Doctors concerned about new risks associated with Ozempic.
Doctors Warn of Life-Threatening Complications with Weight Loss Drugs
Doctors are sounding the alarm about popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, cautioning that they may carry a risk of life-threatening complications during anesthesia.
“Ditch the drugs for up to three weeks before surgery,” advise anesthesiologists, who have observed a potential risk of aspiration in patients taking these medications. Learn more.”
During anesthesia, it is crucial for the patient’s stomach to be empty to prevent the inhalation of stomach contents into the lungs. However, anesthesiologists have discovered that some patients taking semaglutide-based medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy, still have full stomachs even after fasting for hours. This poses a risk of pulmonary aspiration and other complications, which can be fatal.
In June, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued guidelines advising patients to skip these drugs on the day of surgery and pause weekly injections for one week before sedation procedures.
“But that’s not enough,” say some anesthesiologists. They recommend patients stop taking the drugs for three weeks before undergoing anesthesia. According to a publication in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, this three-week period would eliminate approximately 88% of the drug from the body, resulting in emptier stomachs after fasting and safer sedation.”
However, the risks associated with drugs like Ozempic extend beyond anesthesia complications. Recently, a lawsuit was filed alleging that the manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly respectively, failed to adequately warn patients about the potential for severe stomach problems as a side effect. The lawsuit claims that a Louisiana woman suffered “severe injuries” after taking these drugs and is the first to assert that they can cause gastrointestinal injuries.
Additionally, studies conducted on rodents have indicated a potential risk of thyroid tumors and cancer associated with Ozempic. Furthermore, available data suggests that most individuals who discontinue these drugs regain the majority of the weight they lost within three to five years, and some may even gain back more weight than they initially lost while on the drugs. Concerns have also been raised about the type of weight being lost.
“Patients on these drugs tend to lose muscle mass at an alarming rate,” warns Dr. Peter Attia. “Losing muscle while losing weight can lead to an unhealthy body composition. We need to be cautious.”
Despite these concerns, the use of weight loss drugs is on the rise. Experts predict that the market value of obesity pills could reach a staggering $200 billion in the coming years.
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