Kit Roberts
The FDA has insisted that the benefits of the drug Ozempic outweigh the risks.
Ozempic is used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, and is also under trial for treating dementia.
In 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) drafted guidelines that the drug can be prescribed to people with a body mass index of at least 30, as well as people who have 'at least one weight-related condition'.
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The drug does come with side effects, including nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
It was subject to scrutiny following a report from Wilson “Bo” Muhlheim, 79, who was prescribed the drug around a year ago to help with his Type 2 diabetes.
After he began taking the drug, Wilson said that he suffered from a block intestine twice, which he claimed was linked to Ozempic.
He urged people to be mindful of taking the drug telling the Daily Mail: "People need to be very careful. This drug is not for something like weight loss."
While he believed the illness was linked to Ozempic, doctors informed him that the blockage in his intestine was caused by a twist in his large intestine.
Now, the FDA has clarified its position on Ozempic, saying that the benefits provided by Ozempic outweigh the risks.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the FDA said: "The FDA maintains that the benefits of Ozempic outweigh its risks when used according to the approved labeling."
It went on to highlight that just because Ozempic was present when an effect is observed, doesn't mean that the ill-effect is the result of Ozempic.
The statement was given before the death of mom Trish Webster, who died after taking the drug.
Trish had been taking Ozempic to lose weight for her daughter's wedding.
While the drug is recommended for use in patients with Type 2 diabetes, it can also have an impact on weight loss.
It is taken as once a week in an injection, and can reduce appetite meaning a patient eats less. The drug can also slow down how food moves through the gut, meaning that patients stay full for longer.
While the drug is used in the treatment of diabetes, NICE only recommends that it be used in weight management under specific circumstances.
According to the NICE website, these are if a patient has at least one weight related co-morbidity, a BMI of 35, or a BMI of 30 in exceptional circumstances.