UK drug officials issue serious warning to women taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro over major side-effect
UK drug officials have issued a warning to women who take injectable GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, for both weight loss and diabetes.
Despite its popularity as a tool for shedding some pounds, Ozempic isn't a weight-loss drug and its manufacturer Novo Nordisk says that it's a GLP-1 medicine for adults suffering with Type-2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk told LADbible that Ozempic is a 'prescription only medicine and requires a healthcare professional to prescribe under strict supervision'.
However, semaglutide, which is the chemical present, is officially licensed for weight loss under the name Wegovy. When either of these drugs are injected, it reduces appetite and makes you feel full for longer by stabilising your blood sugar.
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The combination of a reduction in food intake with regular exercise can make you lose weight faster than normal.
However, The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have issued some advice for women taking the drugs for either diabetes or weight loss.
What has MHRA said about Ozempic and Wegovy?
In a press release, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) specifically addressed women who are using GLP-1 medicines, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, and are thinking of getting pregnant, or are currently expecting.
"These medicines must not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding," the MHRA warned.
They said that anyone who becomes pregnant while using these medications should consult their healthcare provider immediately and stop using them.
Basically, there isn’t enough safety data to determine whether the medicine could harm the baby, according to the press release. The agency added that Mounjaro, in particular, can 'reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight'.
"Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception," they said.
"This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase."
LADbible Group has contacted Mounjaro's manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company for comment.
What has Novo Nordisk said about the MHRA's warning?
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk told LADbible in a statement that 'there is limited data with semaglutide use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for adverse maternal and foetal outcomes'.
"Semaglutide injection (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) should be discontinued in women at least two months before a planned pregnancy due to the long washout period for semaglutide," they said.
"Semaglutide should not be used during pregnancy. Women of childbearing potential are recommended to use contraception when treated with semaglutide.
"In other pharmacology trials, semaglutide did not affect the absorption of oral medications (including the oral contraceptive medication ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel) to any clinically relevant degree.
"Therefore semaglutide is not anticipated to decrease the effect of oral contraceptives.
"Nonetheless, caution should be exercised when oral medications are concomitantly administered with semaglutide."
Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, said in a statement: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority, and we actively engage in monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all our medicines. The Summary of Product Characteristics for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) explains that tirzepatide 'has the potential to impact the rate of absorption of concomitantly administered oral medicinal products' and that the impact 'is most pronounced at the time of tirzepatide treatment initiation.'"
"The tirzepatide Patient Information Leaflet pregnancy section states:
'This medicine should not be used during pregnancy as the effects of this medicine on an unborn child are not known. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine. It is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you are a woman with obesity or overweight and are using oral contraceptives, you should consider also using a barrier method of contraception (e.g., a condom) or switching to a non-oral contraceptive method for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each increase in dose.'"
Anish Vij