New research suggests that drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy might trigger more than just a slimmer waistline.
Many users have reported digestive issues while taking the medications, including nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea, along with headaches, fatigue and changes to the skin.
Now, scientists are warning of another potential side effect — and it could make people think you’re under the weather.
In a study published Wednesday, researchers analyzed medical records from more than 2 million patients collected across the country between 2005 and 2025.
They identified 427,555 patients who had been prescribed a GLP-1 medication to treat Type 2 diabetes.
These drugs mimic the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which boosts insulin production, slows digestion and regulates appetite, helping to lower blood sugar and support weight management.
The team also looked at 1.6 million Type 2 diabetes patients taking other common second-line diabetes medications.
When comparing the two groups, researchers found that patients taking a GLP-1 medication had up to a 29% higher risk of developing a chronic cough within the first five years of treatment.
A chronic cough is defined as one lasting eight weeks or longer.
GLP-1 users were also more likely to be diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can trigger a dry cough.
Even when participants with pre-existing GERD were excluded, the link between GLP-1 use and a chronic cough “remained significant.”
“This cohort study suggests that there is an association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and new diagnosis of chronic cough,” the study authors wrote in JAMA Otolaryngology.
However, they stressed that more research is needed to confirm a definitive link and to better understand the biological mechanisms behind the new potential side effect.
The findings come as scientists are exploring new uses for GLP-1s beyond weight loss and diabetes management.
Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy to reduce cardiovascular risk in overweight adults, while Zepbound was cleared to treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.
Researchers are now investigating whether GLP-1s could also help treat conditions such as liver and kidney disease or curb cravings for alcohol and nicotine.
Some studies have even looked at whether the drugs can slow cognitive decline and protect against neurodegenerative diseases — though that effort suffered a major setback this week.
Two large trials from drugmaker Novo Nordisk found that an oral version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, failed to delay Alzheimer’s disease progression in more than 3,800 adults with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia.
The drug was safe and improved the participants’ Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, but it didn’t slow the memory-robbing disease.
“While disappointing, the result was not entirely shocking given the challenging history of Alzheimer’s disease drug development,” Dr. Jonathan Rasouli, a neurosurgeon at Northwell’s Staten Island University Hospital, told The Post.
“I was hopeful but cautious, as the outcome underscores just how difficult this disease remains to treat.”
Rasouli, who wasn’t involved in the study, suggested several reasons why semaglutide may have failed to slow Alzheimer’s progression despite improving some related biomarkers.
He pointed out that by the time participants joined the trial, their neurons may have already been lost beyond the point where biomarker improvements could restore cognitive function.
“Effective therapy likely needs to begin before symptom onset or very early in the disease,” Rasouli said. “Given the degree of irreversible neurodegeneration by the time many patients are enrolled, it was always a difficult hill to climb.”
After the findings were released, Novo Nordisk announced it would discontinue a planned one-year extension of the trials.
But the door isn’t completely closed on GLP-1s and their potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
“These results will help us refine our understanding of this class of drugs,” Dr. Maria C. Carrillo, chief science officer and medical affairs lead at the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a statement.
“Though this semaglutide pill did not help against Alzheimer’s, the field will continue to investigate this class of drugs, as they may act differently.”
This Article was copied from nypost .com, visit to read more
NOTE: THIS SITE DOES NOT BELONG TO FACEBOOK
