At least 16 individuals in Scotland have been hospitalized after experiencing dangerous side effects from the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, raising serious concerns about its accessibility and regulation.
Concerns Over Mounjaro’s Side Effects and Accessibility
The drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has been gaining popularity as a treatment for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. However, in recent weeks, there has been growing alarm after reports emerged of patients being hospitalized for severe side effects related to the medication. A similar incident also led to the tragic death of nurse Susan McGowan, who passed away after experiencing complications from low-dose injections of the drug.
The rising number of hospitalizations has intensified calls for stricter regulation of weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, especially as they are being increasingly prescribed through online channels without in-person consultations.
Mounjaro and similar drugs are part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which work by suppressing appetite and making patients feel fuller for longer. While originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, they have gained popularity as weight-loss solutions, but the lack of in-person consultations when prescribing these drugs is raising red flags.
The Role of Online Prescriptions in Increased Hospitalizations
One of the main issues is the ease with which individuals can access Mounjaro and other weight-loss drugs online. Patients can fill out a simple online questionnaire to receive a prescription, often without ever seeing a doctor in person. The £200 cost for a one-month course has made these drugs accessible to a broad range of people, but this has also led to concerns about patient safety.
Despite doctors reviewing these online forms, there is no physical assessment of the patient’s condition. This lack of in-person consultation means that doctors are unable to accurately gauge whether a patient is suitable for the medication, with some patients reportedly lying on their forms to gain access to the drug.
Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, highlighted the dangers, stating, “A doctor checks the forms but at no point is anyone seeing patients face-to-face. We’ve seen many examples where patients have lied on the form and been given the drugs when they shouldn’t have them.”
Calls for Stricter Regulation and Face-to-Face Consultations
The rise in hospital admissions has prompted medical professionals to call for more stringent regulations around the online distribution of weight-loss drugs. Doctors are urging the government to implement safety checks and ensure that in-person consultations are a requirement before prescribing medications like Mounjaro.
In the face of growing concerns, many believe that A&E departments are becoming overwhelmed by the number of patients seeking treatment for complications resulting from the drug. The Society for Acute Medicine has warned that this is just the beginning, with more cases expected to surface if stricter controls are not put in place soon.
