Can Ozempic Cause Pancreatitis? Here's What You Need to Know

Pancreatitis is a painful medical condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a small organ in the body that sits behind the stomach. It releases insulin, which regulates blood sugar, and enzymes that help you digest food. 

When the pancreas gets inflamed, it can’t function. People who develop pancreatitis experience severe stomach pain, difficulty eating, and other symptoms that need urgent medical attention. Sometimes, people can develop serious health complications because of pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is serious. So it’s no surprise that cases of people developing pancreatitis while taking Ozempic made national news.  

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Ozempic (semaglutide) is an FDA-approved injectable medication that can be used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It can help lower blood sugar and the risk of diabetes-related issues like heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Ozempic can cause many side effects including nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. But the relationship between Ozempic and pancreatitis isn’t so clear. 

Here’s what the science says about the link between Ozempic and pancreatitis. 

Does Ozempic cause pancreatitis?

Right now, there’s no evidence that Ozempic directly causes pancreatitis.

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There are medications that are known to cause pancreatitis. Ozempic isn’t included on the list. But keep in mind, Ozempic hasn’t been around as long as other medications that are known to cause pancreatitis. So while it may not be on the list right now, that could change in the future as more research is done. 

In clinical studies, a few people did develop pancreatitis while taking Ozempic. And there’s been other published reports of people developing pancreatitis while taking the medication. 

But this alone isn’t enough to say that Ozempic causes pancreatitis for two main reasons.

Cases of pancreatitis could be a coincidence

First, it might be a coincidence that people developed pancreatitis while taking Ozempic. Pancreatitis can be quite common among adults. So researchers need to look at large pools of data to see whether cases of pancreatitis are really related to Ozempic or simply due to coincidence. 

Right now, the evidence seems to favor coincidence. In two separate large studies, people taking Ozempic didn’t develop pancreatitis more often than those taking placebo. Researchers looking at outcomes of several trials came to the same conclusion. 

But it’s important to point out that these studies weren’t designed to look at the risk of pancreatitis specifically. Instead, researchers went back and looked for reports of pancreatitis afterwards. While this data is still valid, it’s not as strong. This is why experts still urge people to remain cautious.  

Cases of pancreatitis could be due to something else

Another reason researchers can’t say for sure whether Ozempic causes pancreatitis is that people can develop pancreatitis for many reasons. There are many things that can trigger pancreatitis. Two of the most common are gallstones and alcohol. 

Gallstones are very common — about 10% to 15% of adults have gallstones. And many people have gallstones for years without realizing it because gallstones don’t always cause symptoms. So it’s possible that people developed pancreatitis from gallstones and not Ozempic. It’s also possible that people developed pancreatitis from other causes like alcohol use, viruses, or even injuries. 

It’s important to point out that Ozempic can increase a person's risk of developing gallstones. So while it’s not directly responsible for pancreatitis, in these cases Ozempic can lead to the root cause of pancreatitis. 

But gallstones and other gallbladder problems are a rare complication of taking Ozempic. And not everyone who develops gallstones will develop pancreatitis. 

Who is most at risk for drug-induced pancreatitis?

It’s not clear if Ozempic directly causes pancreatitis. But you might want to be more careful if you’re at higher risk for developing pancreatitis to begin with. 

Some things that can increase the risk of drug-induced pancreatitis include:

• A history of gallstones, biliary colic, or other gallbladder problems

• Having relatives who had pancreatitis

• Medications linked to causing pancreatitis, such as azathioprine, thiazides, furosemide, estrogens, and certain antibiotics

• Alcohol use disorder

• High triglyceride levels

• Injury to the pancreas or other medical conditions that affect the pancreas

• Obesity and overweight

If you’re at higher risk for developing pancreatitis, you can still take Ozempic. But you should talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits. And if you develop any symptoms of pancreatitis, you should seek medical care right away. 

Should you take Ozempic if you’ve had pancreatitis?

No.

People who had pancreatitis in the past were not included in Ozempic clinical trials. So right now there’s no evidence that people with a history of pancreatitis can safely take Ozempic. Ozempic prescribing information states that the medication shouldn’t be given to people with a history of pancreatitis. 

If you develop pancreatitis while taking Ozempic, you’ll need to stop taking the medication. Ozempic prescribing information also states that people cannot restart Ozempic if they develop pancreatitis — even if something else triggered the episode. 

What should you do if you’re experiencing symptoms of pancreatitis?

Seek urgent medical care if you think you have pancreatitis. 

Pancreatitis symptoms include:

• Severe pain in your upper abdomen that may extend to your back 

• Fever 

• Rapid heart rate

• Nausea and vomiting

• Inability to eat or drink

• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes

If you can’t get to your primary care doctor, go to an urgent care center or emergency room. Most people with pancreatitis are admitted to the hospital for a few days. Others need to stay in the hospital for longer periods of time if they develop complications from pancreatitis. 

Treatment for pancreatitis may include:

• IV (intravenous) fluids

• Pain medications

• Antibiotics, if there are any signs of infection

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, health expert, and physician leader with over 20 years of experience practicing adult medicine. Dual-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Tracy possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in both traditional medical practices and innovative lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management and reversal.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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