Wes Streeting and the medical regulator yesterday issued a joint alert amid growing concerns the ‘serious medication’ is being abused.
The health secretary said the injections are not ‘cosmetic’ treatments and should only be used by obese people who have failed to shift weight through diet and exercise.
They also need to be prescribed and used responsibly under medical supervision, he added.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reminded healthcare professionals to inform patients of the potential side-effects of the drugs.
And it said they must report adverse reactions to officials using the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
The health secretary Wes Streeting said the injections are not ‘cosmetic’ treatments
Doctors are being told to look out for patients who are misusing fat jabs in pursuit of a ‘quick fix’ (file image)
Ozempic and its sister drug Wegovy work by triggering the body to bind to a receptor called the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a protein that triggers the release of hormones in the brain which keep the stomach full and tell the body to stop eating and avoid cravings
NHS-backed data source OpenPrescribing shows soaring prescriptions for semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy
The class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists include the likes of Wegovy and Ozempic, which are used to treat obesity and diabetes.
More than one in ten users will suffer gastrointestinal side-effects, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
In most cases, these are not serious but may sometimes lead to severe dehydration, resulting in hospitalisation.
Mr Streeting, who has proposed giving the jabs to obese jobless people to get them back to work, said: ‘Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential.
‘When taken alongside healthy diet and exercise, they can be game changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health.
‘But these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram.
‘These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.
‘They’re not a quick fix to lose a few pounds and buying them online without appropriate assessment can put people’s health at risk.
‘Drugs approved for weight management should only be used by those tackling obesity, where diet and exercise has been tried first, and where patients are eligible.’
Other serious side-effects from the medication include pancreatitis and gall bladder disorders.
When ‘appropriately used’ in line with the product licence, the MHRA said the benefits of the drugs outweigh the risks.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reminded healthcare professionals to inform patients of the potential side-effects of the drugs
The Food, Diet and Obesity Committee previously called on ministers to fix the ‘broken food system’ (stock image)
However, it warned this balance is positive only for those patients within the approved scope.
For weight management, this means patients with a body mass index (BMI) higher or equal to 30 or for patients whose BMI is higher or equal to 27 and have a weight-related medical condition, such as cardiovascular disease.
GLP-1 receptor agonists can only be prescribed by a registered healthcare professional.
The MHRA said patients obtaining a private prescription from a non-NHS prescriber should ensure this is dispensed from an authorised source, such as a registered pharmacy, to avoid the risk of receiving a fake.
Some fake jabs have been found to contain insulin, which could cause severe hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) requiring urgent medical attention.
Signs include sweating, shaking, feelings of tiredness or weakness and confusion.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: ‘All medicines carry a risk of potential side effects and GLP-1RAs are no exception.
‘We encourage healthcare professionals to ensure patients being treated with these medicines are aware of the common side effects and how to minimise risk.
‘The balance of benefits and risks outside the licensed indication has not been shown to be favourable. Please report cases of misuse especially if harm occurs.’
