No Evidence of 82 Deaths Directly Attributed to Ozempic or Mounjaro in Medical Literature
There is no evidence in the medical literature of 82 patients dying specifically from taking Ozempic (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide). The cited medical guidelines and FDA labeling do not report such a finding.
Actual Safety Profile of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Cardiovascular Outcomes
- Semaglutide has been shown to reduce 3-point MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events) by 26% in clinical trials, with consistent benefits for nonfatal stroke and nonfatal MI 1
- In the SELECT trial, semaglutide 2.4mg actually demonstrated a reduction in all-cause mortality compared to placebo (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.71-0.93) 2
- Tirzepatide has not shown an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in clinical trials 3
Common Side Effects
- The most frequently reported side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists are gastrointestinal in nature, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea 1
- These gastrointestinal symptoms are usually transient for longer-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists and can be mitigated by gradual dose escalation 1
- In clinical trials, gastrointestinal side effects were primarily mild to moderate in severity with both semaglutide and tirzepatide 4, 5
Serious Adverse Events
The FDA labeling for Ozempic (semaglutide) includes warnings about:
However, large clinical trials have not demonstrated causal links between GLP-1 receptor agonists and pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer 1
COVID-19 Related Findings
- In the SELECT trial, among participants who developed COVID-19, those treated with semaglutide actually had fewer COVID-19-related serious adverse events (232 vs 277; P = 0.04) and fewer COVID-19-related deaths (43 vs 65; HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.44-0.96) compared to placebo 2
Perioperative Considerations
- There are some concerns about delayed gastric emptying with GLP-1 receptor agonists potentially increasing the risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia 1
- However, the magnitude of this risk remains uncertain, particularly with long-term use due to potential tachyphylaxis 1
Conclusion
The available medical evidence does not support claims of 82 deaths directly attributed to Ozempic or Mounjaro. In fact, clinical trials have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits and mortality reduction with semaglutide use in appropriate patient populations 1, 2.