A newly reported side effect of the popular GLP-1 weight loss drug may be the most troubling yet.
From “ozone ear” and “ozone butt” to “ozone breasts” and “ozone face,” many names have been given to the side effects of the increasingly popular GLP-1 drugs. Gastrointestinal discomfort and nausea are the most common side effects, but side effects related to the patient’s appearance tend to get the most attention.
Now, Vogue reports that GLP-1 users are reporting a new side effect that’s invisible but deeply painful. It may not affect your appearance, but it will definitely keep you from getting a good night’s sleep: permanent itching.
A thread appeared on Reddit about GLP-1-related itching.
A year ago, one person wrote: “Is the constant itching a side effect of the shot? I don’t mean hives or anything. I mean these areas are constantly itchy no matter how much you scratch them. I noticed a spot on my back and arms that has become like this since I started getting the shots.”
Another person made similar comments, writing: “I want to scratch my legs and even my forearm to pieces now! I got another shot but I think I’ll rest for a while because I don’t know why it got so bad but I just want to scratch it enough to draw blood.”
A third person wrote that after starting the medication, “I experienced severe itching all over my body. From head to toes.”
GLP-1 receptor agonists are a group of drugs that help suppress appetite. They’re sold under names like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, and used by celebrities like Serena William, Oprah, and Amy Schumer.
Although Ozempic is only one of many drugs in this category, its brand recognition has led to the media directly addressing its many side effects. Wegovy and Mounjaro are two other popular GLP-1 drugs, but are rarely given the same type of names as their more common counterparts.
Dr. Anne Peters, an endocrinologist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, told Vogue that clinical trials have shown that 3% to 8% of people who use GLP-1 develop skin problems.
“It’s an individual’s reaction to a chemical, or in some cases, it might even just be an injection,” she told the outlet.
Mild skin reactions such as itching and redness around the injection site can occur with any injection.
“They are thought to come from the body’s local reaction to needle trauma or subcutaneously injected medications,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King tells Vogue.
If you experience similar symptoms, it may be helpful to see a dermatologist or allergist, or to change the injection site.
“Certain parts of your body are more sensitive, and sometimes [the drug] “Being in an anatomically different part and making sure it’s rotated is helpful,” Dr. Peters says.
If the reaction is more widespread and noticeable, such as hives, blisters, or itchy patches, it may indicate sensitivity to the drug itself. In this case, Dr. Peters recommends that patients stop taking the medication until the itching goes away and see a health care professional immediately.