‘Unusual’ new side effect of drugs like Ozempic becoming ‘increasingly common’

From sagging jowls and sulfurous burps to deflated breasts and surprise pregnancies, nan broadside effects of GLP-1 weight-loss narcotics person ranged from subtle to strange.

Now, new research suggests that these wildly celebrated medications whitethorn besides beryllium throwing disconnected captious aesculapian imaging scans, interfering pinch doctors’ expertise to observe superior — moreover deadly — diseases.

Experts opportunity this could lead to delayed diagnoses and treatments for immoderate patients, while others mightiness acquisition tests and procedures they didn’t request successful nan first place.

Originally developed to dainty Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 meds person go a sensation owed to their powerful weight-loss effects. In nan US alone, usage jumped a staggering 700% betwixt 2019 and 2023.

These narcotics mimic a earthy hormone called GLP-1, which helps modulate humor sweetener and appetite. They besides boost insulin production, slow digestion and make group consciousness afloat longer, helping them slim down successful grounds time.

While these biologic changes tin amended health, they whitethorn interfere pinch PET-CT scans, a instrumentality doctors usage to observe crab and inflammatory diseases.

The subject down nan scare

PET-CT scans harvester 2 powerful imaging devices to springiness doctors a elaborate image of what’s happening successful nan body.

The PET scan uses a radioactive constituent called FDG that travels done nan bloodstream and is absorbed by tissues. Cancer cells and different abnormal cells — for illustration those progressive successful inflammation — soak up much FDG because they person a higher metabolic rate, according to UConn Health.

The PET scanner detects nan radiation emitted by nan FDG, creating images that item wherever nan constituent has collected.

The CT scan, meanwhile, provides elaborate pictures of organs, bones and tissues.

When combined, PET-CT scans uncover nan body’s metabolic activity and its beingness anatomy, helping doctors make diagnoses and way really patients respond to treatment.

But successful patients taking GLP-1s, doctors person observed different patterns of FDG — i.e, basking spots successful nan assemblage that tin disguise signs of crab aliases make patient insubstantial look diseased.

“We noticed different uptake successful 1 of our patients connected a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider reappraisal crossed our network,” Dr. Peter Strouhal, aesculapian head astatine Alliance Medical Ltd successful nan UK and lead writer of nan caller study, said successful a statement. 

“We recovered that these altered patterns are progressively common, yet location is presently nary nationalist aliases world guidance successful nan UK addressing this emerging issue,” he noted.

Confusing scans, costly consequences

In nan US, astir 1 successful 8 adults study having utilized a GLP-1 medicine for illustration Ozempic, Wegovy aliases Mounjaro, according to a 2024 survey by nan Kaiser Family Foundation.

With request showing nary signs of slowing, much patients are apt to show these different patterns connected their PET-CT scans.

That’s particularly concerning because crab rates successful nan US are rising — particularly among young adults — and early discovery is important for successful treatment.

Doctors pass that misreading these FDG uptake patterns tin lead to unnecessary tests, incorrect crab staging and vulnerable delays successful care.

“Recognizing nan characteristic uptake associated pinch GLP-1 agonists helps debar unnecessary worry and interventions, ensuring patients person nan correct care, astatine nan correct time, without detours aliases doubt,” Strouhal said.

For now, Strouhal and his colleagues don’t urge patients extremity taking GLP-1 medications earlier undergoing PET-CT scans.

Instead, they propose imaging teams cautiously archive their patients’ medicine histories to thief doctors construe their scans while general guidelines are being developed.

Their investigation was presented Tuesday astatine nan 38th Annual Congress of nan European Association of Nuclear Medicine.

Looking ahead, nan squad plans to grow its information postulation crossed much imaging centers to build stronger grounds for early nationalist guidelines.

They besides purpose to collaborate internationally, truthful patients worldwide tin use from consistent, reliable PET-CT interpretations.