A pharmacist with 30 years of experience has issued a warning about the use of weight loss injections, citing “alarming” side effects. Originally developed for managing diabetes, these drugs have now become widely used for weight loss. By early summer, thousands of people in Ireland are believed to be using them, reports The Mirror.
Deborah Grayson, who runs Digestion with Confidence, has voiced concerns about the potentially long-term complications that can develop from even short-term use of the injections.
She expressed: “I’m seeing and hearing about a rise in patients suffering from serious, long-lasting gut issues caused by the very weight-loss injections that are supposed to help them. These conditions are life changing. These GLP-1 receptor agonists work by slowing the stomach to make people feel full faster. That’s why they’re so effective for weight loss, but for some, this effect can become a curse,” reports The Mirror.
“The condition I’m seeing more of is called gastroparesis – delayed gastric emptying – where the stomach can no longer move food along at a normal rate. Symptoms are relentless: people feel full after tiny amounts of food, experience nausea or vomiting, bloating, stomach pain and heartburn, reports The Mirror.
While delayed gastric emptying is listed as an uncommon side effect (affecting one in 100 to one in 1000 patients), on the manufacturer’s data sheet for weight loss medication, permanent gastroparesis is not listed. What’s alarming is that, although we’ve always thought these issues would resolve when the injections are stopped, now we are discovering that this isn’t always the case, leaving many patients with permanent symptoms,” reports the Mirror.
“This is not just uncomfortable; it’s life-altering. Eating becomes stressful, nutritional intake drops and in severe cases malnutrition can occur. Daily life – even enjoying a family meal – can turn into a constant battle against nausea and pain.”
The exact number of people in Ireland currently using weight loss injections is unknown, but the availability of these treatments on the open market suggests the figure could be in the thousands, reports The Mirror.
The HSE urges patients to see their GP if they notice warning signs like feeling full quickly after eating small amounts, post-meal sickness or vomiting, ongoing stomach discomfort, heartburn lasting more than three weeks, or persistent bloating — all potential signs of the condition.
Ms Grayson expressed her concern, stating: “What concerns me further is that these gut symptoms often lead to increased prescriptions of acid-reducing medications like proton pump inhibitors. These are one of the most prescribed medications in the UK, and long-term use has been linked to a number of conditions including dementia, reports The Mirror.
“Patients taking GLP-1s see their GPs complaining of heartburn or reflux-like discomfort, and the obvious response is to treat it with a PPI. While this can relieve some of the acid-related discomfort, it doesn’t address the underlying problem, which is delayed gastric emptying. In fact, taking PPI medication for gastroparesis can sometimes worsen symptoms rather than help, as it doesn’t address the underlying delayed stomach emptying and may contribute to further digestive issues. With GLP-1 medications being prescribed at higher doses to maximise weight loss, I predict we’ll see more people experiencing both persistent gastroparesis and reliance on PPIs,” reports The Mirror.
“The irony is that a treatment intended to improve health can indirectly cause long-term gastrointestinal complications and additional medication use,” reports The Mirror.
HSE guidelines for managing a gastroparesis diagnosis include switching to four to six small meals daily, cutting back on insoluble fibre (such as in wholegrain bread, beans, and certain fruits and vegetables), and possibly shifting to a liquid diet with blended meals or soups.
Ms Grayson said: “I would urge patients and healthcare professionals to take this seriously. Anyone starting these injections should be fully aware of the potential for severe and, in some cases, permanent digestive issues. Doctors need to monitor symptoms closely and consider alternatives for people with a history of gastrointestinal problems. Patients experiencing persistent nausea, vomiting, bloating or early satiety should speak to their GP immediately,” reports The Mirror.
“Early recognition may help manage symptoms before they become chronic. These medications have a place in treating obesity and diabetes, but the risks are real, and awareness is crucial. We cannot underestimate the impact permanent gastroparesis has on quality of life, and we must be vigilant to prevent this silent, debilitating side effect,” reports The Mirror.
Ms Grayson has also previously highlighted other serious side effects linked to these injections, including a rise in gallbladder removal surgeries.
There have been hundreds of reported complications involving the pancreas in connection with weight loss and diabetes injections, prompting health officials to initiate a new review into possible adverse effects. Some cases of pancreatitis reportedly tied to GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) have had fatal outcomes, reports The Mirror.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), since these medications were authorised, there have been numerous reports of both acute and chronic pancreatitis among users of GLP-1 drugs.
These reports do not confirm the medications as the cause, but those submitting the reports believed there could be a link.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are designed to lower blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes and are also prescribed to assist with weight loss in certain cases. Most of the side effects associated with these drugs are gastrointestinal, including nausea, constipation, and diarrhoea, reports The Mirror.
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