One in seven people using drugs not licensed for weight loss as 1.6 million in UK now on them
At least 1.6 million Britons used weight-loss jabs last year, but a seventh of them are using drugs not licensed for this purpose as demand soars.
Weight loss pills like Wegovy and Mounjaro have skyrocketed in popularity; many people have spent hundreds of pounds buying these drugs specifically for weight loss purposes.
A survey of 5,260 people found that an estimated 3.3 million people would be interested in using weight-loss drugs next year, researchers at University College London found.
While 2.9 percent of those surveyed said they used GLP-1 drugs to lose weight (an estimated 1.6 million people), 15 percent of these people used unlicensed drugs for this purpose.
Researchers have warned that “off-label” use of drugs could pose safety risks if the drugs are accessed without appropriate clinical supervision.
One of the medicines used ‘off-label’ is Rybelsus, which is only licensed for type 2 diabetes in the UK. Independent Pharmacists Association CEO Dr. Leyla Hannbeck explained that the drug uses the same active ingredient as Wegovy but comes as a daily oral dose instead of a weekly injection.
“Some healthcare providers may prescribe Rybelsus for weight loss, but it is not currently licensed for this purpose and off-license use must be under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure suitability for the patient, correct dosage and treatment monitored,” he said. Independent.
Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea are side effects of the drug, but there is also the risk of taking the wrong dose.
“There is a risk of overdose if a patient takes several tablets, which can potentially lead to serious low blood sugar, increased severity of side effects and, in some cases, pancreatitis,” Dr Hannbeck added.
The study authors also expressed concern that some people taking these drugs may not be adequately supervised as demand increases.
Co-author Professor Clare Llewellyn, from UCL, said: “Weight loss drugs such as GLP-1 agonists could play an important role in improving the health of the nation. Our findings show that many people access these drugs outside the NHS.”
“This raises concerns about equity given the cost of these drugs and the adequacy of treatment supervision.”
Lead author Professor Sarah Jackson, from UCL, added: “A large number of people use these medicines without medical supervision and there is a huge potential for misuse. NHS prescribing data only reflects a small part of the picture.”
For published work BMC Medicine and Cancer Research UK-funded researchers used data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, an ongoing monthly survey of adults in England, Wales and Scotland (but excluding Northern Ireland).
Survey participants aged 18 and over were also asked about their use of five medications: Mounjaro (contains tirzepatide), Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus (all three contain semaglutide), and Saxenda (contains liraglutide).
Four in five participants who used the drug solely for weight loss reported using Mounjaro, which was first made available on the NHS through GP surgeries in June last year as part of plans to distribute the vaccine to 220,000 patients over the next three years.
Only a handful of injections can currently be prescribed for weight loss on the NHS. Prescription criteria are also currently stringent, although at least 3.4 million patients on the NHS are eligible for a prescription.
The price of Mounjaro rose to as high as £335 per dose in early September, prompting people to look for alternatives.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been contacted for comment.
