Women across the country are bonding online over “Ozempic Babies,” those who suddenly become pregnant while on weight loss pills despite being on birth control or having a history of fertility issues. Now, some people say they are experiencing severe symptoms, including extreme hunger and rapid weight gain, after stopping these medications to protect their baby’s health.
Hunger and weight gain are typical during pregnancy, but women say the intensity of their symptoms is different from previous pregnancies. It’s unclear whether pregnancy worsens weight-loss drug withdrawal, but fertility and obesity medicine experts say hormonal changes associated with pregnancy may explain the drastic effects.
Pharmaceutical companies advise women to stop taking weight loss drugs At least 2 months before the planned pregnancy. When patients who are not pregnant stop taking these drugs, doctors usually help them stop the drugs to reduce side effects, but women who find out they are pregnant stop immediately.
Additionally, more women are becoming pregnant while taking weight-loss drugs, so experts recommend calling your doctor right away, especially if you’re taking a drug like Ozempic to treat diabetes.
When Ozempic and pregnancy symptoms overlap
Amanda Brierley, 42, started taking semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) last year to treat insulin resistance caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). After several years of dysregulation, her menstrual cycles returned “like clockwork” within a month. Nine months later, Brierley learned she was pregnant. This was shocking news considering that after her previous high-risk pregnancy more than 20 years ago, she was told by doctors that she would not be able to conceive on her own. .
Medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, WeGovy, and Zepbound appear to increase fertility. This is because the weight loss caused by these drugs can correct hormonal imbalances caused by obesity and metabolic disorders. Some of them can make oral contraceptives less effective and increase the chance of pregnancy.
Brierley immediately stopped taking semaglutide, following recommendations based on animal studies that found that taking semaglutide during pregnancy can cause miscarriage and birth defects. After a week, she felt insatiably hungry. “I was a human trash can. And I didn’t want anything sweet or anything. I wanted real food like meat, cheese, and other protein-rich foods, but that didn’t happen until my first trimester.” I was like a caveman. I couldn’t stop. It was crazy.”
Brierley gained 20 pounds during her first trimester. By the time she gave birth, her weight had reached 65 pounds. While pregnant with her first son, Brierley gained a total of 19 pounds.
In comparison, many women Gain weight between 25 and 35 pounds throughout pregnancy, according to the National Institutes of Health.
How much weight a person gains depends on their pre-pregnancy BMI and certain health conditions that can make them more or less fat. Dr. Alison Rogersan obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive endocrinologist at the Illinois Fertility Center.
Discontinuing weight loss drugs is known to cause intense hunger; weight gain All fluctuations in blood sugar levels can be reduced by slowly weaning off the medication under your doctor’s guidance. However, Rogers said no studies to date have analyzed how this withdrawal interferes with pregnancy symptoms and vice versa.
“Do weight-loss drugs suppress some of the symptoms of pregnancy, and when you stop the drug, do the symptoms come back more intensely? Or do pregnancy make the withdrawal symptoms worse?” Rogers said. “It’s really hard to pull that out.”
Dr. Sahar TakshThe obesity specialist and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center said that stopping weight-loss drugs disrupts the body’s systems responsible for controlling blood sugar levels and appetite. Therefore, as opposed to weaning off these medications, weaning off these medications and pregnancy can exacerbate the symptoms common to both experiences.
“Pregnant women in particular may experience these symptoms more strongly due to the hormonal changes and fluctuations in blood sugar levels associated with pregnancy,” Takshush says. “Ideally, we recommend tapering these drugs gradually if clinically possible.”
Deb Oliviara, 32, also said she experienced extreme hunger and weight gain after stopping Ozempic when she learned of her “surprise” pregnancy.
“I’ve been pregnant six times, so this is nothing new for me,” Olivia said. “Normally I would understand that feeling, but it was an insatiable hunger that I had never felt before in my life.”
She gained 20 pounds in just two months even though she continued with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Oliviala said her rapid weight gain made her physically uncomfortable, which affected her mentally. Her symptoms subsided after about 3 months.
Extreme weight gain during pregnancy is dangerous
In some scenarios, rapid weight gain during pregnancy can pose health risks for mother and baby, Rogers said. do not have Listen to your body. But also avoid overdosing. ”
developing gestational diabetesFor example, there may be an increased risk of high blood pressure and larger babies having to be delivered by C-section, which have more complications such as blood clots and infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Gestational diabetes also increases the baby’s risk of hypoglycemia, increasing her risk of developing type 2 diabetes and premature birth later in life.
Rogers said it’s especially important for women who are taking drugs such as Ozempic to treat pre-existing diabetes to ensure their condition is under control even after they find out they’re pregnant and stop taking the medication. . If blood sugar levels are too high, especially during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is at increased risk of birth defects such as spinal cord, heart, and limb abnormalities.
“Whether you’ve just come off Ozempic or not, it’s important to take care of yourself during pregnancy. Get proper nutrition and be careful not to gain too little or too much weight.” said Mr. Rogers. “If you have diabetes, ask your doctor to switch you to a safer medication, such as metformin or insulin, as soon as you find out you’re pregnant.”
