Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists have received attention for his or her role in treating type 2 diabetes and promoting weight reduction. These drugs mimic a hormone that helps control blood sugar and appetite. While their advantages are clear, in addition they include potential risks and unwanted side effects.
How do GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic work?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists are a category of medicine that work by mimicking the natural GLP-1 hormone. This hormone is released from the intestines in response to food and has several effects that help regulate blood sugar levels, appetite, and slow digestion. Tirzepatide is a related drug that mimics GLP-1 in addition to a hormone called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
Most GLP-1 drugs are given by injection within the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
How do GLP-1s help manage diabetes?
For individuals with type 2 diabetes, controlling blood sugar levels is vital to forestall complications resembling nerve damage, kidney disease and heart problems. GLP-1 receptor agonists resembling semaglutide (Ozempic), liraglutide (Vectoza), and tarzeptide (Monjaro) help increase insulin secretion in response to food, thereby lowering blood sugar levels. They also reduce levels of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar.
GLP-1 drugs only lower blood sugar when it’s high, unlike insulin, which works no matter glucose levels. This glucose-dependent motion reduces the danger of dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), making them a safer option than other diabetes treatments.
GLP-1 receptor agonists also reduce the danger of heart-related problems resembling heart attack or stroke. This is a crucial consideration because diabetes increases the danger of heart disease.
How do GLP-1s support weight reduction?
One of the explanations GLP-1 receptor agonists have received a lot attention is their potential to help in weight reduction. These medications reduce stomach emptying, making you are feeling fuller for longer. They also send signals to the brain that increase feelings of fullness, which reduces food intake.
GLP-1s are generally prescribed at higher doses for obesity than for diabetes. Liraglutide (Saxenda), semaglutide (Wegovy), and tirzepatide (Zepbound) are all FDA-approved for weight reduction.
In some studies, participants using GLP-1s lost a mean of 10% to fifteen% of their body weight over the course of a 12 months. The handiest GLP-1 drugs could cause weight reduction of greater than 20 percent of body weight. This level of weight reduction is vital because losing even 5% to 10% of body weight can improve metabolic health, lower blood pressure, and reduce the danger of conditions resembling fatty liver disease and sleep apnea.
Side effects you might experience with GLP-1s.
Like any medicine, GLP-1 receptor agonists could cause unwanted side effects in some people. These unwanted side effects often get well because the body adjusts to the medication. To reduce these, doctors normally start with a low dose and steadily increase it over time. Some common GLP-1 unwanted side effects include:
- Nausea
- vomit
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach discomfort.
Other less common but possible unwanted side effects include headache, increased heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue. Some people may additionally experience mild reactions on the injection site, resembling redness or itching.
Potential risks of GLP-1s
Although GLP-1 drugs are generally considered secure, they arrive with potential risks. Persistent nausea or vomiting can result in dehydration, kidney problems, or in some cases malnutrition. People with serious gastrointestinal conditions, resembling gastroparesis or uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease, mustn’t take GLP-1 drugs. And these drugs are usually not considered secure to be used while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Other health risks include:
- Pancreatitis: Some studies suggest a possible link between GLP-1s and pancreatitis, although the danger appears to be low.
- Gallbladder problems: Some people develop gallstones or gallbladder inflammation while taking GLP-1s. (Stones can even result from rapid weight reduction within the absence of GLP-1 medication.)
- Thyroid Tumor: Animal studies have raised concerns a few possible link between GLP-1s and thyroid tumors, but ongoing surveillance has not shown that this is applicable to humans.
- Muscle loss: Some reports suggest that rapid weight reduction from GLP-1s can result in a lack of muscle mass. (Weight loss ends in some muscle loss even without GLP-1 medications.) This is of particular concern for older adults, who could also be at greater risk of frailty and falls.
If you take or considering taking GLP-1, discuss these risks along with your doctor. There are things you possibly can do to scale back a few of these risks. For example, your doctor may advise you to extend your protein intake to scale back the danger of muscle loss.
Finally, be wary of compounded GLP-1 drugs, which have grow to be popular throughout the GLP-1 drug shortage starting in 2022. The FDA has issued a warning about compound GLP-1 drugs as a result of reports of harmful unwanted side effects. The FDA doesn’t test compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
Potential advantages of GLP-1s under investigation
In addition to diabetes and weight reduction, researchers are exploring other potential advantages of GLP-1 drugs. Key areas to search for include:
- Heart health Cardiovascular health continues to be a significant area of ​​interest. Research has suggested that GLP-1s may reduce the danger of heart attack and stroke in individuals with diabetes or obesity.
- Mental health. Research is ongoing to find out whether these drugs will help protect against neurodegenerative diseases resembling Alzheimer’s. “Some research suggests that GLP-1s may slow cognitive decline and have a role in neuroprotection,” Dr. Anekwe highlighted.
- Addiction treatment. Some early studies suggest that GLP-1 drugs may help reduce cravings for substances resembling alcohol and nicotine.
- Liver disease.Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly often known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly often known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are conditions related to obesity and insulin resistance. GLP-1 drugs will help reduce liver fat and inflammation, potentially slowing the progression of the disease.
- Sleep apnea. In December 2024, the FDA approved tiriceptide (Zipbound) for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in obese adults.
“The most notable benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists for patients with diabetes or obesity are their ability to promote significant weight loss, decreased appetite, and improved blood sugar control,” says Dr. Anekwe. “Cardioprotection and other emerging benefits, such as improved outcomes related to metabolic-related liver disease and obstructive sleep apnea, are additional benefits of these drugs,” she continues.