As the popularity of semaglutide weight-loss medications continues to grow, so does the rate of potentially dangerous overdoses, experts are warning. 

Reported overdoses of semaglutide products such as Ozempic and Wegovy more than doubled between 2022 and 2023, according to America’s Poison Centers in Virginia.

“U.S. Poison Centers have documented 3,316 exposures to products containing semaglutide through Dec. 31, 2023, more than two times the number of cases reported in 2022,” Dr. Kait Brown, clinical managing director of America’s Poison Centers, told Fox News Digital via email.

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“These cases include exposures to prescription semaglutide, compounded semaglutide and counterfeit semaglutide,” he said. 

“Most of these cases are associated with accidental therapeutic errors in adults.”

What’s causing the overdoses?

Semaglutide medications are intended to be given in a low dose and increased slowly over a four-week period, according to Dr. Seth Kipnis, director of bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.

“If people jump right to the high dose, they will have more initial negative side effects,” he told Fox News Digital. 

U.S. poison centers have documented 3,316 exposures to products containing semaglutide through Dec. 31, 2023, more than two times the number of cases reported in 2022.

In some cases, people who overdose may be getting the medication from a source other than a local doctor or taking someone else’s prescribed medication, the doctor noted.

People with a semaglutide prescription should follow the manufacturer’s and prescribing physician’s instructions, Kipnis advised. 

“The dose is weekly,” he said. “If it is taken daily, it is too much.”

Compounded versions of these drugs dispensed in multi-dose vials present a greater overdose risk, experts warned. (iStock)

Dr. Maryann Amirshahi, co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C., confirmed that there has been a large overall increase in semaglutide overdoses reported to poison centers nationally. 

“In addition, I have noticed a similar increase at my individual center,” Amirshahi, who is also professor of emergency medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.

The doctor attributes the increase to several factors, chiefly the “huge increase” in semaglutide prescribing.

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“Secondarily, it is available in several different forms, which can cause confusion,” Amirshahi noted. 

“Ozempic is a dial-up pen with multiple doses — while Wegovy is a single-dose pen.”

Another source of confusion is that many people are using compounded products. 

The most commonly reported overdose symptoms of semaglutide medication use include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and diarrhea. (iStock)

“Compounded versions have their own unique risks when it comes to a potential overdose, especially when they’re dispensed in multi-dose vials,” noted Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, Missouri-based director of pharmacy content at GoodRx.

“These injections are often dispensed in vials, so there’s a greater opportunity for dosing errors since you’re measuring out your specific dose with a syringe,” she warned. 

“In some cases, the vial may contain as much as 10 times the amount of semaglutide as a single-use injection pen.”

Warning signs and symptoms

The most commonly reported overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and diarrhea, Brown noted. 

“Some people have reported hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be life-threatening,” she said.

Danish multinational pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S office building is located in Fremont, California. Novo Nordisk provided a statement to Fox News Digital about the reported overdoses. (iStock)

Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, tremor, lightheadedness and palpitations, according to Amirshahi. 

“Semaglutide slows stomach emptying, which can lead to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain,” she said.

In some cases, the stomach becomes almost paralyzed, a condition called gastroparesis, which can lead to dehydration, abnormal electrolytes and kidney damage, said Amirshahi. 

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Another potential effect of semaglutide overdose is inflammation of the pancreas. 

“Symptoms of pancreatitis are very similar and can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dehydration,” Amirshahi noted. 

These signs and symptoms can also occur among patients taking normal doses of the medication as well as in overdoses, she added.

Wegovy is an injectable semaglutide prescription weight-loss medicine that has helped people with obesity. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

While any drug overdose can be serious, experts noted that taking too much semaglutide is rarely fatal. 

“Semaglutide is generally well-tolerated in overdose compared to other diabetes medications,” Amirshahi said.

“Anything is possible when an FDA-approved drug is taken inappropriately.”

However, for people who develop gastroparesis or pancreatitis, potential complications can include dehydration and kidney damage. 

“While low blood sugar is rare with semaglutide overdose, if it is not detected and treated early, it can lead to seizures,” Amirshahi added.

Kipnis noted that in terms of adverse effects, “anything is possible when an FDA-approved drug is taken inappropriately.”

What to do in an overdose event

Anyone who is taking a prescribed semaglutide should have a primary care physician or medical provider to provide close follow-up support, especially in the first several weeks as the dose increases, Kipnis advised. 

Although there is no specific antidote for a semaglutide overdose, the primary course of action is to treat the abdominal symptoms with nausea and pain medications, correct electrolytes, and give fluids for dehydration, said Amirshahi.

In some cases, it may be possible to manage symptoms at home after consulting with a health care professional, but other situations may require immediate medical attention, experts said. (iStock)

“We also treat the low blood sugar by giving glucose or dextrose,” she said. “The care is really supportive until the effects of the medication wear off.”

In some cases, it may be possible to manage symptoms at home after consulting with a health care professional, but other situations may require immediate medical attention, Billingsley noted. 

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“For example, severe vomiting can result in serious dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which can be dangerous if left untreated,” she told Fox News Digital. “Severe cases of hypoglycemia can also be life-threatening.”

To prevent an overdose, Billingsley said to make sure you feel comfortable and confident using the injection pen and selecting your specific dose. 

People with a semaglutide prescription should follow the manufacturer’s and prescribing physician’s instructions, a doctor advised.  (Camerique/ClassicStock/Getty Images)

“Understand how often you should be injecting your dose, and consider using alarms, medication reminder apps, or other tools to help keep you on track,” she recommended. “Your pharmacist can be a helpful resource if any questions come up.”

For emergency assistance, call Poison Help at 1.800.222.1222 to speak with a poison expert or visit PoisonHelp.org for support and resources.

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When contacted by Fox News Digital regarding the potential for overdoses, Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, provided a statement.

“Novo Nordisk is the only company in the U.S. with FDA-approved products containing semaglutide, identified under the trade names Wegovy, Ozempic and RYBELSUS, and should only be prescribed after a close consultation between a health care provider and a patient and should only be taken under the supervision of a health care provider,” the company said.

It added, “Novo Nordisk stands behind the safety and efficacy of our FDA-approved semaglutide medicines when used as indicated and when taken under the care of a licensed health care professional.”

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Researchers have identified a total of five subgroups among Alzheimer’s patients, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Aging on Jan. 9.

Different groups may require different treatment options, as noted in a press release from Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and Maastricht University.

“Previously, it was thought that Alzheimer’s disease is one disease, and that treatments being developed will work similarly for all individuals,” lead researcher Betty Tijms, associate professor of neuroscience and brain imaging at Amsterdam UMC, told Fox News Digital in an email.

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“We found that patients with Alzheimer’s disease differ in the biological processes involved — which means that possibly treatments will only work for a subgroup of patients.”

In the study, the researchers analyzed 1,058 proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of 419 people with Alzheimer’s disease from studies at the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam.

They identified five different variants, according to the release describing the findings.

The first group had increased amyloid production in the brain, which results in a buildup of plaques that impede cognitive function, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

“This may explain why some patients respond better to some treatments.”

A second group was found to have a disruption in the blood-brain barrier, reduced amyloid production and less growth of nerve cells. 

The remaining groups showed differences in protein synthesis, immune system function and cerebrospinal fluid production, the researchers noted.

Some of the groups were found to have faster progression of symptoms than others.

In the study, the researchers (not pictured) analyzed 1,058 proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of 419 people with Alzheimer’s disease from studies at the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam. (iStock)

In an earlier, smaller study, the researchers found three subtypes (aberrant neuroplasticity, innate immune activation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction), Tijms noted. 

“In our new, larger dataset, we again found those three subtypes, but also two new subtypes, with underlying processes that we did not expect to find beforehand,” she said. 

One of those new subtypes was rare, including only 6% of the patients — but it had the worst disease prognosis, the researcher said. 

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“This subtype had problems with protein synthesis,” she said. “The other subtype had impairment of the choroid plexus, which is the organ in the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid.”

The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.

“While we expect that subtypes may have different response to treatment, we were not yet able to demonstrate this, because we need access to cerebrospinal fluid samples from existing drug trials,” noted Tijms. 

“We hope to test this in future studies.”

Based on the new findings about Alzheimer’s, treatment response and side effects could differ between patients from different subtypes, the researchers said. (iStock)

Additionally, the study was performed among relatively young patients, with an average age of 66 years.

“Subtypes may be different at older ages, as the majority of patients with AD are 80 years and older),” Pieter Jelle Visser, associate professor of neuroscience at Amsterdam UMC, told Fox News Digital.

Based on these findings, researchers involved in treatment development should take into account that treatment response and side effects could differ between patients from different subtypes, Visser noted. 

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“For example, they could define the subtypes of patients to identify the ones who best respond to the trial,” he said. “This could also be done with samples that already have been collected in previous trials.”

Researchers could also test novel treatments only in a subtype that is likely to respond to the treatment, Tijms added, such as testing immune treatment in the subtype with immune activation.

“Each subgroup may need its own treatment, or version of a treatment, or combination of treatments, in order to be effective with the least side effects,” said a doctor from the Alzheimer’s Association. (iStock)

Dr. Kirk C. Wilhelmsen, professor of neurology and chief of cognitive neurology at West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, said this research is an “important paper,” but noted that it’s not ready to be implemented in clinical practice.

Wilhelmsen was not involved in the study.

“This may explain why some patients respond better to some treatments,” he told Fox News Digital. “It may salvage some drugs that have failed in clinical trials.”

Researchers said the hope is that the identification of these subgroups may salvage some drugs that have failed in clinical trials. (iStock)

Dr. Claire Sexton, senior director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, noted in a statement to Fox News Digital that while there are common brain changes that define Alzheimer’s, the experience of the disease varies from person to person.

“Now we are learning more about how some aspects of the biology of Alzheimer’s may also be different for different patients,” said Sexton, who was also not a participant in the Amsterdam research.

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“This includes differences in symptoms, the speed of progression and response to treatments,” she went on. 

“Research that gives us a better understanding of the biology of Alzheimer’s disease can … inform therapeutic possibilities and drug development, and may advance the field toward personalized medicine approaches.”

A patient who suffers from Alzheimer’s is shown preparing to receive a PET scan at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on June 20, 2023.  (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

If these subtypes are validated and confirmed, Sexton said, they may help to explain why some individuals do or do not respond to certain treatments, or experience different types and severity of side effects.

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“Each subgroup may need its own treatment, or version of a treatment, or combination of treatments, in order to be effective with the least side effects,” she said.

To confirm these findings, Sexton called for additional research with larger study groups that “accurately represent the diversity of the at-risk and affected populations.”

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U.K. doctors are sounding the alarm about a surge in scabies cases across the country, according to reports.

A shortage of scabies medications — which dates as far back as May 2023 —is thought to be a contributing factor in the outbreak.

The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that it’s received reports of scabies cases being on the rise, and that the current shortage of medicines is exacerbating the situation. 

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“At the end of November, according to the Royal College of GPs, the rate of scabies was three cases per 100,000 of the population, which is double the seasonal average,” said Paula Geanau, a spokesperson for BAD.

“The situation in the U.K. is constantly changing, so it is difficult to say with certainty,” she added. 

Outbreaks are more common in group living situations, although Geanau emphasized that anyone can get scabies.

“It is not a question of poor hygiene,” she said. “Because of the nature in which it spreads, via skin-to-skin contact, it disproportionately affects people in group living facilities, such as care homes and student accommodations.”

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Scabies is everywhere and is not just limited to the U.K., noted Dr. Susan Massick, a board-certified dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

“There are always cases in the U.S. at any given time,” she told Fox News Digital. “Current cases that arise now in the U.S. are not related to the outbreaks in the U.K.”

What to know about scabies 

Scabies is a rash that occurs when a tiny, eight-legged mite called Sarcoptes scabiei burrows into the skin, causing intense itching.

The disease is highly contagious, often spreading quickly through schools, households and nursing homes.

Scabies is a rash that occurs when a tiny, eight-legged mite called Sarcoptes scabiei burrows into the skin, causing intense itching. (iStock)

In addition to severe itching, a primary symptom is tiny blisters of bumps that form thin, wavy tunnels, according to Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms are usually delayed, appearing up to six weeks after exposure for those who have never had the infection. 

People can spread scabies even if they don’t have symptoms.

“Scabies is different than bedbugs, but often equally itchy and difficult to eradicate,” Massick said. 

“The itching gets progressively worse from week to week as new eggs hatch and the number of mites grows.”

“Scabies is different than bedbugs, but often equally itchy and difficult to eradicate.”

Scabies mites are microscopic and can’t be seen with the human eye, the doctor said — but the skin will react to the bites and become more and more inflamed, extremely itchy and often scab over due to the natural tendency to scratch. 

Scabies is primarily spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, Massick said, but it can also easily be transmitted through clothing, furniture and bedding that contain the mites.

The two main treatments for scabies are permethrin 5% cream and malathion liquid, both of which are right now in limited supply in the U.K. (iStock)

“Cases continue to spread beyond the original person infected, and it is difficult to eradicate without appropriate treatment,” she noted.

People living in close quarters without access to routine clothes washers and dryers are most at risk of contracting scabies, she said — “a common scenario is a college dormitory,” Massick said.

To prevent contracting the disease, the doctor recommends avoiding direct contact or sharing of clothing, bedding and close quarters with those infected.

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For those who contract scabies, the mites can’t simply be washed away. 

“Showering will not rid you of a scabies infestation — you need treatment,” Massick said. “Due to the life cycle of the scabies mites, with eggs hatching every five to seven days, you need to re-treat yourself one week after your initial treatment to ensure full eradication.”

It is possible to get re-infected even after treatment if you’re exposed again to the mites, the doctor said.

Scabies mites are microscopic and can’t be seen with the human eye, but the skin will react to the bites and become inflamed and itchy. (iStock)

There are multiple topical and oral treatments for scabies. 

“Seek treatment if you suspect you have it, have been exposed or are experiencing unrelenting itching with accompanying rash,” Massick advised.

In addition to getting treatment, people should wash clothing, bedding, sheets, towels and pillows in hot water and dry them in a dryer, she said.

“The shortage of treatments for scabies is a major public health concern.”

“Mites can’t live off the human body for more than two or three days, so avoiding potential exposure from items like furniture that can’t be washed or put in a dryer is a possible way to avoid getting infected,” she told Fox News Digital. “Avoid communal areas and surfaces for at least three to five days.”

Geanau agreed that it’s vital to follow treatment protocols precisely. 

In addition to getting treatment for scabies, people should wash clothing, bedding, sheets, towels and pillows in hot water and dry them in a dryer, an expert said. (iStock)

“As scabies is highly contagious, and spreads via skin-to-skin contact, if even one person in a group is still infected after completing a treatment plan, they can easily reinfect the rest of the group as well,” she warned. 

“Reinfection is a quite common outcome, as treatments have to be followed to the letter, and everyone must be treated simultaneously.”

Drug shortages a factor in outbreak

The two main treatments for scabies are permethrin 5% cream and malathion liquid, both of which are in limited supply in the U.K.

In September 2023, BAD issued a press release urging manufacturers to ramp up production, warning that the shortages “pose a significant threat to public health” in light of the “highly contagious nature” of scabies.

A shortage of scabies medications, which dates as far back as May 2023, is thought to be a contributing factor in the current outbreak. (iStock)

“The shortage of treatments for scabies is a major public health concern,” said professor Mabs Chowdhury, president of BAD, in the release.

“This is a common condition, which is highly contagious,” he went on. “The ease with which it spreads highlights the urgency of maintaining an adequate supply of effective treatments.”

Chowdhury urged manufacturers of permethrin and malathion to do “everything in their power” to increase production. 

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“We also call on regulators, such as the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and the government, to give the necessary support to manufacturers and suppliers to enable them to rapidly resolve the issue.”

BAD has been advised that more supplies of permethrin and malathion will become available early this year, Geanau noted. In the meantime, ivermectin has recently been licensed for the treatment of scabies, which is expected to help.

As scabies is highly contagious, and spreads via skin-to-skin contact, reinfection is common, experts warned. (iStock)

“We must ensure that an adequate supply of effective treatments is maintained,” Geanau added.  

When contacted by Fox News Digital, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said it cannot comment on the shortage of permethrin and malathion, as it represents only the “newer, branded end of the U.K. medicines market,” which does not include “long-running generic medicines like permethrin and malathion.”

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Fox News Digital also reached out to the U.K. ​​Department of Health & Social Care requesting comment on the outbreak and shortages.

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For most women, a pregnant belly is a miracle to celebrate — but not necessarily an open invitation for strangers’ hands.

Almost every expectant mother has been on the receiving end of a well-meaning reachout to her tummy. Is this socially acceptable, or are the belly rubbers crossing a boundary?

Multiple etiquette experts — and two mothers with very different viewpoints — weighed in on the hot topic.

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Jamila Musayeva, a certified international etiquette expert and coach, believes that touching a woman’s belly without her invitation or permission is “absolutely unacceptable.”

“Touching a woman’s belly is being in her intimate space,” she told Fox News Digital. “This space is only for partners, siblings, parents or people we deem close to us. An acquaintance or a colleague touching is not acceptable, let alone a stranger.”

There is no universal protocol when it comes to touching a woman’s belly, Musayeva noted, as it varies based on the person’s religious, cultural and personal values and beliefs. 

“One should be aware of these factors as well as use common sense to understand when it is appropriate to do so,” she said. 

“If the pregnant lady demonstrates the slightest doubt or pause, it is better to refrain from touching.”

“As a general rule, I would suggest taking into account personal cues from the pregnant woman. If for some reason someone really wants to rub a belly, one should ask the woman if one can do so. If the pregnant lady demonstrates the slightest doubt or pause, it is better to refrain from touching.”

For pregnant women who don’t welcome hands on their bellies, Musayeva recommended using verbal and non-verbal cues to keep unsolicited touches at bay.

For pregnant women who don’t welcome other people’s hands on their bellies, one etiquette expert recommended using verbal and non-verbal cues to keep unsolicited touches at bay. (iStock)

“With verbal communication, let the person know that you do not like receiving belly touches if one is reaching out to touch you,” she said. 

“Be affirmative in your tone, but add a smile. It is possible that a person comes from a different culture where touching one for greeting and affection is acceptable.”

She also said, “You can also place your hands over your belly and if someone is about to touch it, let their hand land on your hand instead of the belly.”

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Michelle McMullen, owner of MGM Etiquette in Dallas, Texas, agreed that discretion is called for when it comes to touching pregnant bellies. 

“A symbol of hope and humanity, the enormous belly of a pregnant woman may seem irresistible to touch — yet you must resist,” she told Fox News Digital. 

An etiquette expert said that discretion is called for when it comes to touching women’s pregnant bellies.  (iStock)

“While the idea of a new life sparks joy for many, the emotions of pregnancy can be complicated for the mother,” she went on. “Feelings of vulnerability and protectiveness are common.”

In most instances, McMullen said, laying hands on a woman’s belly would be considered intrusive. 

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“If you are very close to the woman — husband, mother, sister or child — you may ask permission to touch her,” she advised. 

“For all others, a warm smile and congratulations are more appropriate ways to express your sentiment.”

Two mothers’ viewpoints

Megan Elizabeth Guist, a mother who lives in South Lebanon, Ohio, said she was very protective of her belly during her pregnancy nine years ago. 

“I have had multiple pregnancy losses and was told I would never be able to carry full term — then we got pregnant with our miracle baby,” she told Fox News Digital. 

Megan Elizabeth Guist, a mother who lives in South Lebanon, Ohio, said she was very protective of her belly during her pregnancy nine years ago.  (Megan Guist)

“I loved rubbing my belly and talking to our baby, but I did not like people outside our family or inner circle touching my belly.” 

She added, “I feel that all too often, people invade a pregnant woman’s space.”

“I loved rubbing my belly and talking to our baby, but I did not like people outside our family or inner circle touching my belly.”

If someone were to ask permission to touch her pregnant belly, she said she would have been more likely to allow it.

“I am someone who gets claustrophobic with too many people, and my pregnancy magnified that for me,” Guist said.

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“During my pregnancy, my husband and ‘bonus son’ were really good about acting as a buffer for me in public and not letting people get super close to me,” she noted.

“During my pregnancy, my husband and bonus son were really good about acting as a buffer for me in public and not letting people get super close to me,” Guist said. (Megan Guist)

Another Ohio mother, Karen James-Hall, had a different opinion about people touching her belly when she was pregnant with her daughter, Erin, 39 years ago.

“I loved every belly rub or touch that I got,” James-Hall told Fox News Digital.

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“I felt like the person who touched or rubbed my belly was getting to know my baby before she got here,” she went on. 

“I believe all of this gave me the happiest baby once she was born. She felt so loved from her first breath outside the womb.”

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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

PTSD sufferers might soon have a new avenue of relief.

A drug application for psychedelic-assisted therapies has been filed by Lykos Therapeutics, formerly MAPS PBC, for FDA approval.

As of Dec. 12, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had 60 days to respond with its long-awaited verdict, according to a Jan. 10 news release from Lykos, which is based in California.

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If approved, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would have to reschedule (recategorize) MDMA — also known as ecstasy — to make it legal for prescription medical use.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) also announced on Jan. 5 that it’s released proposals for VA researchers to study the use of psychedelic compounds, including MDMA and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), when used in conjunction with psychotherapy to treat PTSD and depression.

The VA confirmed in an email to Fox News Digital that this research will be the first of its kind since the 1960s.

While some people have hesitations, a 16-year Marine Corps veteran, Juliana Mercer, has been a leading advocate of psychedelic-assisted therapies in treating mental health challenges.

Mercer, who lives in San Diego, is director of veteran advocacy and public policy at Healing Breakthrough, an organization aiming to get MDMA-assisted therapy adopted into the VA system.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, the veteran noted that MDMA therapy has been shown to be 71% effective in eliminating PTSD in two Phase 3 clinical trials.

Mercer anticipates hearing back from the FDA “very soon” on its decision — and said she hopes the agency will green-light the drug.

Marine Corps veteran Juliana Mercer of San Diego has been a leading advocate for psychedelic-assisted therapies in treating mental health challenges. “MDMA is the tip of the spear,” she said. “I’m so excited about it.” (Juliana Mercer)

“We’re fairly certain and optimistic that it will be approved,” she said. “And once that happens, there’s some more paperwork that needs to be done in anticipating MDMA to be prescribed by health care providers in mid- to late 2024.”

When contacted for comment, the FDA told Fox News Digital that it cannot discuss the existence of, or status of, any pending applications.

‘Overnight’ healing

Mercer, who spent deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, struggled with PTSD until it “came to a head” in 2019, she said.

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The veteran sought talk therapy, which helped her to “not feel so alone” — but it didn’t help “tackle the problem” at its root, she noted.

After being introduced to a Florida nonprofit, Heroic Hearts Project, Mercer was able to access psychedelic therapy outside the U.S.

Mercer (pictured at right on deployment) said she believes it is “important” for the VA to be prepared to roll out this program “once it is FDA-approved.” (Juliana Mercer)

“After that healing that was almost overnight, in conjunction with the talk therapy that I was doing and with a psychedelic coach, I was able to get to the root cause, and also regain my joy and my love and go back to working with the veteran community,” she told Fox News Digital.

Mercer said her experience became the “catalyst” for her advocacy for therapy access, as she recently testified during a Nov. 14 hearing on Capitol Hill.

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She addressed the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs about the efficacy of these therapies, claiming that the trial results “cannot be outstated.”

Mercer told Fox News Digital that she believes it is “such a huge injustice” that there “isn’t anything working” in the U.S. for struggling vets.

“I felt like I needed to shout it from the rooftops and figure out a way to get this available to my veteran brothers and sisters,” she said.

“The suicide epidemic is killing us at a rate higher than the death rate of 20 years of war,” Mercer added. “We’re losing over 6,000 veterans a year to suicide.”

Seventeen veterans die by suicide each day, according to data from the VA. (iStock)

In a press release discussing the rollout of psychedelic research, VA Secretary Denis McDonough wrote that America’s veterans “deserve the very best care, and VA is constantly supporting innovations to deliver that.” 

He added, “This is an important step to explore the efficacy of a potential new set of promising treatments that could improve the health and quality of life for veterans.”

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Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the VA’s under-secretary for health, commented in the same release that veterans and VA researchers have been vocal about the “potential promise of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions for some time.”

“Now is our chance to study this potential method of treating veterans with PTSD and major depression across the country,” he wrote.

Juliana Mercer on Capitol Hill in Nov. 2023 advocated for psychedelic-assisted therapies in front of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. (Juliana Mercer)

MDMA therapy is the first of these novel treatments to be considered for FDA approval, Mercer detailed, claiming that two-thirds of patients no longer qualify for PTSD diagnosis after treatment.

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Another psychedelic option is psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms.”

It has also shown promising results upon entering Phase 3 clinical trials.

Psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, has just entered Phase 3 clinical trials. (iStock)

Since the approval of psilocybin-assisted therapies could be “a few years down the road,” Mercer said MDMA’s potential approval is the “tip of the spear” when it comes to saving veterans’ lives.

How it works

MDMA medication is administered orally inside a clinic during an approximate eight-hour session, according to Mercer, with the guidance of a mental health care provider.

The patient undergoes talk therapy for a month before receiving the medication — and then for another month afterward.

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The VA is looking into expanding talk therapy options beyond one-on-one sessions, to include group conversations and sessions with significant others, Mercer pointed out.

Dr. Yuval Neria, director of Columbia University’s PTSD Research and Treatment Program in New York, shared his optimism about this mode of therapy with Fox News Digital.

A global expert on PTSD, Dr. Yuval Neria is professor of medical psychology at the Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. He said there is “an acute lack of effective treatments” for America’s veterans with PTSD. (Yuval Neria)

“Veterans with PTSD suffer from a multitude of interpersonal problems, including PTSD, depression, severe difficulties in relationships with their partners, functional impairment and suicide,” he said. “Yet there is an acute lack of effective treatments, particularly in VA settings.”

Some PTSD therapies that are considered the “gold standard” require veterans to “relive their traumas,” said Neria, which is “not preferable among many.”

“As a result, there is a high dropout rate of traditional talk therapies (36% to 68% depending on modality),” he noted.

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The FDA’s potential approval of MDMA-involved treatment represents a “promising step,” Neria said.

“Many veterans seek a larger ‘transcendent’ experience to counter their trauma experience,” he said. “They seek to hit the ‘reset’ button, and hope that psychedelics rapidly do that, with little effort on the veteran’s part.” 

One veteran pointed out the “stigma” around both MDMA and psilocybin, as the drugs have been criminalized by the government after their breakout in the “party scene” during the 1970s and 1980s. (iStock)

“MDMA seems to synergistically improve not only the symptoms of PTSD, but also the relational context among PTSD patients, their partners and family members, allowing sustained improvement through enhanced and strengthened relationships,” he added.

Breaking the ‘party drug’ stigma

Mercer said she believes that any skepticism around the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapies could be due to its criminalization after it broke out in the “party scene” during the 1970s and 1980s.

“Our government, instead of trying to figure out how to keep it safe or keep it in clinics, just scheduled it,” she said. “So, there’s a stigma around MDMA and psilocybin.”

(The DEA puts drugs into different categories, or schedules, to designate their “acceptable medical use or dependency potential.”)

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“The tough conversations have been easier now that we have science that backs up the efficacy and safety of these types of substances,” Mercer also said.

Risks and benefits

While Mercer predicts that FDA approval could eradicate some stigma and educate the public, she encourages veterans to “do their research” before partaking in psychedelic-assisted treatments.

“Also, talk to other veterans who have undergone the process,” Mercer advised. “There are a lot of communities out there … that can help veterans navigate and answer questions.”

U.S. Marine Juliana Mercer is pictured during deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010. (Juliana Mercer)

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, recently interviewed two of the country’s top researchers on psychedelics — Dr. Rachel Yehuda, founder and director of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research at Mt. Sinai in New York, and Dr. Charles Marmar, director of the PTSD research program at NYU Langone.

“They agree there is therapeutic potential if very carefully studied under very strict medical guidance, but there is a huge downside in terms of unregulated recreational uses,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.

Two of the country’s top experts in psychedelics see “likely therapeutic value if carefully managed by medical experts,” noted Dr. Marc Siegel of New York. (iStock)

Yehuda said part of the effect could be from the out-of-body hallucinatory experience, while Marmar said the benefit is purely pharmacological and that the same impact can be gained without the high, Siegel relayed.

“Both doctors see likely therapeutic value to psychedelics if carefully managed by medical experts,” Siegel added.

Hopeful for change

“We’ve thrown so much at this problem, whether it’s helping with employment or education, recreational activities, getting them engaged with their communities – and nothing has moved the needle on this mental health care crisis,” Mercer told Fox News Digital.

As rates of veteran suicide and homelessness continue to rise, the veteran suggested that MDMA-assisted therapy could be “the light at the end of the tunnel.”

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Mercer predicted, “I think that once we’re able to heal our veterans of their PTSD and other mental health conditions, we’ll see a drop in suicides and homelessness … and we’ll see veterans being employed and part of their communities and becoming leaders again.”

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Ozempic and Wegovy could help you shed unwanted pounds and keep obesity-related disease at bay — but you could lose some muscle in the process, some experts warn.

Rapid weight loss can result in a condition called sarcopenia, defined as “the gradual loss of muscle mass, strength and function,” according to Healthline — but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk while still maintaining a healthy weight.

Semaglutide medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy cause weight loss through a combination of mechanisms, including delayed gastric emptying and the GLP1 hormones that signal the stomach to feel full, noted Andrew Y. Sun, M.D., a board-certified urologist and chief medical advisor for Marius Pharmaceuticals in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.

OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS COULD HELP REDUCE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER SYMPTOMS, STUDY SUGGESTS

“Both of these result in a caloric restriction that causes weight loss,” he told Fox News Digital. 

When people shed pounds, it results in a combination of both fat loss and muscle loss. 

“In the clinical studies for drugs in the GLP1 class, the data indicated that 40% to 50% of the weight loss comes from lean muscle mass instead of fat,” Sun said. “When you lose muscle mass, your resting metabolic rate, or the rate the body burns calories, also declines.”

While all patients are susceptible to the loss in muscle mass, women tend to lose more than men, noted Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist, longevity expert and bodybuilder.

“One of the primary factors has to do with circulating testosterone levels,” he told Fox News Digital. 

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“Women have lower levels naturally and have lesser muscle mass at base level. In a caloric deficit, testosterone levels further decrease, and there is potential for significant muscle loss (sarcopenia). This similarly occurs in the aged population.”

‘More susceptible to falls’

The health effects of losing muscle can be more dangerous for certain patients than others, Sun noted.

“When you lose muscle or when you have insufficient amounts of muscle tissue, you are more susceptible to falls and fractures,” he warned. 

Preventing muscle loss starts with heightened surveillance from both the patient and the physician, a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“It makes recovery from illness and injury more difficult and, in general, leads to frailty and a more sedentary lifestyle that can, in extreme cases, increase the likelihood of death.”

Older patients are particularly at risk, he said, but all adults start losing muscle mass as a natural part of the aging process. 

“This begins as early as your 30s and 40s, picking up significantly as adults approach 65,” Sun said. “Some suggest that adults may lose up to 8% of muscle mass each decade.”

“When you lose muscle or when you have insufficient amounts of muscle tissue, you are more susceptible to falls and fractures.”

Then, “when you take a semaglutide drug like Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, you’re significantly increasing this muscle loss — and that can be concerning if you’re an at-risk patient.”

Osborn emphasized the importance of muscle as a protector from disease. 

“Our muscle is our resilience,” he said. “In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, muscle tissue serves as a protein depot from which antibodies form, allowing us to fend off pathogens.”

One way to stimulate appetite is through strength training, which also helps to temper muscle loss. “Muscle is critical to your health,” said one physician. (iStock)

Muscle also acts as a “glucose filter,” he noted, which helps to regulate blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

“The less muscle you have, the more susceptible you are to these diseases — so, muscle is critical to your health.”

‘Pay close attention’

People can take certain steps to counter the risk of semaglutide-related muscle loss, experts agree. 

“It starts with heightened surveillance from both the patient and the physician,” Osborn told Fox News Digital.

VIBRATING WEIGHT LOSS PILL COULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TO OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY, RESEARCHERS SAY

He recommends that physicians conduct regular body measurements of patients and adjust the medication dosage if benchmarks are not being met.

“Patients need to pay close attention to their waistlines and their muscle mass relative to their total body weight,” said Osborn. “A male’s body weight ideally should be comprised of 50% muscle and a female’s should be 45%.”

Achieving that ratio will help stave off age-related diseases such as coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s, the doctor said. 

In some cases, doctors may prescribe hormone therapy to support an individual’s muscle mass.  (Rory Doyle for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

“It will also protect you from frailty and the associated lack of mobility that place you at a high fall risk, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in people over the age of 50,” he said. 

It’s also critical that every patient attempts to meet their prescribed daily calories, Osborn said. 

“The less muscle you have, the more susceptible you are to diseases — so, muscle is critical to your health.”

“In my clinic, we shoot for a caloric intake equal to one’s sedentary basal metabolic rate, or BMR,” he said. “We allow the medication to create a slight caloric deficit to assist in weight loss, but we do not recommend that patients starve themselves, as is often seen in the media.” 

One way to stimulate appetite is through strength training, Osborn noted, which also helps to temper muscle loss.

Sun agreed that patients on semaglutide therapy should adopt strength and resistance training — combined with a high-protein diet — to offset the effects of muscle loss. 

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In some cases, Osborn also prescribes hormone replacement therapy to support an individual’s muscle mass. 

“Using this protocol, we can maintain muscle despite Ozempic usage while driving fat loss, which is a double bonus — and truly the best of both worlds,” he said.

“In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, muscle tissue serves as a protein depot from which antibodies form, allowing us to fend off pathogens,” a doctor said. (iStock)

Looking ahead, Sun said he hopes that the next generation of weight-loss drugs will be more focused on balanced body composition rather than fat loss. 

“Until then, there are circumstances where muscle loss should prompt conversations between the physician and patient about lifestyle changes and concomitant use of other drugs like testosterone to maintain muscle mass,” he added.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, requesting comment on the medication’s potential to increase muscle loss. 

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People who lose a sibling during childhood or early adulthood could be at a higher risk of developing heart disease at an early age, a new study found.

Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong evaluated more than two million people in Denmark who were born between the years 1978 and 2018.

Among those who had lost a sibling, the average age at the time of the death was 11.

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Based on 17 years of follow-up data, the researchers found that sibling death in childhood and early adulthood was associated with a 17% increased overall risk of cardiovascular disease. 

The data analysis was conducted between Nov. 1, 2021, and Jan. 10, 2022.

The study findings were published in JAMA Network Open on Jan. 8.

The risk was higher among those who lost a twin or younger sibling, as compared to an older sibling, the study found.

“The findings highlight the need for extra attention and support to the bereaved siblings to reduce CVD risk later in life,” the researchers wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for additional comments.

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David Schonfeld, M.D., director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, was not involved in the study but offered his reaction to the findings.

“Research on the lifelong impact of adverse experiences that occur during childhood has demonstrated the impact on physical health during adulthood,” he told Fox News Digital via email.  

The risk of developing heart disease was higher among those who lost a twin or younger sibling as compared to an older sibling, the new study found. (iStock)

“Although the initial research on adverse childhood experiences did not look specifically at the impact of the death of a close family member, we know that the death of a parent or sibling is one of the most stressful experiences for children and can contribute to short- and long-term effects on the psychological functioning, emotional adjustment and developmental trajectory of children – as well as their physical health,” he added.  

“A traumatic event like the loss of a sibling can carry over in a significant way into adulthood.”

Jonathan Kahan, M.D., a cardiologist on staff at Delray Medical Center, part of the Palm Beach Health Network in Florida, who was also not part of the research, acknowledged that trauma from the loss of a loved one can extend well beyond the initial loss. 

“This can lead to multiple downstream effects, including chronic stress, survivor’s guilt and a host of other emotional or physical responses,” he told Fox News Digital. 

A doctor encouraged cardiovascular professionals to expand their focus to non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as loss, bereavement and stress. (iStock)

“Chronic stress or chronic guilt is directly linked to cardiovascular disease, which has been shown in multiple studies. A traumatic event like the loss of a sibling can carry over in a significant way into adulthood for those who survive.”

Kahan referred to a condition called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as “broken-heart syndrome” or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which tends to happen acutely after the death of a loved one.

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Based on the findings of this study, Kahan encouraged cardiovascular professionals to expand their focus to non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as loss, bereavement and stress.

“Health care professionals end up focusing on patients during the immediate and acute phase of loss; however, given these findings, the chronic phase of loss should also come into focus,” he said. 

“Chronic stress or chronic guilt is directly linked to cardiovascular disease, which has been shown in multiple studies,” a cardiologist noted. (iStock)

“If a patient has lost a sibling, which many health care professionals screen for when examining family history, this study would give me pause as to whether that loss may still be having an effect.”

And for the person who has lost a sibling — which is a “non-modifiable risk factor” for heart disease — Kahan said it’s important to seek help after the traumatic event, whether emotional, physical or social. 

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“In my experience, the typical response to grief and trauma from losing a loved one is to internalize their pain, stop exercising and isolate from other social activities, which is the exact opposite of what should be done,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“If these practices of isolation, sedation and internalization continue chronically, it will have negative effects on any individual in both the mid and long term.”

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Colorectal cancer is now among the leading causes of cancer deaths for young adults, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Each year, the ACS compiles data on the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in the U.S., which are published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Colorectal cancer has steadily grown among adults younger than 50, the report noted.

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In the late 1990s, it was the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in that age group. 

As of 2024, it ranks as the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and the second leading cause in women.

Dr. Aparna Parikh, medical director of the Center for Young Adult Colorectal Cancer at the Mass General Cancer Center, who is not affiliated with the ACS, said she is “alarmed but not surprised” by the rising colorectal rates among young people — and particularly by the fact that colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50. 

The colorectal cancer research community has been working to determine why rates are rising among young adults, Parikh said.

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“We don’t entirely understand why yet, but it seems to be an interplay of a person’s risk factors, overall makeup and early exposures,” she told Fox News Digital in an email.

“The exposures include dietary exposures, environmental exposures and possible antibiotic exposures, as well as lifestyle factors in the right host,” Parikh added. 

“Screening at [age] 45 is [the] standard of care, and the gold standard is colonoscopy.”

There are many people who have healthy lifestyle habits and no apparent risk factors who go on to develop colorectal cancer, the doctor noted — “and then there are plenty of patients who have less than ideal habits.”

She said, “It really is an interplay between the right person and the right exposures.”

As of 2024, colorectal cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer deaths in men. (iStock)

Some primary risk factors include family history, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol, a diet high in red and processed meats, inflammatory bowel disease and a personal history or family history of polyps, according to Parikh.

To reduce cases in younger patients, the doctor stressed the importance of raising public awareness of the disease around recognizing symptoms early.

CANCER RISK COULD INCREASE WITH CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN FOODS AND DRINKS, STUDY FINDS

She also recommended certain healthy lifestyle habits, including avoiding or limiting red meat, not smoking, exercising regularly and adopting a more Mediterranean-based diet. 

Early screening is also important, Parikh noted.

“Screening at [age] 45 is [the] standard of care, and the gold standard is colonoscopy — but there are also stool-based tests that are appropriate,” she said. 

“If you are having any symptoms like weight loss, blood in stool, anemia or change in bowel habits, you should go straight to colonoscopy.”

Some primary risk factors for colorectal cancer include family history, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol, a diet high in red and processed meats, inflammatory bowel disease and a personal history or family history of polyps, according to a cancer doctor. (iStock)

Overall, the ACS expects that over 2 million new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths will occur in the U.S. in 2024.

Although overall cancer mortality has been dropping — likely as a result of earlier detection, improved treatments and healthy lifestyle behaviors — the report stated that several types of cancers have increased in prevalence.

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In addition to colorectal cancer, cervical cancer also rose 1% to 2% annually among adults between 30 and 44 years of age.

Among all age groups, cancer rates rose 0.6% to 1% annually for breast, pancreas and uterine corpus cancers, and 2% to 3% annually for prostate, liver (female), kidney and human papillomavirus-associated oral cancers and for melanoma, the report stated.

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The data in the ACS report was drawn from central cancer registries and mortality data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Fox News Digital reached out to the ACS for additional comment.

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