Thousands of people want to lose weight, and therefore resort to the most diverse strategies. In this sense, many people are taking injections to lose weight without medical prescription. However, this practice can be very dangerous. So check out the risks that these medications can offer to health.
Read more: Can hypertensive people receive disability pension?
see more
Secret of youth? Researchers reveal how to reverse…
The "powers" of porridge: check out the benefits of oats in…
Injections against obesity
Experts warn against the rampant consumption of injections to lose weight without a prescription. There is a wide variety of these drugs available on the market and there is no requirement for a prescription in pharmacies, which facilitates their acquisition.
The medicines cost between R$ 600 and R$ 900 and are bestsellers in pharmacies in Brazil. They were initially formulated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, they have also been shown to be effective in weight loss, which is why the manufacturer has created specific dosages for obese patients.
Saxenda was the best-selling drug in Brazilian pharmacies between April 2020 and April 2021, according to a survey by the IQVIA consultancy. The active principle of this medication is liraglutide, involved in the cerebral control of appetite and satiety. A box of Saxenda costs around R$600.
Ozempic, whose active substance is semaglutide, is from the same laboratory as Saxenda, and is more effective in controlling type 2 diabetes, mainly because it can be applied in a range of one week. The pen for the subcutaneous injection of this drug costs around BRL 870.
Risks of using Saxenda and Ozempic without a prescription
As with all medicines, liraglutide and semaglutide can have a variety of side effects. In this sense, a study carried out with liraglutide showed that adverse effects were more frequent in women with lower weight compared to those with a higher body mass index (BMI).
The lack of studies with these substances in non-diabetic people and outside the BMI standards considered as overweight and obesity is a limitation. Therefore, more research is needed to better analyze the side effects of these drugs in the rest of the population.
The main adverse effects mentioned in the package insert for Saxenda and Ozempic are as follows: nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, changes in taste, insomnia, indigestion, gastric discomfort, dizziness, tiredness, dry mouth, gallstones, hypoglycaemia, injection site reactions (pain, irritation, itching, rash) and increased enzymes pancreatic.
Acute pancreatitis, despite being a rare side effect, is a serious condition and has already been observed in patients using Saxenda and Ozempic. Therefore, it is best not to take these drugs without proper medical advice.
