Semaglutide-induced Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Abstract

Long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists have traditionally been used for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. More recently, the medical community in the United States has used its most common side effect, weight loss, as an adjunct therapy for weight management in certain populations. Little is known about the effects of semaglutide in pregnancy. But in nonpregnant people, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and abdominal cramping are common side effects. Here we present the first reported case of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) induced by semaglutide. Our patient presented at 7 weeks’ gestational age with 4 days of extreme nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and anorexia, symptoms that she did not experience in prior pregnancies. The patient was treated with little symptomatic improvement during her hospitalization. She later informed the medical team of her use of a high dose of subcutaneous semaglutide (2 mg) the day of symptom onset before discovering her pregnancy; semaglutide was obtained online without clinicians’ guidance. Her symptoms resolved 6 days after taking semaglutide, which closely coincides with semaglutide's half-life. This leads us to believe that semaglutide exaggerated the physiological nausea and vomiting of pregnancy causing HG.