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Study · Observational study · n = 1 · 2025

6 results

Semaglutide-induced Wernicke encephalopathy: a comprehensive analysis.

Gras C, De Wit V, Oussedik N, Daclin S, Bourdin V, Callot D, Chegrani G, Rives-Lange C, Chouchana L

European journal of clinical nutrition4 Sept 2025Cited by 4 (Europe PMC)

PMID40908328 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41430-025-01653-7 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40908328
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

  1. 01HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In the WHO VigiBase safety database, Wernicke encephalopathy was disproportionately reported with semaglutide.

    In plain wordsIn a global drug safety database, Wernicke encephalopathy was reported more often than expected with semaglutide; this is a signal, not proof.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseDisproportionate reporting of Wernicke encephalopathy in VigiBase
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Disproportionality analysis in VigiBase showed that Wernicke encephalopathy was disproportionately reported with semaglutide, tirzepatide and the whole GLP-1RAs group.
  2. 02HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In the WHO VigiBase safety database, Wernicke encephalopathy was disproportionately reported with tirzepatide.

    In plain wordsIn a global drug safety database, Wernicke encephalopathy was reported more often than expected with tirzepatide; this is a signal, not proof.

    Peptide
    Tirzepatide
    Outcome
    IncreaseDisproportionate reporting of Wernicke encephalopathy in VigiBase
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Disproportionality analysis in VigiBase showed that Wernicke encephalopathy was disproportionately reported with semaglutide, tirzepatide and the whole GLP-1RAs group.
  3. 03HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 49-year-old woman treated with semaglutide for obesity, Wernicke encephalopathy occurred in a context of iterative vomiting and reduced food intake.

    In plain wordsA 49-year-old woman treated with semaglutide for obesity developed Wernicke encephalopathy after repeated vomiting and low food intake; one case cannot show cause.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Not applicableWernicke encephalopathy case
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We describe here the case of a 49-year-old female patient treated with semaglutide for obesity, who presented with Wernicke encephalopathy in a context of iterative vomiting and reduced food intake.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

  1. 04HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneObservational studySafety outcome

    In the WHO VigiBase safety database, Wernicke encephalopathy was disproportionately reported with the whole GLP-1 receptor agonist group.

    In plain wordsIn a global drug safety database, Wernicke encephalopathy was reported more often than expected for GLP-1 drugs as a group.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseDisproportionate reporting of Wernicke encephalopathy with the whole GLP-1RA group
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Disproportionality analysis in VigiBase showed that Wernicke encephalopathy was disproportionately reported with semaglutide, tirzepatide and the whole GLP-1RAs group.

    In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

  2. 05HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    Among reported cases of Wernicke encephalopathy with GLP-1 receptor agonists, nausea/vomiting or reduced food intake was described in 68% of cases.

    In plain wordsAmong reported Wernicke cases linked to GLP-1 drugs, about two thirds had nausea, vomiting or reduced food intake.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Not applicableNausea, vomiting or reduced food intake in Wernicke cases
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition

    Measurements

    Cases with nausea/vomiting or reduced food intake
    68%
    reported Wernicke cases

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A context of nausea/vomiting or reduced food intake is described in 68% of cases, with weight loss ranging from -3.5 to -13.3 kg/month over 3 to 6 months.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Eighteen other cases of Wernicke encephalopathy were reported in literature and in the WHO global safety database (VigiBase).

    In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

  3. 06HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    Among reported cases of Wernicke encephalopathy with GLP-1 receptor agonists, weight loss ranged from -3.5 to -13.3 kg/month over 3 to 6 months.

    In plain wordsAmong reported Wernicke cases linked to GLP-1 drugs, people lost weight quickly over 3 to 6 months.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWeight loss before Wernicke encephalopathy
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A context of nausea/vomiting or reduced food intake is described in 68% of cases, with weight loss ranging from -3.5 to -13.3 kg/month over 3 to 6 months.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Eighteen other cases of Wernicke encephalopathy were reported in literature and in the WHO global safety database (VigiBase).

    In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 3Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:07 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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