Weight loss injections like semaglutide and tirzepatide are the most effect medications on the market right now for weight loss, but are they safe? On today's episode of the She's Healthy Podcast, your host, nurse practitioner and founder of Queen Bee Medicine, Lori Aikman, examines the research. If you've been considering taking one of these medications this episode is a must listen.

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Here are the key takeaways from the episode:

1. Semaglutide and Tirzepatide do not cause low blood sugar. Although these medications are used to treat diabetes as well as obesity the medications themselves do not cause low blood sugar. GLP-1 recetor agonists like semaglutide cause an increase in insulin in response to the presence of glucose. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2022.2147326
2. Patients are more like to have digestive Issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation when taking these medications. This is expected because one of the ways these drugs aid is weight loss is by slowing down digestion. Data from the STEP trials notes people taking semaglutide are 1.59x more likely to develop digestive issues. The research shows these side effects are not lasting and often resolve without stopping the medications. In practice Lori has found that best practice is to hold the dose of the medication until the symptoms subside. It is also prudent to discuss your digestion with your doctor before starting these medications. Patients with baseline slow motility may want to avoid using these medications. https://doi.org/10.15605%2Fjafes.037.02.14
3. There is an increased risk of gallbladder disorders. There is an increase risk of gallstone formation with dieting alone. Review of the STEP trials has noted an increased risk of gallstone formation as well as gallbladder inflammation in patients taking semaglutide vs. those taking placebo. This is noted to be a 1.3% up to 3.4% increase. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2022.2147326
4. Risk of pancreatitis: Tirzepatide has been noted to also increase the risk for gallbladder disorders but an increased risk for pancreatitis was not noted. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10613702/pdf/fendo-14-1214334.pdf
5. Risk of thyroid cancer: The black box warnings for semaglutide and tirzepatide were developed after studies showed an increase risk in the development of thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. Because of this patients who have a personal or family history of Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) were not admitted to any of the trials for these medications. The STEP 1 through STEP 5 trials have not reported any cases of MTC. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00325481.2022.2147326
6. Consider your personal risks. Lori encourages listener to discuss the risk associated with these medications with your provider and make and informed decision based on your unique risks and potential benefits.

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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Note, this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your personal provider before making any changes to your healthcare plan.