Whether it is stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, experiencing gastrointestinal problems is no joke.
Recent studies have shown an increasing number of cases involving gastrointestinal problems linked to the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
These medications were initially meant for the management of type 2 diabetes but have become popular for weight loss in the past few years.
GLP-1s like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) are responsible for a handful of mechanisms that aid in controlling high blood sugar. A few notable mechanisms include improving insulin secretion, suppressing appetite, and delaying gastric emptying. These actions help control food intake and lower blood sugar levels, which results in weight loss as well. Some drugs, such as Wegovy and Saxenda, are even FDA-approved for weight management.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), another medication, falls under a class of drugs called GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonists. It binds to GLP-1 receptors but also acts on the gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor. Therefore, aside from mainly controlling blood sugar, it also has a role in fat metabolism. Also, because of its synergistic effect on two receptors, it has a greater effect on weight loss and blood sugar control than GLP-1s alone.
Regardless of the benefits of these drugs, there have been studies that reported a link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and an increased risk of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). These adverse effects were primarily noted in people with type 2 diabetes who were using the medications. Nonetheless, these severe side effects were also present in some people who took GLP-1s and tirzepatide for weight loss and were not suffering from type 2 diabetes.
A health condition linked to GLP-1s is pancreatitis. People suffering from this illness may experience pain in the upper left side of the abdomen, nausea, fever, and even jaundice. In the study published by the Jama Network (linked above), it was found that individuals who use GLP-1 drugs have a 9.09 times higher risk of developing pancreatitis.
There is still no clear explanation for why this condition develops, but it was hypothesized that patients who already have risk factors for pancreatitis have a greater chance of developing the disease. Some of these risk factors include high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Lastly, one more factor, which may particularly be true for diabetic patients, is that the pancreas is already somewhat inflamed from producing insulin. Diabetics who use GLP-1s tend to secrete more insulin to lower their blood sugar, further inflaming the pancreas and resulting in pancreatitis.
Stomach paralysis or gastroparesis is another side effect linked to GLP-1 drugs. The use of the medications increases the risk of developing the condition by 3.67 times. Some of the signs of gastroparesis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloatedness, and loss of appetite. This complication may not initially be as serious as pancreatitis or intestinal obstruction but can become quite severe if no medical attention is sought.
Another condition associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists is bowel obstruction. One study on mice showed that GLP-1 drugs increased the bowel size and height of the mucosa in the small intestines. This change in structure makes the small intestine inelastic and reduces its motility, making it difficult for stool to pass along the bowels.
The risk of developing bowel obstruction is 4.22 times higher upon taking GLP-1 medications, but it is one of the rarer side effects of the drug. There are even some meta-analyses that mention specific drugs, particularly liraglutide, being linked to bowel obstruction. Some signs of bowel obstruction are abdominal pain or cramping, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, and abdominal distention. If left untreated, this condition can be fatal to the patient.
If you or anyone you know has developed gastrointestinal problems, especially gastroparesis, or bowel obstruction, after taking GLP-1 drugs, you may be eligible to file a claim. Just prepare your documents, namely your medical records, and doctor's prescriptions. The requirements for filing a claim vary according to the state of residence. Our team at Atraxia Law can help verify your eligibility and link you up with a reputable attorney to make your legal process smooth sailing.