Doctors are continuing to issue warnings regarding the illicit use of Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro as weight loss injections, as worrying side effects continue to be found.
As the trend of people using the injectable semaglutide GLP-1 medications, primarily produced to treat those with type 2 diabetes, for weight loss purposes continues to grow, so does the long list of potential side effects.
We have already heard about the likes of Ozempic face or Ozempic mouth that can affect a person's appearance, but doctors issued perhaps their most worrying warning yet recently, suggesting that the medications could lead to an 'irreversible' potentially deadly side effect.
What is the warning?
Speaking to LADbible, Julia Thomson, ROS Nurse Manager and Osteoporosis Specialist Nurse, said: “It has long been recognised that extreme and rapid weight loss can impact negatively on bone and muscle mass, this is a risk regardless of the way in which weight is lost.
"We are unaware of any other mechanism (other than the weight loss) via which GLP1’s may impact negatively on bone. It is important to remember that there are also many health risks associated with obesity (including osteoporosis)."
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Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.
Often, the stage before osteoporosis is osteopenia, which is when a person has lower bone density due to a number of factors, with rapid weight loss associated with this.
Has anyone experienced this?
While osteoporosis is more likely to affect the older generation, it has become more common due to the sheer number of people that have been influenced into trying these drugs for weight loss purposes, in the wake of celebrities such as Jeremy Clarkson and Amy Schumer talking openly about their use.
Recently, American singer Avery revealed on Instagram that she was 'in pain all the time' after taking Ozempic for just one year, admitting she was not not prescribed it by her doctor.
She revealed: "I have significant bone loss," adding in the caption that she has 'osteoperosis in some parts' of the body and 'osteopenia' in others.
What are the warning signs of osteoporosis?
It is difficult to diagnose osteoporosis until a person actually breaks a bone, and the most likely breaks include broken wrists, hips and spinal bones.
According to the NHS, sometimes a cough or sneeze is even enough to lead to broken ribs or the partial collapse of one of the bones of the spine.
Although a broken bone is often the first sign, older people may become more stooped forwards in their posture if they are struggling with the condition.
Can anything be done to stop it happening?
Bone strengthening medicine is the most common treatment for osteoporosis but treatment may not be offered, depending on the risk of you breaking a bone in the future.
Doctors instead urge people to take steps to keep their bones strong, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, taking daily vitamin D supplements and making lifestyle changes such as giving up alcohol or stopping smoking.
What have the pharmaceutical companies said?
Eli Lilly, the company that produces Mounjaro, said: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We take any reports about patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines.
"The MHRA – like other regulators throughout the world, who assess the risks and benefits of medications – authorised Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for use both to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight management.
"Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used when prescribed by a healthcare professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by reputable pharmacies and providers.
"It is important for patients to maintain a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity to support overall health, including bone and muscle maintenance.
"We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional to discuss any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine."
A Novo Nordisk (producers of Ozempic and Wegovy) spokesperson said: "Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Novo Nordisk. Like all medications, side effects can occur and vary from patient to patient.
"Our GLP-1 products have a long history of use in treating type 2 diabetes (over 19 years) and obesity (almost 10 years), supported by robust clinical data. The known risks and benefits of semaglutide medicines are described in the SmPC.
"Of note, osteoporosis is not a listed adverse reaction in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for semaglutide. Hip fracture is listed as a "Rare" adverse reaction in the Wegovy® (semaglutide injection) SmPC.
"We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 RA medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety. As part of this work, we continue to monitor reports of adverse drug reactions through routine pharmacovigilance.
"We recommend that any patients experiencing side effects while taking GLP-1 receptor agonists including Wegovy® (semaglutide injection) or Ozempic® (semaglutide injection) report them to their healthcare provider and via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/."
James Moorhouse