The Department of Health (DOH) warned the general public in opposition to using sort 2 diabetes drug for weight reduction.
The DOH issued the warning after the injectable drug for sort 2 diabetes “semaglutide” went viral on social media on account of its supposed impact to weight reduction, in response to Lei Alviz’s “24 Oras” report on Tuesday.
The injectable drug was hoarded in pharmacies by individuals who needed to get slim which affected those that actually wanted it to regulate their sugar ranges.
“Ang daming pasyenteng nagtetext sa amin, ‘Doc, wala kaming mabiling semaglutide sa kahit anong drugstore sa Pilipinas,” said Dr. Juan Miguel Co, Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity vice president
(A lot of patients have been messaging us, saying they can’t buy semaglutide in any drugstores in the Philippines.)
“Patients need this medication desperately and if a lot of people who don’t have diabetes use this as an off-label indication for weight loss, naku nagkakaproblema tayo dyan (we will have a problem with it).”
According to the DOH, the semaglutide brand is approved medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes.
It can reduce weight by reducing food intake due to loss of appetite and reducing a person’s preference for fatty foods.
The Health department, however, urged the public to use medicines as prescribed by doctors and for its intended purposes only.
It also advised the public to take medicines that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to avoid adverse drug reactions.
25-year-old Lexi Ortañez, who is using this brand, documented her journey in using the said medicine on her TikTok account.
Ortañez noticed that she gained weight this year so she consulted her doctor. However, after several tests, it was confirmed that she has type 2 diabetes.
She was using the medicine which she injects once a week in her stomach or thigh.
After almost two weeks of using it, she already lost five kilograms.
“Ang favorite ko po kasi is chicken. Usually pagchicken I eat three thigh parts, tapos siyempre maraming kanin. Ngayon hindi ko nauubos yung isang manok and then parang wala pang 1/4 cup of rice,” Ortañez stated.
(My favourite is rooster. Usually, I eat three thigh components, then a number of rice. Now I can not end one rooster after which it is like lower than 1/4 cup of rice.)
Many bought and requested a number of questions on her TikTok account.
“Very adamant ako na when I say it to them na you have to have get yourself checked muna before going on this drug. The side effects talaga are matindi rin siya. Sa akin, I had nausea, migraine and I also had stomach aches,” she added.
(I’m very adamant after I say it to them that you’ve your self checked first earlier than occurring this drug. The unwanted side effects are actually extreme. As for me, I had nausea, migraine and I additionally had abdomen aches.) —Richa Noriega/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
