![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/e366\/live\/f0601b20-91f5-11ef-a68e-7b3f90154b87.jpg.webp\")
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nThe UK’s drug safety regulator is asking doctors to be alert for patients who may be misusing obesity injections, such as Wegovy. <\/p>\n
It follows reports of some people who are not obese becoming sick, after using the jabs for weight loss.<\/p>\n
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stresses that the drugs are only meant for treating obesity and diabetes.<\/p>\n
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has backed the call, saying the drugs are “serious medicines” and not “for people to get a body beautiful picture for Instagram”. <\/p>\n
While most side-effects are mild, some can be serious, says the MHRA. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It adds that the drugs should only be prescribed by a registered healthcare professional. <\/p>\n
When appropriately used, in line with the product licence, the benefits of these medications outweigh the risks for patients, says the regulator. <\/p>\n
But this benefit-risk balance is positive only for those patients within the approved indications for weight management or type 2 diabetes, as described in the product information.<\/p>\n
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said all medicines carry a risk of potential side-effects: \u201cWe encourage healthcare professionals to ensure patients being treated with these medicines are aware of the common side-effects and how to minimise risk.”<\/p>\n
The most common side-effects include feeling sick, vomiting, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, told the BBC she had seen patients who weren\u2019t overweight coming in with issues. <\/p>\n
“The most common thing that we’re seeing is anything related to the gut. So diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, people not being able to eat, getting very dehydrated as a result of that.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lorna Edgar’s GP told her she didn\u2019t qualify to get the jabs on the NHS.<\/p>\n So she got them from an authorised prescriber at an online pharmacy. But after taking them for a month, she collapsed on the bathroom floor.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the middle of the night it felt like someone had just stabbed something straight into my stomach,” she told the BBC. <\/p>\n Lorna developed pancreatitis, a potentially life threatening condition and a rare side effect of the jab she used. <\/p>\n She spent five days in hospital and has been left with chronic health problems.<\/p>\n “I thought it was this miracle injection that was 100% safe,” she said. <\/p>\n “My children were frightened see how poorly I actually was. It was just so scary.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential. When taken alongside healthy diet and exercise, they can be game-changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health.<\/p>\n \u201cBut these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram. These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision. <\/p>\n “They’re not a quick fix to lose a few pounds, and buying them online without appropriate assessment can put people\u2019s health at risk,” he said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Lorna](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1d6b\/live\/34a3ec80-9228-11ef-9347-4b3dd7fd1c89.jpg.webp\")
Lorna Edgar<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Miracle injection’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n