Several people in Austria were treated in hospital after using what authorities believe to be counterfeit Ozempic, raising concerns that counterfeit diabetes drugs are circulating across Europe. highlighted.
Ozempic started trending this year, with celebrities, TikTok influencers, and others claiming to use it to lose weight quickly. It was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to treat diabetes. A similar drug called Wigovy, which contains a higher dose of Ozempic’s active ingredient semaglutide, was approved in 2021.
european officials I have recently Ozempic’s growing popularity has limited availability for diabetics, and he warned that criminal organizations are exploiting the shortage by putting counterfeit injection pens on the market.
Patients treated in Austria have reported serious side effects, including hypoglycemia and seizures, and officials said the product likely contained insulin rather than semaglutide.
Austria’s Federal Agency for Medical Safety did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday about the patient’s situation, but officials said the fake 1-milligram-strength pen likely came from a source other than the pharmacy.
“Inventory of the affected batches may still be in circulation or may have been obtained by other doctors through this illegal route,” the statement said. “Patients who obtain a prefilled Ozempic pen directly from a physician who is not in charge of the hospital pharmacy should contact that physician immediately.”
In the UK, the regulatory authority that oversees all medicines and medical devices confirmed last week Ozempic pens with false labels were identified at two unidentified wholesalers.
Officials said the pens had come to the UK from authorized suppliers in Austria and Germany, adding that all pens had been recalled and were not distributed to patients.
European Medicines Agency issued a similar notice Last week, it announced it was assisting national authorities in their investigation. A warning has also been issued to drug distributors across the European Union.
Despite Ozempic’s popularity, the drug has limitations. When patients use it to lose weight, they inevitably reach a plateau. Doctors say some people take Ozempic or similar drugs to lose as much weight as possible and become angry when they stop. When some people reach a plateau, they tend to stop taking the medication and gain the weight back.
Although this drug can melt away weight, serious side effects can occur, such as facial aging, extreme loss of appetite causing malnutrition, or loss of muscle mass.
Elderly patients taking medications may have additional concerns. Experts say muscle loss over the age of 65 can lead to frailty and an increased risk of fractures and falls. Maintaining muscle mass is critical to maintaining mobility and independence.
