Women warned over weight-loss jabs amid reports of 'unforeseen pregnancies'
Women using weight-loss injections are being cautioned to ensure they use reliable contraception, following reports that dozens have become pregnant while on the medication. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued its first warning to the public about the combined use of contraception with weight loss and diabetes injections due to concerns over safe usage.
These injectables have been associated with an unexpected surge in pregnancies, with online accounts mentioning unforeseen pregnancies even among women using contraception. To date, over 40 cases of pregnancy in women using weight-loss and diabetes injections have been reported to the MHRA.
There are also cautions regarding the unknown risks of these injections, which include Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza, for pregnant women. Ozempic isn't approved as a weight-loss medication in the UK, where it's used for treating diabetes instead.
The MHRA says that such drugs—known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs)—should not be used by those who are pregnant, attempting conception, or breastfeeding. In the event of pregnancy during treatment, patients are advised to discontinue the medication immediately, reports Wales Online
The agency stated: "This is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby." In some cases, women are also advised to continue using contraception for up to two months between stopping the medicine and trying to get pregnant.
The MHRA said effective contraception includes the oral contraceptive pill, contraceptive implants, the coil and condoms. Those patients taking Mounjaro – which may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight – should also use condoms if they are on the pill.
The MHRA said: "This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase."
The advice on contraception is also contained in patient information leaflets that come with the medicines. MHRA data shared with the PA news agency shows it has received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro. It is not necessary for women to say whether the pregnancy was unintentional, though one report did say the pregnancy was such.
There have been a further eight reports relating to pregnancy in people taking semaglutide (the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy). A further nine have been recorded for liraglutide (Victoza or Saxenda), of which one recorded the pregnancy was unintentional.
The MHRA is also reminding people that weight-loss jabs should not be bought from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media, or taken without speaking to a health professional. Anyone who suspects they have had an adverse reaction or suspects their drug is not a genuine product should report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
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.
"Our guidance offers patients a 'one-stop shop' for our up-to-date advice on how to use these powerful medicines safely. 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."
The latest guidance also reminds patients taking jabs of the symptoms to look out for in the event of acute pancreatitis which, although uncommon, can be serious. The main symptom is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and does not go away, and people should seek immediate medical help.
GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating. Some, like Mounjaro, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control.
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