neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's and dementia
What's behind these brain-related benefits? “Interestingly, GLP-1RA drugs act on receptors that are expressed in brain areas involved in impulse control, reward and addiction — potentially explaining their effectiveness in curbing appetite and addiction disorders,” researcher Ziyad Al-Aly, the director of the Clinical Epidemiology Center at the VA St. Louis Health Care Site, explained n a press release. “These drugs also reduce inflammation in the brain and result in weight loss; both these factors may improve brain health and explain the reduced risk of conditions like Alzheimer's disease and dementia.”
The findings weren't all positive, however. Al-Aly emphasized that the study also pointed to potentially negative effects of the medications. These included an increased risk of:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- rare cases of paralysis of the stomach
- pancreatitis
- kidney injury that can occur without symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage
What's the upshot?
“GLP-1RA drugs can have broad health benefits,” Al-Aly said. “However, they are not without risks. Our findings underscore the possibility for wider applications for these medications but also highlight important risks that should be carefully monitored in people taking these drugs.”Medication isn't the only way to treat obesity. If you're battling obesity but are hesitant to take these drugs, speak with your doctor about alternatives.
Medication isn't the only way to treat obesity. If you're battling obesity but are hesitant to take these drugs, speak with your doctor about alternatives. The American Medical Association suggests combining lifestyle modifications like a healthy diet and regular physical activity, behavioral therapy and when necessary, bariatric surgery.
The study is published in Nature Medicine.
