Urgent contraception warning issued to 'skinny jab' users for one key reason
The government has issued a warning for women taking weight-loss injections and urged them to use effective contraception.
A new notice from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said that one type of injection, Mounjaro, may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (the pill) in those who are overweight.
Therefore, anyone taking Mounjaro who could get pregnant, should also use a non-oral form of contraception such as the implant, coil, or condoms. This is especially important for the four weeks after starting the injections and after any dose increase.
The official government advice says: "Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight. Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception.
"This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase."
Weight-loss drugs must also not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding. If you get pregnant while on the injections, you should speak with your healthcare provider and stop the medicine as soon as possible, the government advised.
It explained: 'This is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby.'
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, said: 'Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments. They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way.'
The new guidance also reminded patients that weight-loss medications should not be bought from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media. This exposes people wanting to lose weight to 'serious health risks' and is against the law.
Legitimate medicines will be provided in pre-filled injection pens - meaning that products supplied as a powder in vials that need to be mixed with a liquid before injection are not authorised.
There have also been reports of fake pre-filled pens that appear similar to the licensed medication. The MHRA warned that while these may look genuine, they 'can also be dangerous', adding: 'The only way to guarantee you receive a genuine GLP-1 medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy, including those trading online, with a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.'
The guidelines also highlighted the importance of being able to recognise symptoms of acute pancreatitis - an uncommon complication that can develop. If you are on weight-loss injections and suddenly get severe pain in your abdomen and feel sick, you should seek immediate help.
Dr Cave said: 'This guidance should not be used as a substitute to reading the patient information leaflet or having a conversation with a healthcare professional as part of the prescribing process.'
If you are taking a GLP-1 medicine and are set to undergo a surgical procedure, you should inform your healthcare team. This is because the medicine slows the emptying of your stomach, which increases the risk that stomach contents could enter into your airway and lungs during surgery.
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