Here’s what we know about Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 tablets
Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 pills helped some participants lose up to 15% of their body weight. But are they as effective as injections? Here’s what we know so far:
Mayim Bialik shares her “nightmare” experience with GLP-1 drugs.
In an article titled “Mayim Bialik: My GLP-1 Nightmare” published in The Free Press on June 5, the “Big Bang Theory” star and former “Jeopardy!” star revealed that the female host, 50, was put on weight-loss drugs after her doctor told her that they could alleviate the symptoms of Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease.
“I was exhausted by the illness, the endless parade of experts, the food, the protocols, the appointments,” Bialik wrote about her experience with Graves’ disease. “Maybe this is the magic cure.”
But that wasn’t the case. Instead, she wrote, the drug caused severe gastrointestinal problems that left her “unable to stand, drink water, or think straight.” In her article, Bialik did not specify which GLP-1 drug she took.
Unfortunately, Bialik is not alone. For some people, GLP-1 drugs have caused negative side effects, particularly gastrointestinal problems. Still, the drug has been a lifeline for others, greatly improving their overall health. Here’s what Bialik had to say about his experience and what you need to know about the pros and cons associated with GLP-1.
Mayim Bialik wore GLP-1. For her, it was a nightmare.
Bialik wrote that she knew a lot about GLP-1 before she started, thanks to social media ads, influencers promoting it, and numerous online services that offer compound versions of the drug.
Bialik wrote that her side effects were severe and that she felt deep empathy for people living with Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and other gastrointestinal conditions.
“To say there were side effects would be a bit of an understatement,” she wrote. “Explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea. The sulfuric burps were so intense that I was afraid to open my mouth in public. Every time I tried to eat or drink, the sneezes hit me, and apparently there’s a name for this. twist. Cramps. Feeling bloated. Pain all over my body, as if I had the flu. And if you can’t hold back even a small amount of water and rush to the bathroom, you’ll have even more explosive diarrhea. No more than 3 attempts were successful. ”
Bialik wrote that at one point, her symptoms got so bad that a nurse had to come to her home and administer an IV.
“What shocked me was that the doctor and this nurse seemed so unsurprised,” Bialik added. “How can a reaction even half as serious as mine be considered normal?”
GLP-1 risks and benefits
GLP-1 has helped many people regain their health, but the drug is not without risks. According to the Mayo Clinic, gastrointestinal issues are among the most commonly reported side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and stomach discomfort. Fatigue, dizziness, headache, and redness or itching around the injection site are also side effects.
Other side effects include loss of muscle mass and bone density, according to the Mayo Clinic. Rare but more serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury, and changes in thyroid C cells, which have been identified in animal studies.
The Mayo Clinic says the treatment is innovative, but not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you are interested in taking GLP-1, it is important to consult your doctor to get a comprehensive picture of your health, assess your risks, and decide whether this drug is right for you.
But at a time when so many people want these drugs and will stop at nothing to get them, not everyone is following proper medical guidance.
“I have friends in my social circle who[say]they’ve gotten ‘fat pills’ from websites, and I’m just on board with it,” Dr. Britta Reinerson, a board-certified family physician and obesity medicine expert at health care company Knownwell, previously told USA TODAY. “Mr. A, I know they’re not taking it for the right reasons, and Mr. B, it just makes me itchy inside to know that this might not be safe for them.”
A study published last year became the first to catalog the risks and benefits of GLP-1. The drug was found to be associated with a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. People who took them also had fewer seizures and less dependence on alcohol, marijuana, and opioids.
Conversely, the study also found that GLP-1 is associated with an increased risk of several adverse health effects and side effects. The most common were well-known gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastroparesis or gastroparesis.
Contribute; Adriana Rodriguez
