What are the uncomfortable side effects of GLP-1 drugs? A researcher explains

GLP-1 drugs initially had been used to assist individuals with diabetes enhance their insulin resistance and starvation cravings. Nonetheless, over the previous few years, these drugs have grow to be fashionable attributable to their weight reduction and weight administration advantages. Dr. Saundra Nguyen, assistant professor of inner medication at Baylor School of Medication, explains the uncomfortable side effects of GLP-1s.

Outdoors diet, bodily exercise and surgical procedure, Nguyen says that earlier than GLP-1 drugs, there have been restricted choices for weight reduction administration.

“There are some capsule drugs which have been round for many years, however the effectiveness of these had been extra on the modest finish,” she stated. “When GLP-1 agonists got here out, they had been rather more efficient than these choices.”

After consulting with a doctor about taking GLP-1 drugs, it is essential to know that uncomfortable side effects can fluctuate from individual to individual. Widespread uncomfortable side effects are gastrointestinal-related, akin to:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Acid reflux disease
• Constipation
• Diarrhea (some instances)
• Gallbladder illness, like gallbladder stones (much less frequent)

“These drugs work in each your mind and your intestine to decelerate how meals strikes by your physique. A few of the uncomfortable side effects can lower as your physique adjusts or escalate with increased doses,” Nguyen stated.

She additionally warns girls of reproductive age on oral contraceptives that GLP-1s will decelerate and alter the absorption of medicines.

“Some individuals have gotten pregnant whereas on these drugs,” Nguyen stated.

Folks taking GLP-1s really feel much less hungry, get full quicker and don’t take into consideration meals as a lot. Nguyen says that stopping these drugs might finish these advantages.

“These signs can come again, and sometimes, we see the load come again,” Nguyen stated.

GLP-1s usually are not advisable for individuals who have pancreatitis, endocrine kind syndromes, like a number of endocrine neoplasia (MEN) kind 2 or a historical past of thyroid most cancers or a selected kind of medullary thyroid most cancers in themselves or their households.