Semaglutide Users Face Risk of Stomach Stones, Case Study Warns

Clinical Case: A Diabetes Patient’s Unexpected Complication

According to НВ — Техно: A woman with type 2 diabetes and obesity developed a gastric bezoar after taking semaglutide for one year. Doctors discontinued the drug and treated the bezoar with 1.5 liters of diet cola. Once she resumed a normal diet, she was discharged and has remained symptom-free.

The incident occurred on July 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM. The patient, who had type 2 diabetes and obesity, lost about 18 kilograms while on semaglutide therapy. In the final month, her weight loss accelerated. However, CT scans and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed dilated bile ducts and a distended stomach. An upper endoscopy then uncovered a gastric bezoar-a condition found in fewer than 0.5% of endoscopic exams. Physicians attributed the bezoar to semaglutide use.

Treating the Bezoar

Semaglutide was stopped, and doctors turned to a first-line remedy: a carbonated beverage. Standard medical practice calls for 3 liters of cola, taken orally or via a tube, over 12 hours. In this case, the patient received half that amount-1.5 liters of diet cola. By the second day of treatment, her nausea and discomfort had resolved. A follow-up endoscopy confirmed the bezoar had completely dissolved.

After returning to a regular diet, the woman was released from the hospital. Over several months of monitoring, her symptoms did not return, and her weight stabilized. Notably, bezoars (specifically phytobezoars) often form from excessive consumption of persimmons, pineapples, or celery. The patient’s attempts to self-treat with standard over-the-counter heartburn remedies had proven ineffective.

This case highlights the need for careful monitoring of patients undergoing therapy with diabetes and weight-loss medications.

While semaglutide has proven effective for weight reduction, potential side effects like gastric bezoars warrant attention. Treating bezoars with carbonated drinks shows that, in some instances, traditional approaches can work-but individual patient factors must always be considered.