Key TakeawaysThe FDA approved an update to the Ozempic post-marketing label to note the potential increased risk of intestinal blockage.The condition, called ileus, occurs when there are problems pushing food through the intestine and can cause build-up and blockage there.Mounjaro and Wegovy already list ileus as a potential complication on their labels.

Key Takeaways

The FDA approved an update to the Ozempic post-marketing label to note the potential increased risk of intestinal blockage.The condition, called ileus, occurs when there are problems pushing food through the intestine and can cause build-up and blockage there.Mounjaro and Wegovy already list ileus as a potential complication on their labels.

TheFood and Drug Administration (FDA)updated the safety label for the diabetes drug Ozempic warning of the risk of intestinal blockage in some people.

The condition, calledileus, can cause food to build up in and clog the intestine, sometimes leading to serious complications.

TheFDA safety reporting systemhas received more than 6,000 reports of gastrointestinal disorders related to Ozempic, including 34 cases of intestinal obstruction as of June 30. The agency noted, however, that the drug didn’t necessarily cause those cases.

“Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure,” the updated post-marketing section of the label now reads.

The label explains that Ozempic causes a “delay of gastric emptying,” which may lead to gastrointestinal reactions.

“Novo Nordisk stands behind the safety and efficacy of Ozempic and all of our medicines when used consistent with the product labeling and the approved indications,” Novo Nordisk said in a statement to Verywell Health. “For Ozempic, the most commonly reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation.”

The weight loss drugWegovy, which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and the diabetes drugMounjaro, already listed ileus on their safety labels.

The series of safety updates from Novo Nordisk that the FDA approved last week also included a statement that Ozempic stimulates insulin release when people’s blood sugar levels are high. This means people who take insulin or a medication that secretes insulin, likesulfonylurea, could be at greater risk of hypoglycemia while on Ozempic.

Can You Take Ozempic With Other Medications?

What This Means For YouThe risk of severe gastrointestinal effects Ozempic, Mounjaro, and other GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are likely rare. If you are on one of these medications, speak with your health provider about the potential risks and side effects and how to manage them.

What This Means For You

The risk of severe gastrointestinal effects Ozempic, Mounjaro, and other GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are likely rare. If you are on one of these medications, speak with your health provider about the potential risks and side effects and how to manage them.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug safety-related label changes.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use Initial U.S. Approval: 2017.Chamberlin S, Dabbs W.Semaglutide (Ozempic) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(2):116-117.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug safety-related label changes.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use Initial U.S. Approval: 2017.Chamberlin S, Dabbs W.Semaglutide (Ozempic) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(2):116-117.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug safety-related label changes.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use Initial U.S. Approval: 2017.Chamberlin S, Dabbs W.Semaglutide (Ozempic) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(2):116-117.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug safety-related label changes.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use Initial U.S. Approval: 2017.

Chamberlin S, Dabbs W.Semaglutide (Ozempic) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(2):116-117.

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