Weight loss: Woman dies from side effects of popular weight loss drug, Ozempic

Trish Webster, a 56-year-old Australian woman, died from gastrointestinal illness caused by the drug Ozempic. Today, her husband warns that the drug is “not worth it,” the New York Post reported. Webster wanted to “put on the dress of her dreams for her daughter’s wedding,” news outlets reported.

Webster lost a lot of weight initially after taking the drug, but later she began developing side effects. “On January 16, just months before his daughter’s wedding, Webster’s husband allegedly found her unconscious with brown fluid leaking from her mouth,” news outlets reported. Her husband told media that she was not breathing and he began performing CPR. However, she died that night and the cause of death was acute gastrointestinal illness.

Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists and is given by injection once a week. Ozempic works by stimulating the release of insulin, reducing blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss. It also helps control appetite and can be used in combination with other diabetes medications. This medication has been shown to improve blood sugar management and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic (semaglutide) may contribute to weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes through several mechanisms. It belongs to the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which work by reducing blood sugar levels while promoting weight loss. Semaglutide stimulates insulin release and inhibits glucagon, leading to reduced appetite and food intake. It also delays gastric emptying, making people feel full longer. Additionally, it can affect the reward center of the brain, reducing cravings for high-calorie foods. These combined effects can lead to gradual and sustained weight loss in people using Ozempic, making it a valuable option for people who have both diabetes and want to manage their weight.

When the drug, which is actually prescribed for diabetes, blocks the intestines and slows down the stomach too much, it leads to gastrointestinal illness, as happened with Webster. Medically, this is called ileus. In this case, the blockage in the intestines causes food materials to build up, so that no food, gas or liquid can pass through the body.

“The FDA has received more than 8,500 reports of gastrointestinal problems in people taking drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, the latter of which is approved for weight loss. Ileus is mentioned in 33 cases, including two deaths, from people taking medications containing semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy and another widely used weight-loss drug called Mounjaro,” the U.S. FDA said in a statement released in September.

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