One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions each year is to improve one’s health. This often includes losing excess weight. Over the past couple of years, many people have turned to prescription medication options to help them with this goal by taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic® and Wegovy®. While these drugs may help people on their journey, it is important to understand the potential for unwanted side effects when using them.
How GLP-1 Medicines work
GLP-1 medication is a type of drug that mimics the natural production of the GLP-1 hormone in our bodies that regulate blood sugar levels. It is used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The drug is given as a shot and helps the body make more insulin to lower blood sugar and manage type 2 diabetes. It also helps reduce hunger, so people feel full quicker and stay full longer, which helps them eat less.
Demand and Shortage
Many prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs are dispensed in prefilled pens which regulates dosage, but the companies making these drugs have had a hard time keeping up with the demand. This has created shortages that have left some people relying on compounding pharmacies for the medicine. Compounding is when a pharmacy mixes, combines, or alters ingredients to create a medication that is tailored to a patient’s needs. However, the compounded forms of these GLP-1 medicines do not have the safety features of the prefilled dosing pens. They often come in vials with syringes that requires a person to measure the dose themselves. This increases the risk of dosing mistakes. While companies are beginning to catch up with the demand for these drugs, some shortages still remain.
Dosing Errors and Side Effects
Taking too much of either the prefilled products such as Ozempic® and Wegovy®, or the compounded formula, can cause severe side effects. The dosing of the compounded formula can be very confusing and has led some people to accidentally administer doses that are up to 10 times higher than recommended. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms can get worse and cause severe dehydration that in some cases have required hospitalization. Anyone having this problem should contact their doctor or call poison control for help.
Poison Control Calls
Since 2020, Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) has seen a 640% increase in calls about GLP-1 medicine and about 20% of these cases have required a medical evaluation at a health care facility. Calls to UPCC have remained high over the past few years as the popularity of these drugs continue.
Preventing Overdose
Pharmacists and doctors handle the cases at Utah Poison Control Center when you call in on the free hotline. Specialists in poison information can answer your questions and help if you have taken too much medication. Don’t hesitate to call anytime 24/7 and it doesn’t even have to be an emergency. Caring specialists at UPCC want to prevent poisonings too. Follow these tips to help avoid severe side effects from GLP-1 medication:
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain dosage of GLP-1 medicine carefully and even demonstrate by showing you exactly what to do.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how to take the medicine.
- Follow dosing instructions carefully. If you are unsure, call your doctor, pharmacist, or poison control BEFORE administering the medicine.
- Save the Poison Help number in your phone in case you need to call 1-800-222-1222. Calls are always free and confidential.