The National Medicines Safety Agency is sounding the alarm over the misuse of Ozempic, an antidiabetic promoted on social networks as a way to quickly lose weight.
Prescribed for the treatment of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has become the star of the TikTok social network. Influencers praise the merit of this drug, which they present to Internet users as a very effective appetite suppressant for losing weight.
Semaglutide, its active ingredient, acts by attaching itself to the receptors of a hormone which has a role in the control of blood sugar and stimulates the release of insulin when the level of glucose in the blood is high. It also slows the emptying of the stomach, thereby reducing appetite and causing significant weight loss, around 10% in one year. A property that has enabled the manufacturer to obtain the marketing of semaglutide in many countries, including the United States, at a higher dose and under another name, Wegovy, for the treatment of obesity.
Significant side effects
Only here, the inappropriate taking of this antidiabetic is not without risk. Indeed, on the one hand, it has side effects that can lead to biliary, pancreatic and even thyroid cancer. On the other hand, the use of Ozempic as an appetite suppressant by many people can create stockouts and therefore difficulties in accessing treatment for diabetics, as is already the case in the United States. and in Australia. A situation which, for questions of appearance of fake patients, endangers the lives of real patients, for whom this treatment is vital.
Available only on prescription, Ozempic was delivered to 215,000 patients in France in one year. Of these recipients, more than 2,000 can be considered non-diabetics. To compensate for a sharp increase in the misuse of this drug, the ANSM recommends more vigilance to pharmacists who can refuse to dispense Ozempic in case of doubt.
The National Medicines Agency (ANSM) called doctors to order, asking them to strictly respect the indication of diabetes for the prescription. The ANSM does not observe any ” particular peak or sudden increase in recent months in consumption “, but the Ozempic experienced “ supply voltages due to increasing global demand.