Research Finding: Semaglutide Increased the Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) by 266% in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

 

(Posted by Tom Lamb at Drug Injury Watch)

 

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UPDATE

No Warnings About Blood Clots From Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus in Drug Labels

Growing Number of Pulmonary Embolism and DVT Cases Involving Semaglutide Reported by Patients

We have been investigating possible Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy drug injury lawsuits involving people diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), portal vein thrombosis (PVT), ischemic stroke, or any other blood clot-related side effects.

(7/19/24)

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Semaglutide-containing drugs that are being used for weight loss purposes include Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. Somewhat hidden in a relatively recent medical journal article is the mention of a blood clots side effect of semaglutide weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Remarkably, medical researchers found that semaglutide increased the risk of deep vein thrombosis by 266% when doing a study to assess the risk of semaglutide in leading to various serious adverse events (SAEs) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This semaglutide deep vein thrombosis side effect finding is particularly alarming since patients who have type 2 diabetes and who are obese are already at an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Not surprisingly, then, the authors of this medical journal article concluded their semaglutide deep vein thrombosis side effect finding indicates semaglutide weight-loss drugs like Ozempic perhaps should be avoided by obese people with type 2 diabetes.

The medical journal article that included this discussion of semaglutide DVT side effects is "Comprehensive analysis of the safety of semaglutide in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of the SUSTAIN and PIONEER trials", published by the Endocrine Journal back in 2021 (Volume 68, Issue 6, Pages 739-742). For an overview, we start with the Abstract:

The PIONEER and SUSTAIN serial trials are designed to assess the efficacy outcomes with semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes, but are not powered to assess various safety outcomes. We sought to assess the risk of semaglutide in leading to various serious adverse events (SAEs) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies eligible for inclusion were the PIONEER and SUSTAIN trials of semaglutide. We conducted meta-analysis to generate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Meta-analysis was performed using both random-effects and fixed-effects model to evaluate the robustness of pooled results. We implemented subgroup analysis according to drug dosages and routes of administration and type of comparators. Twenty-one trials were included. Semaglutide versus control significantly reduced total SAEs (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.97; I2 = 0) and atrial fibrillation (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50–0.95; I2 = 0), but significantly increased deep vein thrombosis (RR 3.66, 95% CI 1.09–12.25; I2 = 0) and diarrhoea (RR 2.66, 95% CI 1.19–5.95; I2 = 0). Semaglutide had no significant effects on 248 other kinds of SAEs. No statistically significant subgroup effects were observed. Semaglutide has a good safety profile in general and reduces atrial fibrillation by 31%, but increases diarrhoea by 166% and deep vein thrombosis by 266%. These findings may guide that semaglutide should be preferred or avoided in T2D patients with specific susceptibility factors.  [Emphasis added.]

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In the Discussion section of this 2021 Endocrine Journal article, the authors consider why there is an apparent association between semaglutide weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and deep vein thrombosis (DVT):

Since semaglutide was observed to increase the risk of both diarrhoea and deep vein thrombosis in this meta-analysis, and diarrhoea or dehydration can lead to the increase in blood viscosity, semaglutide increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis possibly due to increasing that of diarrhoea. Moreover, whether an increase in deep vein thrombosis is related to a decrease in body weight also needs to be further investigated….

Here is some medical information about deep vein thrombosis (also known as deep venous thrombosis) from the Mayo Clinic, the U.S. National Institute of Health’s Medline Plus, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Previously we have written several articles about an increasing number of adverse event reports that involve severe stomach conditions such as gastroparesis, gastric stasis, and stomach paralysis associated with Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, the three popular GLP-1 receptor agonists containing semaglutide used as weight-loss drugs:

• Gastroparesis Case Reports Involving the Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Semaglutide and Dulaglutide (2/9/24)
• Ozempic, Wegovy, Other GLP-1 Semaglutide Weight-Loss Drugs Linked to Gastroparesis in Recent Medical Study (10/24/23)
• Ozempic: Reports of Gastrointestinal Disorder Ileus Added to Drug Label in September 2023 (9/28/23)
• Severe Stomach Conditions in Patients Using Semaglutide Weight Loss Drugs From Novo Nordisk (9/13/23)
• Ozempic / Wegovy: Stomach And Intestinal Problems Can Be Irreversible, Life-threatening (9/1/23)

We continue to investigate Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy drug injury lawsuits for people diagnosed with gastroparesis, gastric stasis, or stomach paralysis and hospitalized for one of those possible semaglutide-related stomach conditions.

In addition, we are looking into possible drug injury lawsuits involving deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a blood clots side effect of semaglutide weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy.

Let us know if we can assist you or a loved one with a Wegovy, Rybelsus, or Ozempic drug injury case.

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