My first few search attempts for this kind of gastroparesis didn't turn up much, but wouldn't you know it, a website for bariatric surgery has details? I think this information should be front and center.
ransomnote: Post Covid vax, I would expect more 'medication hesitancy' on the part of patients than what I am seeing.Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound Cause Stomach Paralysis?
What Is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a term that simply means paralysis of the stomach. Patients who suffer from this condition often experience abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and acid reflux after eating. This is because the paralyzed stomach does not contract to move food out of the stomach normally. As a result, food will sit in the stomach for extended periods of time. This in turn causes the stomach to become very thin-walled, expanded, and even more non-functional.
To complicate matters gastroparesis can also arise in the setting of diabetes, as elevated blood sugar levels cause gastric paralysis. Gastroparesis is very uncomfortable and in severe cases can lead to food intolerance.
Can Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound Cause Gastroparesis?
Given that they work by slowing down gastric emptying, researchers have begun to ask if these medications can cause gastroparesis. A recent study which drew from a database of 16 million patients found that using GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) did significantly increase the risk of gastroparesis. However, this database did not have long-term data; so it’s not clear whether gastroparesis was temporary or permanent. It’s also not clear whether symptoms resolved or continued after these medications were stopped.
Gastroparesis is very rare on this medication and is more common with diabetics. Any medication involves risks and trade offs. The question should rather be is avoiding this medicine because of an extremely small risk of side effects worth it against the known dangers of obesity. Obesity will shorten your life, it’s not a matter of if but rather how much. A minute risk of side effects is certainly a risk I’d be willing to take to lengthen my life.