US EditionPopular weight loss medications linked to hidden side effects, study finds
AI analysis of 400,000 Reddit posts found 44% of users reported at least one side effect, including menstrual changes and temperature-related complaints.
- Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania published a study in Nature Health using artificial intelligence to analyze over 400,000 Reddit posts, identifying patient-reported side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists that clinical trials may have missed.
- While GLP-1 receptor agonists have soared in popularity for managing blood sugar and weight loss, adverse events remain a common cause of discontinuing the drug, with the MHRA previously highlighting gastrointestinal complaints.
- Of the nearly 70,000 users analyzed, 43.5 per cent reported at least one side effect, with nausea at 36.9 per cent, fatigue at 16.7 per cent, vomiting at 16.3 per cent, constipation at 15.3 per cent, and diarrhoea at 12.6 per cent.
- Lead author Neil Sehgal told Medical News Today that "nearly 4% of users who reported side effects mentioned menstrual changes," noting these reproductive symptoms are not prominently featured in current prescribing information.
- Researchers emphasize these findings do not prove causation, only that users reported symptoms while taking medications; the team hopes to expand future research beyond Reddit to include more diverse populations and English-language data.
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AI scans 400,000 Reddit posts to flag overlooked GLP-1 side effects
By using AI to analyze more than 400,000 Reddit posts, Penn researchers have identified patient-reported symptoms associated with GLP-1s, the popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide, that may not be fully captured in clinical trials or regulatory documents.
Ozempic and Mounjaro linked to possible 'unrecognised' side effects in study of 70,000 users
Weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro may cause side effects that pharmaceutical companies have not included on their official labels, according to new research.An analysis published in the journal Nature Health has revealed menstrual irregularities and temperature-related complaints, including chills and hot flushes, have emerged as potential effects not currently recognised in clinical documentation.American scientists examined p…
Thousands are sharing side effects of weight-loss drugs doctors may miss, study suggests
Researchers who used AI to analyze hundreds of thousands of social media posts say they have identified unreported GLP-1 side effects, including menstrual changes, fatigue and temperature-related symptoms, suggesting these patterns warrant further investigation.
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