TO ALL PEOPLE IN THE PHARMACY:Diabetes is the happiest disease you could possibly have, if you watch television and see the advertisements for drugs. Because people are always having so much fun, the advertisements nearly make you want to buy it.
What a joke. Some of these medications, which are also promoted as weight loss aids, have the potential to cause stomach problems and hospitalization.
Because of the numerous issues related to the condition and the medications, I am not a happy diabetic. After two years, I only dropped 12 pounds on Ozempic. After a tear in my bowel from sluggish digestion, a foot of my colon had to be removed. How much am I enjoying myself?
A. The more we study about semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), the more adverse effects we see, as is the case with many medications. We apologize that you faced such challenges.
Semaglutide helps many diabetics manage their blood sugar levels. It also helps a lot of people lose weight.
However, gastroparesis—a slowing of the digestive tract—can be a dangerous side effect. Pancreatitis and intestinal blockage are additional risks for semaglutide users, according to researchers who examined the medical records of 16 million people (JAMA, Oct. 5, 2023).
As you say, advertisements don’t present an objective viewpoint. Before starting a medication, always inquire about any potential adverse effects. Regretfully, some won’t be identified until a large number of people have taken the drug.
Q. My experience with Ambien was negative. My automobile was totaled just two homes away from my house. My husband said he had forgotten to pick up one of his medications one evening, around ten minutes after I had taken the medication. I promised to go get it for him. Our house is only five minutes away from the pharmacy. I was well enough to drive.
I struck a tree and a mailbox. Driving never made me feel drowsy. I’ve been wondering if there has been any research done on the number of traffic accidents that have happened after zolpidem use.
A. The timing and formulation of the sleeping medication zolpidem (Ambien) can have a significant impact on how quickly it starts to work. Your impairment developed quickly, as most people become drowsy after 15 to 30 minutes. Others have told us that they have fallen asleep and then done risky things.
The first or any future use of AMBIEN may result in complex sleep behaviors, such as sleep-walking, sleep-driving, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake, according to the official prescription instructions. Patients who engage in sophisticated sleep behaviors run the risk of suffering severe injuries or hurting other people. Such injuries have the potential to be lethal. There have also been reports of other complicated sleep actions, such as cooking and eating, making phone calls, or having sex. Usually, patients don’t recall these incidents.
Our eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep contains further information about the benefits and drawbacks of different sleeping tablets as well as a variety of non-pharmacological solutions for insomnia. This online resource is located at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com under the Health eGuides page.
A slightly similar incident was recounted by another reader. I took Ambien, showered, ate, and then dozed out while watching TV. It seems that I got into my car and struck an electrical pole, causing it to topple over. I had no memory of anything when I woke up the following day in the emergency room of a hospital.
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Joe and Teresa Graedon respond to reader emails in their column. You can send them an email at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com or write to King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them” is their most recent book.
King Features Syndicate, Inc. (c) 2024.
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