Dr. Linda J. Dobberstein, DC, Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition
Article Highlights:
- Popular new GLP-1 pill raises concerns about long-term safety
- Side effects include digestive distress, muscle loss, and increased colon cancer risk
- Discover sustainable lifestyle solutions for weight loss and long-term health
Is there a miracle pill that helps you lose weight, reduces risk of other diseases like diabetes, heart disease, knee arthritis, and dementia? The latest headlines might have you thinking there is. But at what cost?
A New Forever GLP Medication
The FDA just approved Foundayo, another GLP-1 medication from the pharmaceutical giant Lilly. This medication, taken orally rather than by injection, is now considered more accessible to patients with anticipation of greater popularity than the other global blockbuster GLP-1 meds.
Promotional segments show that this weight loss medication is to be targeted towards individuals who are obese, overweight and have type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, knee osteoarthritis, cholesterol concerns, and/or dementia. It is considered a “forever medication”, one that patients will be on indefinitely to manage their chronic conditions.
Foundayo Side Effects
The most common reported side effects of Foundayo include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach (abdominal) pain, headache, swollen belly, feeling tired, belching, heartburn, gas, and hair loss. Additional adverse effects include risk of thyroid C-cell cancer, pancreatitis, severe gastrointestinal reactions, kidney injury, low blood sugar, allergic reactions, diabetic retinopathy complications, acute gallbladder disease, and increased risk for aspiration with general anesthesia. It also adversely affects Simvastatin metabolism, a cholesterol medication requiring dosage adjustments by your medical practitioner.
The average amount of weight loss reported with Foundayo use was 27.3 pounds over 72 weeks. This is less than ½ pound of weight loss per week.
There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
While the heralding of a new era of oral GLP-1 medications and great expectations for another blockbuster medication, it is essential to know that the list of adverse effects continues to grow with this class of drugs. As more people around the world are prescribed GLP-1 meds for a variety of concerns, more adverse effects have been identified.
The article, Glucagon Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists: There Is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch published in the The American Journal of Medicine provides a healthy glimpse of reality with GLP-1 drug use. Here are some of their comments.
“Yet, like every pharmacological intervention, GLP 1 RAs demonstrate a fundamental physiological truth: there is no such thing as a free lunch. Their benefits come with a complex and often under appreciated constellation of adverse effects, some of which are expected, some emerging, and some still poorly understood.”
Conclusion: “GLP-1 RAs exemplify a fundamental principle in contemporary medicine: with every advantage comes a potential drawback. The goal is not to seek medications that are completely devoid of risk but to promote clear communication, thorough safety monitoring, and decision-making that put patients at the forefront. Currently, we do not believe enough evidence exists around side effects of GLP-1 RAs, but one thing is certain; In metabolic medicine, as in life, there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Their study also showed that nearly 40% of GLP-1 users experience gastrointestinal side effects – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and altered appetite and satiety regulation. Also identified was increased risk of abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, non-infectious gastroenteritis, gastroparesis, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, low blood pressure, fainting, sleep disturbances, headaches, arthritis and joint pain, tendinitis, and kidney problems (interstitial nephritis and nephrolithiasis), gallstone formation and gallbladder inflammation.
Additional Adverse Effects Recently Identified
Other studies show that GLP-1 meds cause loss of muscle mass. Losing muscle is highly problematic and causes you to age faster. With muscle loss, not only is there loss of strength but it leads to impaired balance with higher risk of falls, fractures, and frailty. Muscle loss is also associated with compromised immune and gastrointestinal function, decreased repair, poor appetite control, and impaired mitochondrial function.
Multiple nutrient deficiencies have been identified with long-term GLP-1 medication use. Compromised nutritional health is often present in individuals prior to using GLP-1’s but now the issues are magnified. Nutrient deficits impair function of all facets of human physiology and vitality.
Furthermore, GLP-1 meds are associated with more recently recognized concerns of anosmia (loss of sense of smell), dry mouth, distorted sense of taste, tinnitus/ringing in the ear, and Bell’s Palsy, a type of facial paralysis.
Another study involving over 5 million users of GLP-1 medications focused on cancer risks. Their conclusion stated “Overall, this study suggests a significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) associated with GLP-1 RA use in patients receiving GLP-1 RAs. However, the incidence of CRC is not considerably high.” More research and longer-term studies were recommended.
Colorectal Cancer Risk
This comes at a time when colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. As the gut microbiome changes years before the colorectal cancer occurs, it is imperative to question GLP-1 medications, as they too change the gut microbiome and its functionality.
The Weight Comes Back
GLP-1 medications are destined to be “forever medications” as weight regain happens when the drugs are stopped. If you caught the statistic listed above on Foundayo, the average weight loss was 27 pounds after 72 weeks or 16 ½ months use. Healthy weight loss achieved with diet and lifestyle changes is 1-2 pounds per week, but this requires lifestyle changes.
GLP-1 drugs are tempting. The media headlines, the coercive pressure from your MD, insurance coverage, and the thought and expectation of losing weight and better health make things very enticing with a hefty price tag of known and unknown side effects. Which camp are you in? A forever drug with long-term side effects or taking charge of your own health?
Additional Resources
Getting Started on The Leptin Diet
How Digestive Problems Prevent Weight Loss – The Leptin Diet Weight Loss Challenge #2
Why Toxins and Waste Products Impede Weight Loss – The Leptin Diet Weight Loss Challenge #3
Unclog Your Liver & Lose Abdominal Fat- Leptin Diet Weight Loss Challenge #6
GLP-1 Drugs Linked with Bone Loss, Softer Bones and Gout
GLP-1 Drugs Lead to Nutrient Deficiencies
GLP-1 Weight Loss Meds Cause Significant Muscle Loss and SIBO
Supplements to Boost GLP-1 Naturally
How to Boost Your Satiety Hormone and Curb Food Cravings
Colon Cancer Skyrocketing in Young People
Muscle Strength and Aging: How to Stay Strong
Hidden Obesogens in Foods, Beverages, and Environment Disrupt Metabolism
Determined 90-year-old grandma breaks record for oldest woman to hold a dead hang
