Expert warns Ozempic ER visits are on the rise over side effects -…

Ozempic, a medication initially designed to deal with sort 2 diabetes, has advanced from a prescription drug into a cultural phenomenon. However, the narrative surrounding Ozempic has taken a flip in current months.

Public awareness of the drug’s potential side effects is on the rise, with a current examine by DeMayo Law revealing that searches for “Ozempic side effects” have surpassed “Ozempic weight loss” by 46% in a number of Western states. In 2023, the FDA up to date the drug’s label to embody a warning about a condition that may outcome in blocked intestines, a doubtlessly life-threatening side impact.

“Ozempic is reworking healthcare, but also forcing a reckoning with how shortly shoppers embrace pharmacological options for lifestyle outcomes,” a DeMayo Law spokesperson said. “The data shows a pivot-from celebration to caution.”

What is Ozempic and how does it operate?

Ozempic is used to handle sort 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar ranges. It operates by imitating the natural hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) to control blood sugar, cut back urge for food, and slow digestion.

The FDA has not authorised Ozempic for weight loss, Dr. Andrew Kraftson, a medical affiliate professor in the division of metabolism, endocrinology, and diabetes at Michigan Medicine, confirmed to The New York Times.

What are the side effects of Ozempic?

According to research from DeMayo Law, roughly 4 out of every 1,000 new GLP-1 prescriptions outcome in emergency room visits due to nausea, vomiting, or dehydration.

The most steadily reported side effects of GLP-1 in the US embody constipation, fatigue/dizziness, and hair loss. According to a RAND survey, 52% of GLP-1 customers expertise delicate to reasonable nausea.

A examine by DeMayo Law reveals that “Emergency-department clinicians report spikes in GI distress, dehydration, and renal stress during early dosage stages, particularly among users self-adjusting doses or combining multiple GLP-1 products.”

Which US states show the most curiosity in Ozempic?

Although Ozempic is formally prescribed for diabetes, it has gained cultural significance due to its weight loss advantages, main to widespread off-label use. The web has been buzzing with celebrities either sharing their experiences with the drug or denying its use, sparking a never-ending cycle of hypothesis and intrigue worldwide.

In the US, California tops the record in phrases of curiosity in Ozempic, averaging over 149,000 month-to-month searches according to Google Search Volume data from the past 12 months. Texas comes in second with 107,000 searches.

“The pattern reflects not only population size but also cultural and lifestyle influences. Florida (3rd) and New York (4th) also rank near the top, underscoring the growing curiosity about Ozempic in major urban and coastal regions,” the examine concludes.

Searches for “Ozempic side effects” have surged 380% year-over-year, according to DeMayo Law. States with elevated wellness spending, including California and Washington, are experiencing the most fast increase in safety-related queries about Ozempic.

Washington leads with the highest searches for “Ozempic side effects” at 121 searches per 100,000 residents, pushed by the state’s early GLP-1 adoption and elevated wellness awareness. California follows with 109 searches and Nevada with 101 searches, both areas demonstrating sustained curiosity in the medication while being formed by social media affect and appearance-focused tradition.

“These drugs were not designed for normal-weight people who want to get down to be super thin,” Dr. Janice Jin Hwang, chief of the division of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine told The New York Times.