Ozempic, Wegovy And Mounjaro

Breakdown of Glucagon-like Peptide 1

Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone made in your intestines that helps control your blood sugar. It does this by:

• Making your body release insulin, which lowers blood sugar.
• Stopping the release of another hormone called glucagon, which raises blood sugar.

GLP-1 also slows down how quickly your stomach empties, making you feel full longer and reducing your appetite. Because of these benefits, medications that mimic GLP-1 are used to treat type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss.

Serious Side Effects

While these drugs can be used to manage type 2 diabetes, they also are linked to a variety of serious and potentially fatal health hazards.

• Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) – NAION is a rare condition that causes sudden blindness, typically in one eye, due to a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve. There is no known treatment for the condition. Patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity who take semaglutide appear to be at greater risk of NAION compared to those prescribed a non-GLP-1 drug.

• Intestinal Blockages – In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported receiving complaints indicating safety concerns for these drugs, including the risk of serious and life-threatening intestinal blockage, which often requires major surgery. Intestinal blockage signs and symptoms may include abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation, vomiting, difficulty passing gas

• Stomach Paralysis – Stomach paralysis, also known as gastroparesis, prevents the stomach’s nerves and muscles from working properly, leaving food sitting too long. Symptoms of gastroparesis may include Indigestion, nausea, vomiting, malnutrition, bloating, feeling full quickly, upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and constipation.