North Carolina Poison Control is warning GLP-1 drug users to use caution when taking the medication.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Poison control said last year it averaged one to two calls a day about GLP-1 drugs with 80 percent of those calls involving a mistake when administering the drug.<\/p>\n
Common mistakes include:<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen someone takes the wrong amount of the drug.When someone takes doses too close together. When the wrong family member receives the medication. <\/p>\n
GLP-1 drugs, which are used to treat diabetes and obesity, have seen a surge in popularity in the last few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Common GLP-1 drug brand
\nnames include Ozempic, Wegovy, Trulicity and Mounjaro. They are available in tablet form or through injections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Most cases Poison Control has handled about the improper use of GLP-1s have had mild
\noutcomes, but the group wants to ensure people are aware of the dangers of GLP-1 poisoning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Symptoms of GLP-1 poisoning can include\u00a0nausea, vomiting,
\ndiarrhea and stomach pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople should be informed, not fearful, about GLP-1
\nmedications,\u201d said Dr. Michael Beuhler, Medical Director of NC Poison Control.
\n\u201cMake sure you understand the dose and possible complications with your
\nhealthcare provider and clarify about how to measure and self-administer the
\nmedication to avoid an overdose.\u201d<\/p>\n
To
\nprevent a GLP-1 medication poisoning, NC Poison Control
\nrecommends:<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead the label carefully before administering the medication to ensure you are dosing the correct amount. Starting and maintenance doses are different. <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKnow when to take the medication. Some GLP-1 medications are daily. Some are weekly. Have a regular routine for self-administration. <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDon\u2019t take more of the medicine than prescribed to fast-track results. It could make you sick. <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRemember, GLP-1 drugs aren\u2019t interchangeable. Make sure you only take medication prescribed to you. <\/p>\n
The FDA warns the public about the dangers associated with GLP-1 drugs
\nobtained through online compounding pharmacies. Compounding involves altering or combining ingredients to customize a medication. Compounding occurs
\nduring drug shortages or if a patient is unable to take an FDA approved
\nmedication (often due to allergy or an incompatible formulation).<\/p>\n
Compounded
\nGLP-1 drugs are not evaluated by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. The FDA urges people to avoid
\npurchasing GLP-1 drugs from online retailers, especially when you do not know
\nthe identity of the compounder and because the drugs have not been shown to
\nmeet FDA quality standards. <\/p>\n