SOUTH BEND, IN (WSBT) — Weight-loss drugs have made headlines with famous names, like tennis superstar Serena Williams, admitting to taking them and having success.
But with more people taking GLP-1 injectable drugs, there are more concerns about potentially serious side effects.
Pat Delahanty has seen incredible weight loss since using GLP-1 drug Zepbound to control his appetite.
“Honestly, it’s not hard to lose weight when you’re not hungry,” remarks Pat.
He turned to the once-a-week injectable after suffering a heart attack in his early 30s and, years later, a blunt warning from his doctor. Pat explains, “Essentially he said, you’re probably not going to die of old age. You’re going to die of another heart attack.”
Pat is excited to have lost 40 pounds in just a few months.
WSBT 22 reporter Leanne Tokars asked Pat, “Would you say it’s been a game changer for you in your life?”
Pat responded, “Absolutely. No matter how dedicated I was, I don’t think I could have walked off 40 pounds.”
GLP-1s reduce your appetite and food cravings by mimicking a hormone in your body that can slow digestion and gastric emptying. It’s prescribed for weight loss and to treat type 2 diabetes.
Demand has skyrocketed. It’s estimated more than 15 million Americans use GLP-1 medications.
Dr. Jesse Hsieh says, “What people fail to realize is it’s not just about weight-loss and cosmetics, but this class of medications called GLP-1s will really introduce an entirely new approach to healthcare in America over the next decade.”
Dr. Hsieh is board certified in family medicine and lifestyle medicine. He says he’s seen an almost 99% success rate with his patients on GLP-1s.
“When we treat them with this, we’ve been able to take away their medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar, remove them from the list for joint replacements, significantly improve quality of life, help their sleep apnea. So, it’s not here’s the medication to lose weight and look better. It’s a lot more about making you healthier,” explains Dr. Hsieh.
But it comes with a catch.
He explains, “Is it a major game changer? It already is – for the people who know how to use it properly. If they don’t do it right, they will get complications.”
The most common side effects include nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting.
There are possible serious side effects as well. Ozempic and other websites list possible thyroid tumors, changes in vision, kidney and gallbladder problems.
Lawsuits have been filed against GLP-1 makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk alleging the products can cause gastroparesis – which is a paralysis of the stomach – and other gastrointestinal injuries without adequate warnings.
Both companies deny the allegations.
Dr. Hsieh believes a big part of the problem is not the drug itself but how it’s being prescribed.
He says, “Here’s this drug that’s central to liver, kidneys, brain, pancreas, muscle tissue, and so, yeah, it’s a powerful drug that’s complicated that requires a clinician who is trained to use it to prescribe.”
Dr. Hsieh urges you to have a proper consultation with your doctor for a full check of your medical history and any possible risks.
He wants you to be cautious when using compounded GLP-1s, which are copycat versions that don’t have FDA approval. He warns, “They just don’t know where it’s coming from. They have absolutely no idea what’s in it, how much is in it, and where it’s coming from. It’s that simple.”
See the FDA’s warning on compounded GLP-1s here.
Dr. Hsieh says proper nutrition and exercise are key to avoiding muscle loss, weight regain and other side effects. A priority is placed on protein and fiber intake.
“We say that GLP-1s are training wheels. They’re a tool. They’re not the cure. The cure is you learn how to eat differently, how to have different habits, how to have different ways of thinking about food,” explains Dr. Hsieh.
Pat overhauled the way he eats and now makes healthier choices and exercises.
He says, “I was ready, and I was behind it. I knew I was going to make this work. It was time to make this work. I wanted to see my grandkids graduate from high school, so I was really going to follow the rules.”
Pat is no longer on Zepbound but says it has been worth it. “I’m not going back to where I was because it’s too hard to get where I’m at,” exclaimed Pat.
Dozens of attorneys general, including Indiana and Michigan, have joined together to call on the FDA to do more to crackdown on compounding and counterfeits of these drugs. You can see the letter here and the announcement from the Michigan attorney general here.
A spokesperson for the Indiana Attorney General’s office sent WSBT 22 this statement:
“GLP1s are being used widely by consumers both inside and outside of Indiana. As a product prescribed by licensed physicians and made in Indiana and elsewhere, GLP1s are certainly something that the Office is aware of and paying attention to. Keeping Hoosiers safe and ensuring that they and local businesses are not being taken advantage of is a significant priority.”
You can file a complaint in Indiana here.
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