FDA Alert: Risks of Injectable Weight-Loss Drug Overdose
When it comes to drugs, following the recommended or prescribed dosages is crucial. While it can be tempting to take more than prescribed, it can be hazardous to your health. This week, the FDA issued an alert about Ozempic and other weight loss drugs, revealing there have been several reports of overdoses. However, instead of helping people lose more weight, taking more than recommended is resulting in some pretty serious side effects.
The FDA Has Received Several Reports of Ozempic Overdose
In a press release, the FDA revealed that they have received reports of "adverse events, some requiring hospitalization, that may be related to overdoses due to dosing errors associated with compounded semaglutide injectable products."
They maintain that people are doing it incorrectly. "Dosing errors have resulted from patients measuring and self-administering incorrect doses of the drug and health care providers miscalculating doses of the drug," they continue. "The majority of the reports described patients mistakenly drawing up more than the prescribed dose from a multiple-dose vial during self-administration. In these instances, patients administered five to 20 times more than the intended dose of semaglutide."
Many of the Patients Were Inexperienced with Self-Injections
They encourage patients to talk with their healthcare provider or compounder about how to measure and administer the intended dose of compounded semaglutide.
"Many of the patients who received vials of compounded semaglutide lacked experience with self-injections, according to the adverse event reports. Unfamiliarity with withdrawing medication from a vial into a syringe coupled with confusion between different units of measurement (e.g., milliliters, milligrams, and "units") may have contributed to dosing errors," they say.
Providers Need to Counsel Patients
FDA encourages healthcare providers and compounders to provide patients with the appropriate syringe size for the intended dose and counsel patients on how to measure the intended dose using the syringe.
Additionally, health care providers should be vigilant when prescribing and administering compounded semaglutide, as there may be different concentrations available. If uncertain, health care providers should contact the compounder about calculating the correct dose of medication to prescribe or administer.
These Are the Signs of Ozempic Overdose
According to the prescribing information for FDA-approved semaglutide injection, there are several adverse effects of overdose, including severe nausea, severe vomiting and severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).
"A prolonged period of observation and treatment for overdose symptoms may be necessary due to the long half-life of semaglutide of about one week," they add.
RELATED: 20 Possible Ozempic Side Effects
Compounded Versions Are Being Marketed for Weight Loss and Are "Riskier"
The FDA also reveals that there are compounded semaglutide products marketed for weight loss, which are riskier than the pure versions. "Compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs because compounded drugs do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, quality or effectiveness. Compounded drugs should only be used for patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an available FDA-approved drug," they say.
Amongst the reports, the FDA reveals that some side effects were serious. "Some patients sought medical attention or required hospitalization. Adverse events included gastrointestinal effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), fainting, headache, migraine, dehydration, acute pancreatitis, and gallstones," they say. If you read this article, don't miss these 20 Things You Need to Know About Ozempic and Weight Loss.
