Penn researchers are using AI and social media to assess drug side effects
University of Pennsylvania researchers used AI to analyze 410,198 Reddit posts on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, finding 43.5% of 67,008 users self-reported at least one side effect. The study, published in Nature Health, aimed to complement the FDA's existing reporting system for adverse events.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are using AI to mine Reddit threads to evaluate the safety and side effects of prescription drugs. They analyzed 410,198 Reddit posts on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic between May 2019 and June 2025. The study found that among 67,008 users, 43.5% self-reported at least one side effect, mostly gastrointestinal-related. The researchers also found that almost 4% of the GLP-1 users with side effects reported symptoms related to menstrual changes. The study's findings are intended to complement the FDA's existing reporting system for adverse events. The FDA is also leveraging advances in AI to accelerate early-phase clinical trials.
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