The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration has added a brand new warning to medication together with Ozempic and Wegovy, cautioning that sufferers taking the medication could also be at a better danger of inhaling gastric contents into their lungs whereas underneath anesthesia.
The FDA added the warning to a lot of the medication earlier this month, in line with the company’s web site.
The warning applies to GLP-1 receptor agonists together with Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Victoza, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The medical information web site Medscape first reported the warning label replace final week.
GLP-1s — which will be prescribed for diabetes remedy or for weight reduction administration — have a number of results on the physique. One of many medication’ impacts is to decelerate the method of emptying the abdomen.
This additionally means, although, that some sufferers taking the medication should have gastric juices of their stomachs even after following the usual medical steering on fasting earlier than present process anesthesia. For these sufferers, there have been some uncommon circumstances of pulmonary aspiration — or inhaling fluid or meals into the lungs — whereas underneath anesthesia, in line with the brand new FDA label.
It’s not but clear if the issue might be solved by altering the pre-anesthesia fasting interval or by briefly halting the usage of the GLP-1s, in line with the FDA. The FDA stated that sufferers ought to inform their physician that they’re taking a GLP-1 earlier than they bear any surgical procedures or different procedures.
Medical suppliers have been conscious of the aspiration danger for years, stated Dr. Angela Fitch, an weight problems specialist and the co-founder of knownwell, a weight-inclusive medical clinic that opened a Plano, Texas location final month.
Nearly all of sufferers on GLP-1s are unlikely to have any points, Fitch stated, however the slowed abdomen emptying might trigger issues for some. Due to that, she stated, she would suggest that sufferers don’t halt the drug forward of surgical procedure, however as an alternative quick for longer earlier than surgical procedure.
