Why Are People Taking Weight Loss Medicines Calling Poison Centers?

Oprah Winfrey recently revealed that she is taking weight loss medication as a maintenance tool. People reported that the media mogul said that weight fluctuations “occupied five decades of space in my brain, yo-yo-ing and feeling like why can’t I just conquer this thing, believing willpower was my failing.” Many have speculated that the media mogul is taking semaglutide injections, prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, with names like Ozempic and  Wegovy. And where you get these medications matters.

Oprah isn’t alone. Last year, doctors wrote 9 million prescriptions for the medication. A one-month supply could cost up to $1,000 if it isn’t covered by insurance. Your physician sets the dosage amount, which may increase over time. When you are on these medications, you are responsible for the injections. And that is where some people have been reporting issues. Poison Centers nationwide are reporting a large uptick in calls by 1500%. Patients have called because of errors with dosing, taking the wrong amount, or accidentally double dosing.

Increased calls may be happening because people have turned to alternatives like Medispas and online sellers to get weight loss solutions at more affordable prices. However, the medications received may not be semiglutides, but a version containing semiglutide sodium, which the FDA hasn’t tested or approved as safe, or a compounded version with a dosage that hasn’t been approved.

Ozempic and Wegovy, prescribed by a medical professional, come in injectable pens with a dial to manage the dosage. With compounded versions, you may be given a glass vial and syringes. Patients have called the poison center when using the latter version when they have accidentally taken 10x of the recommended dosage.

Novo Nordisk, who manufacturers Ozempic, has taken legal action against illegal sellers, and the FDA has said, “Patients should only obtain drugs containing semaglutide with a prescription from a licensed health care provider, and only obtain medicines from state-licensed pharmacies or outsourcing facilities registered with FDA.” And has written letters to the National Association of Board of Pharmacies and Federation of State Medical Boards warning them about the compounded medicines.

And if you are already on the weight loss drug, know the signs of an overdose.

According to the Missouri Poison Center, signs of a semaglutide overdose include:

If you think you have overdosed on a weight loss drug,  call your local poison control center or the national hotline at 800-222-1222.

And, if you are considering one of these weight loss solutions, do your research, get your prescription from a doctor, and do not look for a hookup to save money.