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A 32-year-old man developed gastroparesis after taking tirzepatide for weight loss, which isn’t approved in India. Doctors advise against using it without medical supervision
One of the functions of this medication is to slow down digestion, which suppresses hunger for longer periods. (News18 Hindi)
A 32-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to worsening stomach pain, accompanied by severe nausea and a complete loss of appetite. Upon conducting an endoscopy, doctors discovered that food had been stuck in his stomach for eight hours, while no food had moved through his intestines for 48 hours, leading to a blockage. This condition, known as gastroparesis, occurs when there is partial paralysis of the muscles in the stomach and intestines, causing food to remain stuck for prolonged periods.
The doctors were shocked to learn the cause of this condition. The patient, who weighed 105 kg, had been using a high dose of tirzepatide injections to lose weight. Since the medication is not yet approved in India, he had purchased it from Dubai. However, he never expected the drug to have such severe side effects. Endocrinologist Dr Paras Agarwal discusses how this happened.
How Does Weight Loss Medicine Work?
Weight loss medicines like tirzepatide or semaglutide have become quite popular in America and Europe. At present, this medicine has not been approved in India, but the oral version of semaglutide, Rybelsus, is available in the country.
Now the question arises if this medicine actually reduces weight. Dr Paras Agarwal said that tirzepatide or semaglutide is mainly a sugar-reducing medicine which is given to diabetes patients but tirzepatide, which is sold as Mounjaro and Ozempic, activates the gastric inhibitory polypeptide GIP and glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 hormones in the pancreas. Both these hormones reduce the feeling of hunger. That is, when our stomach is full with food, both these hormones are released, sending a message to the brain that now our stomach is full. The person then stops eating. But if there is a deficiency of these hormones, then we feel hungrier and we eat more food.
This medicine in a way becomes this hormone which reduces hunger. If someone eats less food, then obviously the weight will also be reduced. Therefore, along with reducing sugar, it also helps in reducing weight. This medicine increases the production of insulin. This is the reason why this medicine is becoming more popular nowadays as more and more people in the world are suffering from obesity and diabetes.
Problems With Weight Loss Medicine
Dr Paras Agarwal said that this medicine functions at many levels. It works on the liver as well as on fat. One of the functions of this medication is to slow down digestion, which suppresses hunger for longer periods. However, this delayed digestion can lead to constipation and cause food to get stuck in the intestines. If not taken under medical supervision, it can lead to various complications.
Typically, this medication is administered gradually. Initially, doctors assess whether the body is responding well to it before increasing the dosage. Mounjaro injections come in smaller doses, and the 15 mg dose was considered too high for this patient, leading to significant issues. This medication may not be suitable for everyone, so doctors conduct several tests before determining the appropriate dosage. Therefore, it is essential to never take this medicine without consulting a doctor.
Is This Medicine Available In India?
Dr Agrawal mentioned that tirzepatide has been approved in Western countries and is expected to be available in India soon. The medication, known as Mounjaro, may be launched in India by the end of this year. This drug works by increasing insulin production and helps with weight loss by regulating hunger hormones.
In the US and Europe, two similar medications are available: tirzepatide and semaglutide. The oral form of semaglutide has already been approved in India and is sold under the brand name Rybelsus, but it should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
