Surge in Poison Center Calls Linked to Weight-Loss Drug Semaglutide

Dosing errors with the FDA-approved medication, endorsed by celebrities for weight loss, lead to a 1,500% increase in calls, raising concerns about compounded versions of the drug.

America's Poison Centers have reported a 1,500% increase in calls related to the injectable medication semaglutide, used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, with nearly 3,000 calls from January through November.
94% of the calls involved semaglutide as the only substance, with most callers reporting dosing errors such as accidentally taking a double dose or the wrong dose.
Symptoms of overdosing include vomiting, severe nausea and abdominal pain, with some patients requiring hospitalization for treatment with intravenous fluids and anti-nausea medications.
Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017, and has been endorsed by celebrities for weight loss.
Concerns have been raised about compounded versions of the medication, which lack the safety features of pre-filled pens used by name-brand makers, contributing to dosing errors.