A survey of U.S. adults has found that 25 percent of respondents would consider using weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro without consulting their doctor first.
"A patient could have a serious or life-threatening side effect such as severe dehydration, pancreatitis, or allergic reaction," internal medicine physician at Ohio State University, Dr. Shengyi Mao, told Newsweek when asked about a worst-case scenario of taking these drugs without a prescription.
"While side effects may also happen for patients who are prescribed these medications, the prescriber is likely to be screening patients for appropriateness of taking the medicine, and monitoring for reactions and know how to deal with them."
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor analogs, developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
They work by mimicking a fullness hormone called GLP-1: supporting healthy blood sugar control, slowing digestion, reducing appetite, and perhaps increasing metabolism.
"The main findings of the survey are that a quarter of adults in the U.S. would risk using injectable weight loss medication without consulting a doctor, for reasons such as lower cost and lack of insurance," said Mao.
The survey by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center included 1,006 respondents, all of them adults in the U.S.
"Weight loss medications are not one size fits all and patients should always discuss options with a trusted medical professional first to avoid being exposed to potential health risks," Mao said.
Side effects of GLP-1 analogs may include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain.
There have also been reports of mental health side effects, such as depression and suicidal thoughts, but this link has been disputed in recent research.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated on its website: "Patients should only obtain drugs containing semaglutide [a form of GLP-1 analog] with a prescription from a licensed health care provider, and only obtain medicines from state-licensed pharmacies or outsourcing facilities registered with FDA."
Researchers found that, of those who expressed a willingness to access injectable weight loss drugs without consulting their doctor, 18 percent said they would be motivated by lower costs.
"The survey shows that cost is the number one reason," Mao told Newsweek. "Not everyone getting these medicines without a prescription should be on them, but many do qualify.
"Unfortunately, since the medicines are not always covered by insurance even for FDA approved indications, folks are turning to other solutions."
Another 15 percent said they would use weight-loss drugs without a prescription because they were not covered by their insurance to receive this medication from their doctor.
Meanwhile, 9 percent said they would be unable to get a prescription for such drugs, and 6 percent complained of a lack of availability through a pharmacy.
When weight loss drugs are in short supply—as they often have been since they came on the market—pharmacies in the U.S. may compound them, meaning they custom-make alternatives to the brand-name drugs to keep up with demand.
However, the FDA has warned that it does not review the safety of compounded drugs, and that it has received reports that these may be in forms that have not been approved by the FDA—notably, using semaglutide salt.
It has also stated that it is investigating reports of counterfeit Ozempic—a popular GLP-1 analog, prescribed for type 2 diabetes—being marketed in the U.S.
"The FDA has issued warnings about adverse events from dosing calculation errors from compounded medications, leading to higher than intended doses and even hospitalization in severe cases," said Mao.
"There are a few contraindications for injectable weight loss medicines which may be overlooked if patients are getting these medications without a prescription," she said. "Gastrointestinal side effects are fairly common with injectable weight loss medicines and can be severe in some cases.
"Other concerns with getting these medicines without prescription including possible counterfeit medicine."
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