AI Uncovers Unexpected Side Effects of Unapproved Weight-Loss Drug Retatrutide from Social Media Data

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania utilized AI to analyze nearly 150,000 Reddit posts and comments from approximately 40,000 users discussing their experiences with unapproved formulations of the experimental weight-loss drug retatrutide. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, identified unexpected side effects such as increased appetite, sleep disturbances, and elevated heart rates, which differ from findings in clinical trials. Retatrutide is not approved by major regulators like the TGA or FDA, and its illegal sale online poses significant health risks.