Ozempic, a weight loss drug prescribed for people with Type 2 diabetes, has become increasingly popular among people of different age groups. However, health professionals have raised concerns regarding the known and unknown side effects of this drug, especially for users who do not seek medical supervision. In an interview with Khaleej Times, a user named Abdul shared his experience of using Ozempic without a prescription and later undergoing various blood tests and scans due to side effects such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, and heartburn. Doctors advised him to undergo tests to ensure that these symptoms were not caused by something more serious than just side effects from the drug.
Dr. Haicam El Mourad, a general surgeon at Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai, warned about the potential dangers of unsupervised use of weight loss drugs, which can lead to severe side effects like increased heart rate, high blood pressure, insomnia, liver damage, and even stroke or heart attack. Without medical guidance, users may take incorrect dosages, leading to either severe side effects or rendering the drug ineffective. Unprescribed weight loss drugs can also have addictive properties, potentially leading to abuse and dependence, as well as exacerbating existing health problems or masking symptoms, which may delay diagnosis and treatment.
While many users turn to weight loss drugs as an alternative to exercise and diet, expats share their reasons for using these drugs, along with their previous experiences with different weight loss methods. Sania, a 27-year-old female expat, decided to try injectable weight loss drugs after struggling with fad diets and weight fluctuations, particularly after giving birth to twin babies. She has been using them for eight months without a prescription and experiences extreme dizziness as a side effect. Another resident, Chris, resorted to weight loss drugs after undergoing liposuction and intense training due to the slow progress caused by his chronic disease medications.
Some users have reported being able to purchase weight loss drugs, such as antidiabetic medication, over the counter. Helen, a 54-year-old expat, shared her experience of obtaining Mounjaro without a prescription at a pharmacy. She expressed concern about the accessibility of these drugs and the lack of a required consultation for such purchases. Dr. El Mourad highlighted the limited research on the long-term side effects of using weight loss drugs without a prescription, but warned about potential risks inferred from short-term adverse effects and known drug interactions, such as heart palpitations, chest pain, jaundice, swelling, and mood swings.
He also cautioned against the use of unprescribed weight loss drugs due to the risk of counterfeit or contaminated products, which could lead to additional health complications. The unprescribed use of these drugs may exacerbate existing health issues and pose various risks to users. Overall, the increase in popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic has raised concerns among health professionals about the potential dangers of unsupervised usage and the need for proper medical guidance when considering such medications.
