Revealed: A New Side-Effect Of Ozempic, Wegovy

The Latest Bizarre Side Effects of Ozempic

While praised for their effectiveness by notable figures like Elon Musk, Jeremy Clarkson and so many more, injections of Ozempic and Wegovy, typically medications used to help manage blood sugar in diabetics, has been praised for its weight loss capabilities. And now, researchers are saying the injections could come with a new side effect: reckless behavior. © Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK

Experts Warn: Weight Loss Drug May Cause ‘Reckless’ Behavior

According to two experts, the drugs could cause people to act out of character, engaging in risky behavior, like gambling and sex, or making huge life changes, like getting a divorce, reports the Daily Mail. This behavior is called impulse control disorder. Here’s what you should know. © Josh Morgan, Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK

Understanding Impulse Control Disorder

This phenomenon, dubbed impulse control disorder, encompasses behaviors that make it challenging to control your actions. These actions can range from angry outbursts to more severe conditions like pyromania, according to the National Institutes of Health. In regards to Ozempic or other semaglutide or tirzepatide drugs, researchers believe the changes in levels of the brain chemical dopamine, possibly linked to the jabs, may be behind new ‘out-of-character’ reckless behavior. Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Cognitive Effects Underexplored

The two researchers, who wrote a journal article published earlier this month in the QJM highlight a gap in understanding the cognitive impact of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, noting that current studies predominantly focus on short-term weight loss outcomes, but now, “effects on cognition [have] received scant attention.” HualinXMN, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It's Not the First Time

The co-authors of the latest research, who include a gastroenterologist and psychiatrist, don’t necessarily know why drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could cause people to make such reckless behavior decisions, but this wouldn’t be the first time as similar reports surfaced for parkinson’s patients taking Levodopa, according to the National Institutes of Health. © Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Growing List of Side Effects

Ozempic, along with other semaglutide or tirzepatide drugs, are reported to potentially cause various other side effects. These include body changes like "Ozempic butt and boobs," impotence, personality changes, and stomach discomfort. Photo by Huha Inc. on Unsplash

What to Look Out For

“We are advising that doctors also warn patients to look out for urges that are ‘out of character’ or unusual with cost or personal repercussions — for instance divorce — and to ‘step back’ and think whether this is a sensible decision,” says Dr. Raymond Playford, one of the paper’s authors, to the Daily Mail. Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash