FDA Warning: Overdosing on Weight-Loss Products
Federal health officials have issued a warning regarding the overdosing of certain weight-loss products, particularly co-semaglutide injectable products in multi-dose vials. The FDA has received reports of dosing errors, resulting in patients requiring medical attention or hospitalization. These errors have been attributed to individuals incorrectly measuring and self-administering doses, as well as healthcare providers miscalculating doses of combination diet pills like Wegovy.
Symptoms and Causes of Overdose
Symptoms of overdosing on these weight-loss products include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fainting, headache, migraine, dehydration, acute pancreatitis, and gallstones. Most reports indicate that patients mistakenly took more than the prescribed dose, self-administering significantly higher amounts of semaglutide than intended. Many cases involve patients who are not familiar with using a syringe to measure the proper dose. Confusion between different units of measurement, such as milliliters and milligrams, has also been a contributing factor to these dosing errors.
Preventing Overdose and FDA Recommendations
Healthcare providers have prescribed incorrect doses, such as 25 units instead of 5 units or 20 units instead of 2 units, resulting in severe adverse effects. The FDA emphasizes the importance of using FDA-approved semaglutide products like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, rather than compounded versions from online pharmacies. Compounded drugs pose higher risks to patients and should only be considered when FDA-approved options do not meet a patient’s medical needs.
In conclusion, it is crucial for individuals to follow proper dosage instructions when using weight-loss products to avoid the risk of overdose. Healthcare providers should also be diligent in prescribing the correct doses to prevent adverse effects on patients. By raising awareness of these dosing errors and emphasizing FDA-approved products, we can help prevent unnecessary harm and ensure the safe use of weight-loss medications.