Weight-loss jabs leave long-lasting effects as some users may be left with 'curse'

A seasoned pharmacist with three decades of experience has voiced her concerns over the 'alarming' side effects of weight loss drugs, stating she would never take them herself. Medications initially developed to manage diabetes are now commonly used for weight loss, and by the onset of summer, 1.5 million Britons were already using them. However, Deborah Grayson, who operates Digestion with Confidence, is worried about the potentially irreversible problems that could arise from even short-term use of these 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.

"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.

"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."

Just 14 per 100,000 individuals receive a gastroparesis diagnosis in the UK and whilst it impacts people across all age groups, women are twice as susceptible to developing it and, according to the charity Guts UK, it's most commonly diagnosed in those aged 18 to 39.

The NHS advises sufferers to consult a GP when experiencing symptoms such as feeling satisfied rapidly after eating, encountering nausea or vomiting following meals, persistent stomach pain, ongoing heartburn lasting three weeks or longer and bloating persisting for three weeks or more, which could indicate the condition. Ms Grayson expressed her concerns, 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.

"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.

"The irony is that a treatment intended to improve health can indirectly cause long-term gastrointestinal complications and additional medication use."

The NHS recommends managing a gastroparesis diagnosis by switching to four to six small meals a day, reducing the amount of indigestible insoluble fibre (found in wholegrain bread, beans and some vegetables and fruit) in your diet, and going on a liquid diet, eating soups or meals blended in a food processor.

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.

"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."

The jabs have also been connected to other alarming adverse reactions.

Ms Grayson had previously issued warnings about a surge in individuals requiring gallbladder removal surgery.

Hundreds of people have documented complications with their pancreas associated with using weight loss and diabetes injections, leading health authorities to initiate a fresh investigation into adverse effects. Some instances of pancreatitis, reportedly linked to GLP-1 medicines (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists), have resulted in fatalities.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) data reveals that since the licensing of these drugs, hundreds of cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis have been reported among individuals using GLP-1 medicines.

These cases are not confirmed as being caused by the medicines, but the person who reported them suspected they may be.

GLP-1 agonists can lower blood sugar levels in people living with type 2 diabetes and can also be prescribed to support some people with weight loss. Most side effects linked to the jabs are gastrointestinal including nausea, constipation and diarrhoea.