Doctor shares weight loss jab side effects you should never ignore
A medic has shed light on three common side effects of weight loss jabs, revealing at which point exactly a GP check-in is recommended.
In recent years, injectables like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy have boomed in popularity, despite first being rolled out to tackle the more distressing symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
The sudden surge in their sales fell in line with hordes of Hollywood stars coming forward, passionately praising the medication as the handy 'hack' they used to attain their ideal physique. Since then, these appetite-suppressing jabs have been made more accessible than ever before, and are even provided by the NHS - albeit under strict eligibility criteria.
They work by mimicking GLP-1 hormones inside the body, prompting both insulin production and reducing the liver's glucose production. Doing this, the drugs send signals to the brain aimed at slowing down digestion and creating a feeling of fullness.
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But they're not without their downsides.
TikTok doctor, Dr Punam Krishnan, is among the millions of medics to use their platform in a bid to raise awareness of the common side effects of relying on GLP-1 medications for weight loss purposes.
The first she honed in on in a viral new video are gastrointestinal problems, like nausea, constipation, vomiting and diarrhoea.
These tend to show up after the first few weeks of use, or after the medication dosage level has been increased, but settle down after a few weeks.
If they don't, it's advised that patients check in with their GP - largely, for their peace of mind.
As pointed out by Dr Krishnan, however, there might be more sinister reasons as to why these uncomfortable side effects have decided to stick around for the long run.
As she explained, prolonged stomach issues could be an indication that the medication isn't agreeing with you for some reason.
They could also allude to the fact that the jabs are not agreeing with another prescription medication you're taking simultaneously.
"Don't ever ignore new or persisting symptoms," she urged her followers, discussing Mounjaro specifically. "It's always better to get things checked out."
Moving on to fatigue - another commonly-experienced side effect to weekly injectables - Dr Krishnan explained that this is usually caused by jab users failing to eat enough food, and therefore, not accumulating the amount of energy they need.
"Now, your appetite might drop, but your body still needs fuel, especially protein," she added. "So, even if you're not feeling hungry, aim for balanced meals. Get enough protein and keep up your water intake."
Dr Krishnan went on to emphasise that these activities are especially vital if users begin to feel 'sluggish' or 'headachey' several weeks after starting to use the drugs.
"It could be down to dehydration, which is very easy to miss, especially when you're on these jabs," she said. "Dehydration can actually slow down digestion even more, and this can affect how well the medication is working."
If you're unsure whether you're experiencing dehydration, Dr Krishnan advises taking a quick peek at your pee, pointing out that if it looks 'dark yellow or concentrated', it's a sign to chug back some more water.
Third and finally, she discussed the risk of muscle mass loss in relation to the popular medications.
"This is not something that we want," Dr Krishnan urged. "If you're not eating enough or you're not moving much, then your body starts to break down muscle alongside the fat."
She went on to emphasise that 'going daft' in the gym isn't totally necessary for someone taking weight loss drugs, but that lifting weights and performing strength training could be a savvy way of reducing muscle wastage.
If you're a jab user concerned with your prolonged experience of any of these three side effects, Dr Krishnan advises booking an appointment with your GP to discuss your progress.
Ending the video, however, she lastly raised the alarms on a number of more serious side effects to the jabs, which, despite being rare, warrant an immediate 111 call.
These are 'pancreatitis - which is the inflammation of your pancreas, gall bladder issues or kidney problems'.
"If you suddenly develop severe tummy pain, or you're vomiting, you have a fever, or you feel really unwell after starting these injections, please don't ignore it," Dr Krishnan advised. "Get it checked out."
Rhianna Benson