What are the effects of using fake Ozempic?
The World Health Organization has issued an alert due to the proliferation of counterfeit Ozempic, a drug widely used for diabetes and weight loss.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert warning against the proliferation in several countries of counterfeit Ozempic, a drug widely used against diabetes that is becoming increasingly popular to promote weight loss.
The warning refers to three counterfeit batches that have been detected in Brazil in October 2023, in the United Kingdom in October 2023, and in the United States in December 2023. This is the second WHO alert for counterfeit medicines this year.
WHO: ‘Fakes can cause harmful effects on health’
Although the United Nations agency has been monitoring a growing number of reports of fake semaglutide- the generic name of Ozempic- since 2022, this is the first time that it has officially issued a warning.
“These counterfeit products can cause harmful effects on health if they do not have the appropriate ingredients, which can lead to complications due to the lack of control of the levels of blood glucose related to weight,” stated the alert from the health agency.
There have been reports of a small number of people getting hospitalized after using the fake products. Some side effects reported were hypoglycemia and seizures since the counterfeit Ozempic pens may have contained insulin instead of semaglutide.
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WHO recommendations
The warning recommends that health professionals and state regulators increase vigilance against these possible counterfeits, stopping the use of any suspicious products and reporting it quickly to the authorities.
It also urges consumers to purchase this type of medication with a prescription from qualified doctors, and to avoid buying them from unfamiliar or unverified sources, such as those that can be found on the Internet.
The agency advises consumers to review the information on the packaging including the expiration date, and in the case of injectable forms, its correct conservation in the refrigerator.
For now, the WHO does not generally recommend this type of treatment due to its high cost, saying there are other more affordable alternatives.