According to the World Health Organization, the global cases of obesity have more than doubled since the 90s. With this comes the increase in demand for different weight loss medications, particularly injectables.
There are various classes of weight loss injections, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, and the lesser-known Amylin analogs, which are more commonly used for diabetes rather than weight loss.
Many medications are currently being manufactured and are undergoing trials and experimentation. This step is important in establishing an effective drug with minimal side effects. However, even the most well-known and commonly used weight loss injections are not free from severe and life-threatening side effects.
GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) are drugs commonly used to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. These medications mimic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone released after eating.
These drugs can signal the brain to reduce hunger and increase satiety, slow down stomach emptying, increase insulin secretion by the pancreas, and prevent the increase of blood sugar by blocking glucagon secretion.
Examples of GLP-1 RAs include semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). Injectables like semaglutide and dulaglutide are typically administered once a week, while liraglutide is given once a day.
Just like any other drug, these weight loss medications still come with a risk. Some of its side effects are as follows:
Common side effects:
Less common side effects:
Severe side effects:
Another class of weight loss injections is dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound). This type of drug activates both GLP-1 receptors and the gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor.
As mentioned earlier, GLP-1 receptor activation reduces hunger and enhances insulin secretion and stomach emptying. On the other hand, GIP receptor activation stimulates lipogenesis or the creation of fatty acids. The body then stores the fatty acids in fat tissue until they are needed.
Tirzepatide, just like semaglutide and dulaglutide, is injected once weekly. Its side effects are similar to GLP-1 RAs, but some symptoms, such as nausea, are less severe compared to GLP-1 RAs. Furthermore, since GIP/GLP-1 RAs lead to greater weight loss than GLP-1 due to multiple mechanisms targeted, the risk of developing gallbladder diseases is higher. This is due to the more rapid weight loss that occurs.
Both GLP-1 and dual receptor agonists are FDA-approved drugs that cater not only to people with diabetes but to those who desire to lose weight as well. However, there have been many instances wherein manufacturers were not transparent enough and did not warn their users of the possible side effects of their medications.
These drugs are supposed to help people become healthier and better individuals. If you or anyone you know has used these weight loss injections and developed gastroparesis, bowel obstruction, NAION vision loss, or cyclic vomiting syndrome, contact our team of experts to find out if you are eligible to file a claim. If you are, we will refer you to an attorney who will file the claim on your behalf.