Doctors are cautioning against the use of popular weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, due to potential life-threatening complications during anesthesia. Anesthesiologists have observed that patients taking medications containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in these drugs, can have full stomachs even after fasting for hours, increasing the risk of pulmonary aspiration. As a result, medical professionals recommend discontinuing these drugs for up to three weeks before undergoing surgery or any procedure requiring anesthesia.
While the American Society of Anesthesiologists advises patients to skip these drugs on the day of surgery and withhold weekly injections for one week before sedation procedures, some anesthesiologists believe a longer discontinuation period is necessary. They suggest that stopping the drugs for three weeks would eliminate approximately 88% of the drug from the system, leading to emptier stomachs after fasting and safer sedation. This recommendation was recently published in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about other potential side effects of drugs like Ozempic. A lawsuit filed earlier this month alleges that the manufacturers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, respectively, failed to adequately warn patients about the risk of severe stomach problems as a side effect. Furthermore, studies conducted with rodents indicate a potential risk of thyroid tumors and cancer associated with Ozempic.
There is also evidence suggesting that most individuals who stop taking these drugs regain the weight they lost within three to five years, and some may even gain more weight than they initially lost. There are concerns about the type of weight loss as well, with reports indicating that patients may experience significant muscle mass loss along with fat loss. This has raised questions about the overall impact on body composition.
Despite these concerns, the use of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is on the rise, with predictions that the market worth of obesity pills could reach $200 billion in the coming years. It is important for individuals considering these medications to be fully informed of the potential risks and consult with their healthcare providers before making any decisions.