A big-scale evaluation of social media posts is offering a brand new perspective on what individuals taking GLP-1 for diabetes or weight problems are experiencing in actual life.
The examine outcomes don’t show that the drug induced these signs, however the authors say this sample could warrant additional examine.
“These are indicators, not conclusions, however they’re value listening to as a result of they arrive straight from sufferers, unprompted,” says lead writer Neil Sehgal, a doctoral pupil on the College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
However some specialists aren’t satisfied the findings are value additional examine, given the nameless nature of Reddit posts.
Analysis utilizing AI to investigate actual affected person experiences
To higher perceive how individuals expertise GLP-1 medicine outdoors of scientific trials, researchers used AI to investigate Reddit posts from 2019 to 2025.
They recognized roughly 70,000 customers who mentioned they had been taking medicine corresponding to semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Roughly 44 p.c of those customers reported at the least one aspect impact.
Lots of the mostly reported signs, corresponding to nausea, vomiting, and constipation, mirror these reported by contributors in scientific trials.
Some signs reported on-line will not be generally seen in scientific trials
Signs reported on-line however not generally documented in GLP-1 trials embrace:
- About 4 p.c of customers who reported uncomfortable side effects talked about menstrual adjustments corresponding to irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, or recognizing between intervals.
- Roughly 17% of customers reported fatigue.
- Temperature-related complaints corresponding to chills, chills, and scorching flashes had been every reported by 1% to 4% of individuals.
Whereas the examine is fascinating as a pc science paper, its strategies and outcomes do not stand as much as scrutiny from medical science, mentioned Yuval Pinto, M.D., a doctor in weight problems and household drugs at Johns Hopkins Faculty of Medication in Baltimore.
The info comes from an open, nameless platform, so researchers can not verify who’s posting or whether or not customers are precisely reporting their drug use or signs, mentioned Dr. Pinto, who was not concerned within the examine.
“We additionally don’t have any method of understanding whether or not these posts are from people who find themselves presently taking GLP-1, how lengthy they’ve been taking it, some other co-morbidities, and even different medicines they’re taking which may be inflicting these uncomfortable side effects,” he says.
The survey outcomes needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
The findings draw consideration to signs that aren’t persistently reported in GLP-1 scientific trials or don’t meet the factors for reporting, the authors wrote. In different phrases, trial contributors could report sure signs, however researchers could conclude that it does not matter as a result of individuals receiving the placebo (dummy therapy) have the identical expertise.
Nevertheless it’s value stating that the Reddit examine did not have a placebo group, Pinto mentioned. Though a major variety of individuals taking GLP-1 skilled fatigue, it isn’t clear what number of comparable individuals not taking GLP-1 report that symptom.
Plenty of placebo-controlled trials that monitor signs are being performed to make sure this information is being collected, Pinto mentioned. Throughout randomized scientific trials of GLP-1 medicine involving 1000’s of contributors, the most typical uncomfortable side effects are persistently stomach-related and embrace nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting, he says.
“That is according to what I’ve seen in my follow: individuals persistently report these gastrointestinal signs and infrequently report different signs,” he says.
Pinto mentioned when individuals expertise signs which are outdoors the norm, they’re usually unrelated. “Folks are inclined to attribute signs to the latest occasion of their life, even when there is no such thing as a connection,” he says.
Some signs and adjustments could also be as a consequence of weight reduction fairly than GLP-1. “For instance, some ladies discover it simpler to get pregnant after shedding weight, however that is not a aspect impact of GLP-1,” he says.
The identical goes for hair removing. “Fast weight reduction could cause momentary hair loss, however it’s circuitously brought on by the drug,” Pinto says.
What this implies for individuals taking GLP-1 medicine
The researchers hope their findings will encourage docs and researchers to take a more in-depth take a look at the uncomfortable side effects sufferers are discussing on-line.
“They’re clearly within the affected person’s thoughts, and that is value listening to,” Sehgal says.
Pinto agrees that folks ought to really feel empowered to speak to their well being care suppliers in regards to the signs they’re experiencing.
“Your physician is in the very best place to know your medical historical past, the dosage of GLP-1, how lengthy you’ve got been taking it, and different medicines you are taking, that are necessary elements that will have an effect on your signs,” he says.
