to think more negative effects will come out from Ozempic use?

[nameey]

Just read that the 30 year old singer Avery has been diagnosed with osteoporosis due to Ozempic use. Looks like this could be the start of many conditions coming out.

I know Ozempic is incredibly helpful for a lot of people but losing weight but then having osteoporosis does not seem worth it.

AIBU?

Thalidomide.

If I was obese I would use it. I am mildly overweight so the cost benefit analysis is different. Many people for whom it is not intended are using it.

@Gardenservant I can't believe that you're genuinely referencing thalidomide as an example. Surely as a pharmacist you must understand the huge differences over the last 50 years in drug research and trials, as a result of the scandal around thalidomide. Do you actually think there are similarities or comparisons between the development and use of thalidomide, and drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide?

No one here is suggesting that people who are slightly overweight should be taking prescription medication for obesity.

Let's go more recently and look at Viox/Rofecoxib. It was on the market for several years, and used worldwide by around 80 million people before it was withdrawn due to increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

So what are the similarities between the development of Viox/Rofecoxib and the recent GLP-1s that is concerning you?

Trials have changed for the better, I mention Thalidomide as it is so well known. There is no way trials can be as effective as widespread use in finding out unwelcome side effects. You go ahead and use it if you want to, I am more cautious.

I am sure you know that rare side effects include pancreatitis and retinopathy and many more listed in the warnings.

@Gardenservant I have been using it for over 7 months now with no serious side effects, and very few minor ones. And like any medication that I take I read the available information about it and make an informed decision about risk versus benefit. So yes, I am well aware of the possible side effects and their relative likelihood.

Oh my god. I am merely pointing out that despite all those decades passing, as you wrote - drugs are still placed on the market and considered safe enough, until mass usage uncovers major problems.

Surely as a pharmacist you must understand the huge differences over the last 50 years in drug research and trials, as a result of the scandal around thalidomide.

Good luck. I know it is effective for many people.

And, @Gardenservant, whether you're cautious or not you won't be using a GLP-1 for weight loss because you're not obese, and so you won't meet the prescribing criteria. As you'll know.

@lettyraines but that comment applies to all and any new drugs that are developed. It's not specific to GLP-1s or a particularly increased risk for these drugs. It's not something that specifically needs calling out in relation to these classes of medication.

It's specific to the notion that you put forward, that because of Thalidomide (closer to 70 years ago than 50) there were changes in testing and licencing drugs. And yet many drugs go on the market, and take 5-10 years before enough serious adverse effects are reported, some only discovered in massive populations using the drug, and the drug is withdrawn, reformulated, whatever.

And it is relevant to this thread, which is titled "AIBU to think more negative effects will come out from Ozempic use?"

People who are significantly overweight and use WLI see health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, blood glucose etc. The risk of side effects is worth it given the health benefits. People who are close to normal weight don't see the health benefits, so the risk of side effects may not be worth it. People who have eating disorders may lose dangerous amounts of weight and should not be on WLI. I think we are going to have to see our GPs to be weighed and measured in person to get a prescription. The system of sending in photos etc. is too easily gamed and leading to people being harmed.

That’s what I think too.

The risk/benefit analysis is different depending on your weight and it’s too easy for people to get hold of weight loss drugs without stringent verification that they are obese rather than just would like to drop a few pounds.

And I also agree with @Gardenservant that it’s possible that more negative side effects will come to light now it is so widely used but time will tell I guess.

Nice idea but not workable at the moment - or any time soon. The NHS have already said it will potentially take a decade to roll the drug out because they don’t have the infrastructure to support the number of patients who need it. 30000 people a year die from obesity related illnesses, versus a small number of people who might manage to get a prescription for WLI when they don’t need it - something which is now much harder to do since the rules for prescribing the drug were tightened last month.

Whatever prescribing rules are out in place some people will obtain and abuse drugs which are unsuitable for them. The power of these drugs to improve the health of those who DO need them is immense. In the current system there are simply not enough medical appointments for face to face prescribing only without limiting access to those who actually need these drugs imo.

Seeing as an awful lot of people get Wegovy etc via private pharmacies, maybe private healthcare providers could offer more face to face appointments as I agree the NHS is already overwhelmed.

I imagine what where people qualify for the drugs via the NHS criteria their initial consultation at least is face to face with their GP.

What do you mean by private healthcare providers? Like BUPA? A majority of people are using pharmacies who operate exclusively online. Private healthcare providers have nothing to do with prescribing WLI in most cases. Where would I go for my in person appointment with my exclusively online pharmacy?

Oh that's embarrassing. You didn't actually know that these drugs have been in use, by millions of people, for twenty years already?

And yet you're a pharmacist?

They haven't been around that long being used as they are being used now. I am sure you know the serious if rare side effects. I am deleting this thread now as I
have said all I want to say. Some people have a vested interest in promoting it.

At a different dosage. Surely you know that?

No, why should I know that? I'm not a pharmacist.

Yes I am aware of the same are but potentially serious side effects. Same as I am with the Tamoxifen my GP so glibly tells me to take. And even the rare but potential dangers of paracetamol, aspirin etc al.

Exactly the same with any way of losing weight. Eg all "eat less and exercise more" attempts via diet alone. Hence showing how hard a problem obesity is to tackle. The only real "cure" is prevention, never becoming obese in the first place which is hard in our obesogenic environment. The efforts towards prevention are very important.

But I have a question for you. If we follow your argument, we can then conclude that no one should attempt to lose weight through diet / exercise because "they'll regain it anyway".

So is that your advice to them? Not to even try?
And also are you aware that people on WLI have to reduce calories thus follow healthy eating in order to lose weight? The medicine just makes that easier, creating a level playing field with those who have never become OW / obese in the first place

But I think that's actually the problem right there. Thin people perhaps don't like the idea of a level playing field in terms of appetite. They prefer to believe and sell the myth that they are thin because of supreme effort & discipline while the fatties are undisciplined lazy and just don't try hard enough.

I am certain that if anyone who's always been thin had to deal with the level of cravings and intense hunger OW people deal with everyday they would rapidly gain weight.