Pregnant women warned against using weight-loss jabs

Pregnant women warned against using weight-loss jabs

Health experts are cautioning women who use weight-loss injections to halt their use if they are attempting to conceive, are already pregnant, or are breastfeeding. The UK drug safety authorities have pointed out that the potential risks of taking medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro during pregnancy are unknown. This advice is already outlined in the patient information leaflets provided with these drugs. Concerns have been raised regarding the growing trend of ‘skinny jabs’ and the lack of proper usage or guidance among many women.

One such woman, Natasha Major, shared her experience of discontinuing the use of Mounjaro after discovering her pregnancy. Natasha, 26, had started using the injections to shed some weight before planning for her third child in the future. However, she was surprised to find out she was pregnant just six weeks later. Worried about potential harm to the baby, she promptly stopped using the injections and sought advice from her GP. Thankfully, her early ultrasound showed a healthy pregnancy, bringing joy and relief to Natasha and her family.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has expressed concerns about the unsafe usage of popular GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Victoza, and Ozempic. These prescription drugs, primarily used for obesity treatment and type 2 diabetes in the case of Ozempic, work by inducing a feeling of fullness similar to a hormone released after eating. Despite being available on the NHS only for individuals with a considerably high BMI, the demand for these drugs has led many to purchase them from unregulated sources for a quick weight loss fix.

Due to a few reported cases of unintended pregnancies and pregnancy-related complications, the MHRA has issued guidance recommending women to use contraception while on GLP-1 medications and for a specific duration post-treatment before attempting to conceive. The agency also suggests additional contraceptive methods or precautions for those using Mounjaro and oral contraceptives concurrently, as the weight-loss injections can potentially reduce the effectiveness of the pill in overweight or obese individuals. The MHRA stresses the importance of providing clear information on contraceptive measures to women using these injections to prevent any unintended pregnancies

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More