The UK’s drug safety regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has issued a warning to doctors to watch out for patients who might be misusing obesity injections, including Wegovy. This alert comes after reports of some individuals becoming ill after using these injections for weight loss, even though they were not obese. The MHRA emphasizes that these drugs are intended only for the treatment of obesity and diabetes, and advises that they should only be prescribed by registered healthcare professionals. While most side-effects are minor, some can be severe, warns the MHRA.
The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has voiced his support for the MHRA’s warning. He pointed out that these drugs are serious medicines and are not meant to be used for people to achieve an ideal look for social media. The MHRA says that when used appropriately, according to product license, the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks for patients. However, this benefit-risk balance is only positive for patients who meet the approved indications for weight loss or type 2 diabetes, as specified in the product information.
According to the MHRA, common side-effects of these injections include feeling nauseous, vomiting, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea, among others. It adds that all drugs carry a risk of potential side-effects, and it encourages doctors to ensure that patients undergoing treatment with these injections are aware of the common side-effects and the ways to minimize risk.
Dr. Vicky Price, President of the Society for Acute Medicine, revealed that she had seen patients who are not overweight but had health issues after taking the injections. The most common thing that we’re seeing is anything related to the gut. So diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, people not being able to eat, getting very dehydrated as a result of that,” said Dr. Price.
One woman, Lorna Edgar, reported taking these jabs for a month after her General Practitioner told her she was not eligible to receive them through the National Health Service. After collapsing on the bathroom floor, she was diagnosed with pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening condition and a rare side-effect of the injection. Lorna was admitted to the hospital for five days and has since developed chronic health problems. She said that she believed the injections were a “miracle” treatment and that they were 100% safe. Lorna’s experience reinforces the importance of using these drugs responsibly and under medical supervision
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