Does the misuse of semaglutide outweigh its benefits?, Pg17

Key Highlights:

• Generic semaglutide brands have entered the market after Novo Nordisk's patent expired.
• Misuse of semaglutide is increasing via online pharmacies for cosmetic weight loss.
• Unsupervised use can lead to complications like pancreatitis and kidney injury.
• Long-term use is linked to gastrointestinal issues and potential eye complications.

Detailed Insights:

• Semaglutide requires careful patient selection, dose adjustment, and monitoring due to potential risks.
• The drug's benefits are limited without lifestyle changes, often leading to temporary results and muscle loss.
• Unsupervised use for rapid cosmetic weight loss can cause nutritional deficiencies and cardiovascular stress.
• Strict enforcement of Schedule H prescription norms is needed, especially for online pharmacies.
• Misleading advertisements should be curbed, and pharmacovigilance reporting strengthened.
• Long-term use may increase the risk of pulmonary aspiration during surgery due to delayed gastric emptying.
• Eye complications like non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy have been linked to semaglutide use.
• Rare cases of acute pancreatitis and acute kidney injury have been reported with prolonged use.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Semaglutide: A medication used for diabetes and obesity management.
• Pharmacovigilance: The science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem.
• Schedule H Drugs: Medications that can only be sold with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.