Ozempic and other weight loss drugs associated with 162 deaths in the US: a report

Weight loss pills like Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to 162 deaths in the United States over the past six years, according to the Daily Mail.

These victims are listed in the FDA’s FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System) database, which keeps records of adverse reactions, safety concerns and quality complaints about drugs after they are sold.

These reports can be submitted by medical staff, manufacturers and patients themselves.

Although none of the deaths have been proven to be clearly caused by semaglutide injections, reports indicate that it was the cause of death.

According to the report, the number of deaths related to these drugs has increased by 40% in the last six months.

The rise is reflected in a series of publicized lawsuits, including Juanita Gantt, a Pennsylvania mother who is suing the makers of Ozempic and Wegovy, saying she nearly died from taking prescription drugs and not I was well warned about the potentially dangerous side effects.

Last year, an Australian woman who took Ozempic to shed a few pounds before her daughter’s wedding died of an intestinal infection, which her family said was caused by the medication.

As of 2018, the FDA system has recorded 62,000 reviews of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. Most of these reactions have been reported in the last two years after the explosion in popularity of semaglutides.

Within the FAERS database, a total of 10,000 reactions were classified as “serious,” or where the patient was hospitalized or suffered a life-threatening event.

Ozemipc has not been approved by the FDA for weight management but is approved to help people with type 2 diabetes. However, doctors have been prescribing it “off-label” for years. the latter due to the growing popularity of weight loss.

In March 2024, Wegovy became “the first weight-loss drug approved to help prevent life-threatening events in adults with heart disease and obesity,” according to a press release. The press is the US Food and Drug Administration.

These drugs were originally designed for people with diabetes because they cause insulin to be released and lower blood sugar levels after eating. However, in recent years, many people have been using drugs to lose weight.

Ozempic warns of side effects on its website, such as inflammation of the pancreas, low blood sugar, kidney problems, allergies, gallbladder problems and more.

In 2023, the FDA updated Ozempic’s label to acknowledge complaints of constipation from some people who took the drug.

Commonly reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal painn. Ozempic has also been linked to vision loss and an increase in “reckless behavior.”

Recent research shows that users are more likely to stop taking the drug if they are frustrated by the side effects.

Serious side effects and death have not discouraged people from eating. A recent Gallup poll revealed that six percent of all US adults, approximately 15.5 million people, have tried Ozempic or other brand-name drugs, and three percent are using these drugs. especially for weight loss.