As the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) expands, so too does our knowledge of just what all these medications can do. GLP-1RAs have now been shown to reduce consumption of alcohol and drugs, even treating addictions to gambling and sex, but these medications can also potentially lead to rare but fatal complications of which endocrinologists should be aware.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are certainly making a lot of headlines these days. They’ve been around for decades, helping treat patients with type 2 diabetes and short bowel syndrome, but when it was discovered that they could also help patients with obesity, they became several household names – Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.
Until a couple months ago, these medications were only available as injectables, which discouraged some patients; yet about 12% of U.S. adults reported taking GLP-1RAs for weight loss, diabetes, or another chronic condition, according to a November 2025 KFF Health Track poll.
Now that Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy has been approved in pill form, a recent Sunlight.com Survey suggests that number may jump to 40% in 2026.
Endocrine News published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 19 Feb 2026.
The item focuses on Side Effects: Endocrine Society Journals Look at GLP-1RAs and the Positive and Negative Unintended Impacts.
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