the STEP-1 trial (2.4 mg dose, weekly) reported cholelithiasis in approximately 1.6% of participants Typical timeline: Most cases emerge after 3-6 months, coinciding with the fastest phase of weight loss First-line management: Urgent right upper quadrant ultrasound, temporary dietary fat restriction, and surgical gastroenterology referral for symptomatic stones When to escalate: Any fever, jaundice, Murphy's sign, elevated bilirubin, or lipase elevation requires same-day emergency evaluation When to discontinue: Acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis, or cholangitis are hard stops for semaglutide until surgical resolution Why Ozempic Specifically Raises Gallbladder Risk GLP-1 receptors are expressed in gallbladder smooth muscle
In response, Novo Nordisk quickly introduced a savings card for branded Ozempic, lowering costs for uninsured patients to compete with generics
Renin Inhibitors Aliskiren (rarely used) 10
Storage & Handling: Store lyophilized powder at -20C in a light- and moisture-free environment
