- Individuals using weight loss medications have reported experiencing hepatitis symptoms.
- Several were rushed to hospital
- READ MORE: Centrelink recipient wins massive $250,000 payout
Dozens of Aussie weight loss Patients who inject drugs have reported symptoms indicative of drug-induced hepatitis, prompting experts to issue an advisory recommending routine general practitioner appointments.
Patients on GLP-1 agonists Wegovy and Ozempic reported flu-like symptoms, fatigue, abdominal cramps and vomiting, thought to be related to liver injury.
The most critical cases were hurriedly taken to the hospital following the appearance of signs linked to liver inflammation.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has come across three distinct cases of hepatitis or liver damage linked to the usage of semaglutide medication – which is sold under the names Ozempic and Wegovy.
Two patients were on Ozempic while the other was using Wegovy .
Patients on Mounjaro have also expressed concerns online.
'A few of you who are using Mounjaro experienced having to discontinue it because it affected your liver? I'm presently in the hospital with drug-induced hepatitis, and doctors are certain it's caused by Mounjaro,' a woman shared.
Another commenter stated: 'Wegovy severely impacted my liver, so I had to discontinue using it. Luckily, I didn’t require hospitalization.'
The lady mentioned that she needs to halt her treatment with Mounjaro following her switch from Wegovy, as blood tests indicated some slight abnormalities in her liver function.
Experts have noted that, while rare, some patients had issues metabolising GLP-1 agonists.
This problem might lead to the onset of hepatotoxicity, which is direct medication-induced toxicity.
Medical experts urged patients on weight loss injections regular check-ups to avert permanent liver damage.
Royal Australian College of GPs' Gary Deed said patients should always monitor symptoms when starting a new course of drugs.
'Many doses have been administered in clinical trials and there doesn't appear to be anything common, but any drug has issues to the metabolism in the kidney or liver, some more than others, for instance paracetamol,' he told the Daily Telegraph .
Just keep an eye out for indications and manifestations related to the liver; one concern with GLP-1 agonists is that they might cause nausea, and this could potentially mask hepatic toxicity.
Globally, such occurrences are infrequent; however, these case reports are beginning to surface and must not be overlooked. They warrant investigation—these symptoms serve as an important alert.
Those using semaglutide injections should monitor any potential side-effects and regularly visit their GP for check-ups and weigh-ins.
The TGA got their initial hepatitis report linked to semaglutide in September 2022.
So far, no official reports have been linked to Mounjaro.
Ozempic was first Approved for use in Australia in August 2019.
Wegovy received approval in September 2022, with Mounjaro being approved three months thereafter.
The TGA recommended that individuals who believe they might be experiencing negative effects from any weight-loss injections should reach out to a healthcare provider.
The authority in charge promotes patients to inform about every potential side effect they suspect.
Semaglutide functions by mimicking a hormone known as GLP-1, which plays various roles including regulating insulin levels, controlling hunger, and managing digestion.
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