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CTV News
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- CTV News
Obese patients may need custom doses of certain antibiotics, research suggests
Obese patients may need individualized dosing of antibiotics, new research has suggested. (Pexels/Anna Shvets) Research suggests obesity can interfere with the effectiveness of antibiotics for humans, resulting in too much or too little drug exposure, according to a new systematic review of obesity and antibiotic dosing studies by a team of medical researchers. This systematic review was conducted to 'extract and compile evidence to guide antibiotic dose adjustments in patients with obesity.' The review, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on May 15, proposed 'consensus guidelines' for prescribing antibiotics to obese patients, describing their research as 'in-depth systematic review of the medical literature on dosing and antibiotics.' Obesity can alter how antibiotics are distributed within the body due to physiological changes such as body composition or even organ dysfunction. 'Substantial changes can occur in the volume of distribution due to increased fat and muscle mass, and tissue drug concentrations might be lowered,' the review says. Mahyar Etminan, a drug safety epidemiologist with EpiLytics Consulting who was not involved in the research but reviewed the publication, explained that obese patients need higher dosages of antibiotics due to the high levels of body tissue. 'You need more of the drug to get into the tissue and that usually means higher doses than what we usually use in non-obese patients,' Etminan told adding that you should use antibiotics that have a higher tissue penetration, 'so they can get into the tissue more than water soluble antibiotics.' The researchers based their analysis on people aged 18 years and higher with a higher Body Mass Index than 30. The main difference is in the functioning of the receptors that these drugs work on, Etminan said. Higher doses? 'In obese individuals, you have higher body mass, so the drug has to get into the tissue (and) has to travel to more tissue than a non-obese patient,' he said. 'That usually means higher doses, use of more penetrating antibiotics and looking into other parameters.' The researchers studied several antibiotic drug classes and the effect of body weight on the manner in which the drugs were absorbed. However, they found that there were some classes of antibiotics, depending on the characteristics, that did not require special instructions for people who were overweight. β-lactam, a class of antibiotics typically used to treat a wide range of acute bacterial infections do not require any special guidelines to be enforced, based on weight class. 'Obesity modestly alters the pharmacokinetics of β-lactam antibiotics, but evidence does not support routine dose adjustments,' the review states. The review also goes on to caution that aggressive dosing of β-lactams can also result in toxic drug concentrations and side-effects, the review cautions. Meanwhile, aminoglycosides and glycopeptides, classes of antibiotics often prescribed by doctors to treat extremely serious infections need to follow the recommended guidelines for obesity-based dosages. 'Therapeutic drug monitoring and the monitoring of creatinine clearance are highly recommended to guide maintenance dosing,' the review recommended. Due to the absence of enough empiric data, therapeutic monitoring of the drugs could prove useful based on each individual patient, it said. Anne-Grete Märtson, a pharmacological researcher at Leiden University in the Netherlands, and her team reviewed 6,113 studies on obesity and antibiotic dosing, of which 128 fit the criteria for the research. Fifty-seven were focused on β-lactam antibiotics and 45 focused on glycopeptides, lipoglycopeptides, and oxazolidinones, according to the review. However, additional studies are required for other types of antibiotic classes to obtain conclusive information, the team noted. 'When making decisions on dosing in obesity, the severity of illness, site of infection, susceptibility of the pathogen, and potential toxicity of the antibiotics should be considered,' the review concluded. 'In the absence of robust pharmacokinetic data to inform dose adjustments, therapeutic drug monitoring can be useful to guide individualized dosing.' Märtson and Thomas Tängdén of Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, along with a group of collaborators from around the world drafted this recommendation for dose adjustments. The research team members were from the U.S., Belgium, Austria, Germany and Australia.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Weight-Loss Drugs Have Sent a Shocking Number of People to the Emergency Room, New Study Claims
A new study analyzed how often people develop severe side effects after taking semaglutide The report claims the trendy drug contributed to nearly 25,000 emergency room visits between 2022 and 2023 Most reported hospital visits were due to gastrointestinal complications Trendy weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have sent a shocking number of people to the hospital, according to claims made in a new study. The study — published April 8 in Annals of Internal Medicine — analyzed how often people develop severe side effects that send them to the emergency department or hospital after taking semaglutide, an FDA-approved prescription medication for people with type 2 diabetes and chronic obesity. A spokesperson for Ozempic's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, told PEOPLE in a statement, "The safety and efficacy profile of Ozempic has been evaluated in clinical studies involving more than patients. The most commonly reported side effects were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation. The known risks associated with use of Ozempic are reflected in the FDA-approved product labeling." Semaglutide — known by brand names Ozempic and Wegovy — works in the brain to impact satiety. Over the past two years, the popularity of weekly injections for weight loss has soared. As of 2024, one in eight adults in the United States has taken a GLP-1 medication (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) like Ozempic. Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied national surveillance data collected at dozens of hospitals. They found that semaglutide contributed to nearly 25,000 emergency room visits between 2022 and 2023, with more than 82% occurring in 2023. The visits were typically due to gastrointestinal complications. Patients experienced nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Related: Ozempic FAQ: All About the Drug Being Used for Weight Loss — Yes, You Will Likely Gain Weight When You Stop Taking It Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Additionally, some hospital visits were also reported for low blood sugar, allergic reactions, pancreatitis, and bile duct disease — all less common incidences. 'We found that it's very infrequent that semaglutide leads to very serious adverse events that would land a patient in the hospital, but that they do occur,' Dr. Pieter Cohen, study author and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, told Health. 'The adverse events presented [in this study] are not new,' added Dr. Mahyar Etminan, associate professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia. Although researchers noted that most drugs have some side effects, and most reported in the study were already known, they stress that these findings should not be minimized, and that doctors should do more to mitigate those that require hospitalization. 'Clinicians could counsel patients when initiating semaglutide about the potential for severe gastrointestinal adverse effects and adjust co-prescribed antidiabetic medications to decrease hypoglycemia risk,' the authors wrote. Related: Ozempic Face — and Now Ozempic Breast and Butt? What's Really Going on with These Side Effects? ! The impacts of semaglutide and similar medications on the digestive system have been investigated; In June 2024, the drugs were linked to severe gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, which the Mayo Clinic says '[prevents] your stomach from emptying properly.' In September 2024, the FDA issued a warning that Ozempic can lead to a life-threatening condition known as ileus — a type of bowel obstruction where either sections or the entirety of the intestines become obstructed. This blockage can restrict blood flow to organs, resulting in tissue necrosis. "We stand behind the safety and efficacy of Ozempic® when used as indicated," the company said in its statement. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ozempic, other semaglutides linked to hair loss: Here's what to know
Semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity in recent years due to their effectiveness in diabetes control and weight loss. Research has revealed additional benefits beyond those primary uses — but some negative side effects have also emerged. While gastrointestinal issues are the most common side effects, a recent study by the University of British Columbia linked GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists — the class of drugs that includes semaglutides — to an increased risk of hair loss. Men Going Bald Turn To 'New Botox' For Hair Loss Treatment The researchers analyzed data from 16 million patients from a health claims database, narrowing it down to 1,926 semaglutide users and 1,348 users of bupropion-naltrexone, another type of weight-loss medication. After adjusting for other factors, they found that the semaglutide users were overall 50% more likely to experience hair loss compared to the other group. Read On The Fox News App Women were more likely to have this outcome, with twice the risk of men. The researchers were not surprised by the results, according to co-study author Dr. Mahyar Etminan, an epidemiologist and CEO of Epilytics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "There were [previous] anecdotal reports of hair loss and also reports of hair loss in clinical trials of the drugs," he told Fox News Digital. Hair Loss? Gut Health Issues? Dr. Nicole Saphier Reveals Smart Fixes Dr. Patrick Davis, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert, agreed that the findings were not surprising. "We have heard this anecdotally when patients consult us for surgical restoration of their face after rapid weight loss," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Hair growth (and loss) are quite dependent on factors such as diet, essential vitamins, bodily stress and genetics." The first three factors come into play during weight loss, he noted — "and semaglutide-driven loss is likely no exception." Previous studies have shown that changes inducing stress or affecting one's nutritional intake could pose an increased risk of hair loss, the doctor added. "This study references that those who lost more than 20% of their body weight had higher rates of hair loss than those who didn't," Davis noted. "This study theorizes that this may be due to suspected physiological stress, which may be a symptom of such rapid weight loss." Long-term hair loss seems to be more unlikely, the doctor said, as the "inciting event" (weight loss and stress) often normalizes as individuals reach their target weight. The study did have some limitations, noted researcher Etminan. Those included the fact that it could not verify hair loss through medical records, but only identified medical codes for hair loss. Davis, the plastic surgeon, also noted that this research references another study in which Wegovy users had an elevated risk of hair loss (3.3%) relative to the placebo group (1.4%). "While this clearly shows an increased risk, 3.3% is still a very low rate of incidence," he said. Hair Growth Could Slow Down With This Popular Diet Plan, Study Reveals This early study, which was published in the preprint server medRxiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed. "Future studies are required to ascertain the association between semaglutide and hair loss," the researchers wrote. Those who experience hair loss while taking semaglutide drugs should consult with a dermatologist to determine whether it's due to an adverse effect of these medications, Etminan advised. "This is a relatively new adverse event and not much is known about it," he said. "Questions about who is most at risk and whether the hair loss will reverse upon stopping the drug can be addressed in future studies." Davis agreed, encouraging patients to have an open conversation with their doctor about how they can best take care of themselves. "I believe a patient should take any potential side effects into consideration before taking any medication," he said. "While the rate of incidence of hair loss is still decidedly low, it's a potential trade-off that a patient should consider." Davis also recommends that his patients adopt a "hearty diet" consisting of fiber, protein and nutritious foods to ensure proper nourishment while taking a semaglutide medication. "Not only may this help with hair loss, but more importantly, a strong diet can curb the unwanted loss of muscle mass that often occurs," he said. "A proper diet, conservative timetable for weight loss, and plan for exercise are essential when taking this medication." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk — maker of Ozempic and Wegovy — confirmed that hair loss is an identified risk for semaglutide, and is listed as a side effect in the product information. "In clinical trials of Wegovy, hair loss was reported in 2.5% of Wegovy-treated adult patients versus 1.0% of placebo-treated adult patients," the company spokesperson said. "Hair loss was reported more frequently in patients with greater weight loss (≥20%), suggesting that the events of hair loss were potentially related to the magnitude of weight loss." "Patient safety is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk," the statement continued. "We are continuously monitoring the safety profile of our products and collaborate closely with authorities to ensure patient safety, including adequate information on hair loss." For more Health articles, visit The study was funded by internal research funds from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, the journal article article source: Ozempic, other semaglutides linked to hair loss: Here's what to know
Fox News
03-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Ozempic, other semaglutides linked to hair loss: Here's what to know
Semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity in recent years due to their effectiveness in diabetes control and weight loss. Research has revealed additional benefits beyond those primary uses — but some negative side effects have also emerged. While gastrointestinal issues are the most common side effects, a recent study by the University of British Columbia linked GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists — the class of drugs that includes semaglutides — to an increased risk of hair loss. The researchers analyzed data from 16 million patients from a health claims database, narrowing it down to 1,926 semaglutide users and 1,348 users of bupropion-naltrexone, another type of weight-loss medication. After adjusting for other factors, they found that the semaglutide users were overall 50% more likely to experience hair loss compared to the other group. Women were more likely to have this outcome, with twice the risk of men. The researchers were not surprised by the results, according to co-study author Dr. Mahyar Etminan, an epidemiologist and CEO of Epilytics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "There were [previous] anecdotal reports of hair loss and also reports of hair loss in clinical trials of the drugs," he told Fox News Digital. Dr. Patrick Davis, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert, agreed that the findings were not surprising. "We have heard this anecdotally when patients consult us for surgical restoration of their face after rapid weight loss," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Hair growth (and loss) are quite dependent on factors such as diet, essential vitamins, bodily stress and genetics." The first three factors come into play during weight loss, he noted — "and semaglutide-driven loss is likely no exception." Previous studies have shown that changes inducing stress or affecting one's nutritional intake could pose an increased risk of hair loss, the doctor added. "Hair growth (and loss) are quite dependent on factors such as diet, essential vitamins, bodily stress and genetics." "This study references that those who lost more than 20% of their body weight had higher rates of hair loss than those who didn't," Davis noted. "This study theorizes that this may be due to suspected physiological stress, which may be a symptom of such rapid weight loss." Long-term hair loss seems to be more unlikely, the doctor said, as the "inciting event" (weight loss and stress) often normalizes as individuals reach their target weight. The study did have some limitations, noted researcher Etminan. Those included the fact that it could not verify hair loss through medical records, but only identified medical codes for hair loss. Davis, the plastic surgeon, also noted that this research references another study in which Wegovy users had an elevated risk of hair loss (3.3%) relative to the placebo group (1.4%). "While this clearly shows an increased risk, 3.3% is still a very low rate of incidence," he said. This early study, which was published in the preprint server medRxiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed. "Future studies are required to ascertain the association between semaglutide and hair loss," the researchers wrote. Those who experience hair loss while taking semaglutide drugs should consult with a dermatologist to determine whether it's due to an adverse effect of these medications, Etminan advised. "This is a relatively new adverse event and not much is known about it," he said. "Questions about who is most at risk and whether the hair loss will reverse upon stopping the drug can be addressed in future studies." Davis agreed, encouraging patients to have an open conversation with their doctor about how they can best take care of themselves. "I believe a patient should take any potential side effects into consideration before taking any medication," he said. "While the rate of incidence of hair loss is still decidedly low, it's a potential trade-off that a patient should consider." Davis also recommends that his patients adopt a "hearty diet" consisting of fiber, protein and nutritious foods to ensure proper nourishment while taking a semaglutide medication. "Not only may this help with hair loss, but more importantly, a strong diet can curb the unwanted loss of muscle mass that often occurs," he said. "A proper diet, conservative timetable for weight loss, and plan for exercise are essential when taking this medication." When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk — maker of Ozempic and Wegovy — confirmed that hair loss is an identified risk for semaglutide, and is listed as a side effect in the product information. "In clinical trials of Wegovy, hair loss was reported in 2.5% of Wegovy-treated adult patients versus 1.0% of placebo-treated adult patients," the company spokesperson said. "While the rate of incidence of hair loss is still decidedly low, it's a potential trade-off that a patient should consider." "Hair loss was reported more frequently in patients with greater weight loss (≥20%), suggesting that the events of hair loss were potentially related to the magnitude of weight loss." "Patient safety is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk," the statement continued. "We are continuously monitoring the safety profile of our products and collaborate closely with authorities to ensure patient safety, including adequate information on hair loss." For more Health articles, visit The study was funded by internal research funds from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, the journal article stated.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Weight-loss, diabetes drugs linked to vision problems in small study
Popular drugs for diabetes and weight loss could have an unexpected side effect. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and/or obesity, were linked to vision problems in a small study at the University of British Columbia. Some common GLP-1 drugs include Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain semaglutide as the active ingredient, and Mounjaro and Zepbound, which contain tirzepatide. Weight Loss May Be Helped By Drinking This, Study Suggests In the study, nine patients who were using a GLP-1 developed "ophthalmic complications," according to the researchers. The average age of the patients was 57.4 years, according to the study findings. Seven of the patients had nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which causes vision loss in one eye. Read On The Fox News App One patient developed bilateral papillitis, which involves swollen optic nerves that can cause impaired vision, and another had paracentral acute middle maculopathy, which leads to a blind spot in the retina. Ozempic's Health Benefits Keep Growing, But Are The Risks Worth It? All the patients had a history of type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high lipids or fats in the blood), hypertension and/or sleep apnea. The findings were published in JAMA Ophthalmology. "In one of the cases presented, the patient was taking the drugs for weight loss and did not have a prior history of diabetes (which can also be linked to the condition)," lead author Mahyar Etminan associate professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia told Fox News Digital. "In another case, when the drug was stopped and reintroduced, the condition reappeared, strengthening a causal link." Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, was not involved in the study but shared his comments on the findings. "This is a very small study and it was uncontrolled — meaning it did not include people who were not using GLP-1 drugs," he told Fox News Digital. "This makes it impossible to know whether the reported eye problems are caused by these drugs." Nevertheless, the doctor noted, "the story of GLP-1 is still being written — and we are learning something new about these drugs every day. The findings in this study should be pursued further." Etminan, lead study author, also acknowledged the study's limitations. "This data was derived from a series of individual cases and was not an epidemiologic study," he noted. "However, another recent epidemiologic study also confirmed an increase in risk." Bmi Is Wrong Way To Measure Obesity, Researchers Say — Here's What They Recommend Instead Al-Aly called for large, controlled studies — including people who take the drug and a control group of people who are not using the drug — to evaluate the long-term health effects of these medications, including eye problems. "In the meantime, for people who may be at risk of vision problems, or who already have vision problems, caution is advised," he added. "People should discuss with their doctors to determine if GLP-1 is the right medication for them." Etminan echoed that cautionary guidance. "Those taking these drugs for diabetes should probably continue taking them for their cardiovascular benefits, but be aware of the signs of NAION," he advised. "Healthy individuals taking them to lose a few pounds for an event might want to more carefully weigh the risks versus the benefits of taking these drugs." Dr. Seth Kipnis, medical director of bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, noted that there have been "rare and unusual side effects" from this class of medications, but he believes the vision changes seem to be more related to the rapid blood sugar changes caused by the medications than to the medications themselves. "We have encouraged any patients who are on these types of medications to report any unusual symptoms to their prescribing doctors," Kipnis, who also was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. "Most of the vision side effects appear to resolve when the medication is stopped." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Kipnis emphasized that these drugs should only be taken under the care of a healthcare professional and that "good and consistent follow-up for dose adjustments with monitoring for side effects" is critical. When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic and Wegovy) provided the following statement. "NAION is a very rare eye disease, and it is not an adverse drug reaction for the marketed formulations of semaglutide (Ozempic®, Rybelsus®and Wegovy®) as per the approved labels. After a thorough evaluation of studies from the University of Southern Denmark and Novo Nordisk's internal safety assessment, Novo Nordisk is of the opinion that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains unchanged." The company also noted that eye conditions are "well-known comorbidities" for people living with diabetes. For more Health articles, visit "Any decision to start treatment with prescription-only medicines should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional who should do a benefit-risk evaluation for the patient in question, weighing up the benefits of treatment with the potential risks," Novo Nordisk article source: Weight-loss, diabetes drugs linked to vision problems in small study
