The Dangerous Rise of Accidental Overdoses from Weight-Loss Drug ‘Copies’

Accidental overdoses from ‘copies’ of the weight-loss drug sold commercially as Ozempic and Wegovy are on a steep rise in the US. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning to patients, health providers, and compounding pharmacies due to a concerning number of dosing mistakes related to injectable semaglutide. This active ingredient is found in both Ozempic and Wegovy and can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fainting, migraine, dehydration, pancreatitis, and gallstones. In severe cases, overdoses have even resulted in hospitalization. The increase in incidents is alarming, with America’s Poison Centers reporting 15 times more calls related to semaglutide in 2023 compared to 2019.

The surge in popularity of semaglutide injections, originally meant for diabetes treatment, is largely due to their rapid weight-loss effects. Between 2019 and the end of 2023, prescriptions for semaglutide medications spiked by 932 percent. However, this led to a shortage of FDA-approved injections, paving the way for unapproved ‘copies’ of the product known as compounded drugs. Unlike FDA-approved injections available in pre-filled pens, compounded semaglutide is mixed by licensed pharmacists or at drug facilities with varying concentrations from vial to vial. Compounding pharmacies may provide larger syringes not intended for precise doses of semaglutide, further increasing the risk of dosing errors.

Many patients have mistakenly drawn more than the prescribed dose of semaglutide from multiple-dose vials during self-administration. Patients have unknowingly administered five to 20 times more than the intended dose of semaglutide in various reported cases. This can be attributed to the unfamiliarity of patients with measuring the correct dose using a syringe. For instance, one provider mistakenly gave a patient 25 units instead of the intended 0.25 milligrams, resulting in severe vomiting. In another case, a provider prescribed 20 units instead of 2 units, causing three patients to experience nausea and vomiting. Additionally, patients instructed to administer just 5 units from a 100-unit syringe accidentally administered 50 units, ten times the intended dosage.

To prevent these dangerous mistakes, the FDA recommends that health care providers and compounders supply patients with appropriately sized syringes that cannot accommodate doses far beyond the intended dosage. Patients should receive clear instructions on how to measure the correct dose using a syringe, and health care providers must pay close attention to dosage conversions when prescribing compounded drugs. If an overdose of semaglutide is ever suspected, immediate medical attention is necessary to avoid potential complications. It is crucial for all parties involved to take proactive measures to prevent accidental overdoses and promote patient safety.

Accidental overdoses from ‘copies’ of the weight-loss drug sold commercially as Ozempic and Wegovy are on a steep rise in the US. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning to patients, health providers, and compounding pharmacies due to a concerning number of dosing mistakes related to injectable semaglutide. This active ingredient is found in both Ozempic and Wegovy and can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fainting, migraine, dehydration, pancreatitis, and gallstones. In severe cases, overdoses have even resulted in hospitalization. The increase in incidents is alarming, with America’s Poison Centers reporting 15 times more calls related to semaglutide in 2023 compared to 2019.

The surge in popularity of semaglutide injections, originally meant for diabetes treatment, is largely due to their rapid weight-loss effects. Between 2019 and the end of 2023, prescriptions for semaglutide medications spiked by 932 percent. However, this led to a shortage of FDA-approved injections, paving the way for unapproved ‘copies’ of the product known as compounded drugs. Unlike FDA-approved injections available in pre-filled pens, compounded semaglutide is mixed by licensed pharmacists or at drug facilities with varying concentrations from vial to vial. Compounding pharmacies may provide larger syringes not intended for precise doses of semaglutide, further increasing the risk of dosing errors.

Many patients have mistakenly drawn more than the prescribed dose of semaglutide from multiple-dose vials during self-administration. Patients have unknowingly administered five to 20 times more than the intended dose of semaglutide in various reported cases. This can be attributed to the unfamiliarity of patients with measuring the correct dose using a syringe. For instance, one provider mistakenly gave a patient 25 units instead of the intended 0.25 milligrams, resulting in severe vomiting. In another case, a provider prescribed 20 units instead of 2 units, causing three patients to experience nausea and vomiting. Additionally, patients instructed to administer just 5 units from a 100-unit syringe accidentally administered 50 units, ten times the intended dosage.

To prevent these dangerous mistakes, the FDA recommends that health care providers and compounders supply patients with appropriately sized syringes that cannot accommodate doses far beyond the intended dosage. Patients should receive clear instructions on how to measure the correct dose using a syringe, and health care providers must pay close attention to dosage conversions when prescribing compounded drugs. If an overdose of semaglutide is ever suspected, immediate medical attention is necessary to avoid potential complications. It is crucial for all parties involved to take proactive measures to prevent accidental overdoses and promote patient safety.