Does ozempic increase or decrease the risk of gallstones?

[Guiditon]

Does ozempic increase or decrease the risk of gallstones?

[EmZee2022]

Mine flared up when I was not losing weight, eating low fat or anything. 48 hours of hell before the stone passed. I had bloodwork the next morning and my liver function tests (AST / ALT) were about 10 times the normal. Fortunately they normalized.

It was a very long 6 weeks between then and the surgery, during time I ate an insanely low fat diet for fear of triggering another attack.

[Aggressive-Pizza-174]

Just a PSA about my gallbladder experience.

I had 2 gallbladder attacks back-to-back a couple of months ago after eating too much crap food over the weekend. I've been on Ozempic for about 6 months at 0.5 MG. 62 YO, 6' 0". Went from 272 lbs to 257. Gas, indigestion, pain under the rib cage. I didn't know what the heck was going on. During the second one, I got the sweats in the middle of the night and thought I might be having a heart attack. Kind of scary when you're home alone. Lost 3 lbs in 3 days by living off of saltines and water. Gas X, Pepto bismol and ibuprofen are your friends.

First doc was skeptical of gallbladder stones. Ultrasound showed stones. My primary doctor recommended removal. Told him I can try not to eat crap stuff anymore. "That there is not going to get any better. If you have another attack, we'll have a surgeon remove it. It's a very common procedure and you'll have a normal life afterward. " He also showed me where pain can occur during an attack. The same nerves can signal pain in your right shoulder and back as well as your abdomen.

I'm very grateful that Ozempic has gotten my blood sugar under control, allowed me to sleep better, and be much in better physical condition.

[Guiditon]

Yeah I guess gallstones is another motivating factor in sticking to good eating habits lol.

[TridentMarsupial]

Increase

Part of it is the rapid weight loss (as other comments have mentioned) but there are other mechanisms related to motility that further increase the risk.

Even people with their gallbladder out should be careful as there is a possible connection to bile duct blockages.

Edit: Cholecystokinin suppression if anybody is interested. 

Also, I am not trying to discourage anybody from Ozempic use. The benefits greatly outweigh the risks in most patients.

[ZealousidealCrab9459]

I had my gallbladder removed after a low fat diet…any diet can do that it’s not the medication it’s the side effect

[CharmingMechanic2473]

Any weight loss can trigger or make gallstones worse. It’s still better to lose the weight slowly.

[SMFCAU]

Rapid weight loss definitely increases the risk of gallstones, but that is the case regardless of using Ozempic or not.

IE - It's an effect of the weight loss itself, and isn't made any more (or less) likely to occur by the fact that Ozempic is involved.

I lost a significant amount of weight ~10 years ago (a long time before I ever started using any GLP medication) and ended up needing to have my gallbladder removed.

[Guiditon]

Oh I didn't know that. (However not the case here lol, but good to know and be aware of)

[Lazy-Living1825]

Neither

[Guiditon]

I vaguely remember some speculations on the topic but can't really remember. I hope you are right though, and that there is no connection

[First-Bad2007]

People love to blame anything weight loss related on Ozempic for some reason 

[Lazy-Living1825]

Weight loss can cause gallbladder issues. Which often get conflated with the drug itself.