UK Warns Women About 'Skinny Jabs' If Trying To Get Pregnant
London:
The UK's medicine regulator warned on Thursday against taking "skinny jabs" for weight loss if trying to get pregnant or while breastfeeding because of their unknown effects on babies.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said popular jabs like Ozempic and Wegovy "must not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding".
It urged women to use "effective contraception while taking these medicines and, in some cases, for up to two months between stopping the medicine and trying to get pregnant".
"Anyone who gets pregnant while using them should speak to their healthcare professional and stop the medicine as soon as possible... because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby," it added.
Rebecca Reynolds, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said there was "hardly any available data from human studies" to know if the weight loss drugs were safe in pregnancy.
"The data from animal studies suggests the potential for harm with low birthweight and skeletal abnormalities, though more evidence is needed to assess if there are risks of taking these drugs in humans," she added.
The MHRA also warned about the impact of another weight-loss and diabetes injection, Mounjaro, on the effectiveness of oral contraception for people 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," it said.
Ying Cheong, a consultant in reproductive medicine at the University of Southampton, called the MHRA's advice "both timely and necessary".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Study finds Ozempic is linked to severe eye bleeding disorder in patients; experts share risk factors
A shocking study conducted in Israel has found that patients who take Ozempic or similar weight-loss drugs face a potential blinding condition due to internal bleeding in the eyes. According to the Daily Mail, patients who take the weight-loss shots were twice as likely to suffer from a serious degenerative eye disease as compared to those who do not take them. The particular condition is called neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), which mostly causes leaky blood vessels to grow behind the eye. This can even spill fluid into the retina, leading to permanent damage and blindness in the future. But is Ozempic really linked to bleeding of the eyes? Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss. "Although it has been proven to have remarkable effects in regulating blood sugar and facilitating weight loss, it also comes with various issues and possible side effects," says Dr. Bhumesh Tyagi, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Sharda Hospital. On the other hand, "Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation are the usual side effects. Serious complications can include pancreatitis, kidney, and gallbladder problems," adds Dr. Tyagi. Others have reported the risk of thyroid tumours, but this has been seen largely in animal studies. While the exact link between weight-loss drugs and vision problems isn't known, scientists believe that they bind to GLP-1 receptors in the eye, triggering the growth of the blood vessels. However, the cases were rare, but experts warned of the concerning signal in the data, saying that further research is needed to confirm the condition. FDA approved Ozempic to lower kidney disease in type 2 diabetics On the other hand, a few months ago, the FDA approved Ozempic to lower kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients. "Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects between 30 to 40 per cent of individuals living with type 2 diabetes in India, making it one of the most common and serious complications associated with the condition," says Dr. Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Zandra Healthcare & Co-founder, Rang De Neela Initiative. Across the globe, including in India, diabetes-related complications are heavily linked to both cardiovascular and kidney disorders.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
81,000 Vials, Rs 24 Crore In 3 Months: Weight Loss Drug Mounjaro Sales Triple As Patients Shift To Higher Dose
With three months since its launch in India, according to latest Pharmatrac data, Mounjaro clocked Rs 12.6 crore in sales in May 2025—a threefold increase from March In a sign of rising adoption, sales of Mounjaro—the breakthrough weight loss and type 2 diabetes drug—have nearly tripled in the last two months, data shows. American drugmaker Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro in India on March 20, triggering immediate frenzy, especially among those looking to achieve weight loss and glucose control. Doctors told News18 they were flooded with requests from patients eager to start Mounjaro or learn more about its benefits. With three months since its launch in India, according to latest Pharmatrac data, Mounjaro clocked Rs 12.6 crore in sales in May 2025—a threefold increase from March. The higher dosage form of five milligram, in particular, more than doubled in value and quantity sales between April and May, indicating a strong trend of patient progression to the next stage of treatment. As per the medical protocol, patients start with lower dosage of 2.5 milligram weekly dose and upgrade to 5 milligram after four weeks. 'This clinical shift is clearly reflected in market numbers. Five mg pack sales jumped from Rs 3.08 crore in April to Rs 7.53 crore in May, while unit sales rose from over 9,300 to over 22,900," Sheetal Sapale, vice-president (commercial), Pharmatrac, told News18. 'Looking at these trends and the acceptance of this therapy—by physicians as well as patients—along with the affordable pricing of Rs 18,000 to Rs 22,000 per month dosage indicates a definite pick up in consumption." The total market for Mounjaro has reached Rs 23.94 crore over the past three months, selling more than 81,000 vials of the drug—signalling growing adoption in diabetes care protocols. According to Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, clinical use of Mounjaro in India closely reflects the trends observed in the data. 'A substantial number of patients are being initiated at 2.5 mg, with a timely escalation to 5 mg in line with recommended protocols. This pattern suggests good tolerability and early clinical efficacy in glycemic control and weight reduction." Misra told News18: 'With growing familiarity and broader access, increased use of higher doses (7.5 mg and above) is likely, especially in patients requiring enhanced metabolic outcomes." The injectable drug is approved by India's apex drug regulatory body, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection priced at Rs 4,375 for a 5 mg vial and Rs 3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial, making the monthly expenditure around Rs 14,000-Rs 17,500. The drug is claimed to be 80 per cent cheaper than in the United States. Entry-Level Dosage Sales Plateau Mounjaro, the brand name for Tirzepatide, a once-weekly injectable, is a first-in-class medication that combines the effects of two naturally occurring hormones: GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) and GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1). Data shows that the 2.5mg dose of Mounjaro—generally prescribed as the starting regimen for type 2 diabetes patients or those looking to shed weight—has shown signs of 'plateauing growth". This trend confirms a gradual shift to higher doses. The sales value for the 2.5 mg injection rose marginally from Rs 4.80 crore in April to Rs 5.08 crore in May, after a steeper increase from Rs 1.42 crore in March. The data shows that the unit sales also reflect this trend, increasing from 5,400 in March to 18,270 in April, but only marginally to 19,350 in May. While the 2.5 mg variant remains essential for entry-level patient initiation, its month-on-month growth may continue to taper off as the patient base matures and advances to the next phase of dosing.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business Standard
Lilly's obesity drug Mounjaro's sales rise 60% in India amid rising demand
Eli Lilly & Co. increased sales of weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro 60 per cent in India in May from April in its second full month of being on offer in the South Asian country, which has the world's third-highest number of obese people. The US drugmaker sold ₹12.6 crore ($1.5 million) worth of the injections last month, according to market analysis firm Pharmarack Technologies. Sales of its 5 mg version more than doubled to about ₹7.5 crore, while revenue from the 2.5 mg shot was ₹5.1 crore. 'The patient number may have actually doubled' in May from April, Pharmarack Vice President Sheetal Sapale told Bloomberg News. The demand is gradually rising and should continue, she said. Newer patients are being introduced with the lower dose and upgraded to 5 mg injections after four weeks, according to Sapale. The increase in sales reflects the need for anti-obesity solutions in the vast market in India, where Danish rival Novo Nordisk A/S is also expected to launch soon. The country's generic drugmakers are awaiting the expiration of some patents from next year to unleash a flurry of copycat treatments. On Tuesday, Biocon Ltd. received approval for Liraglutide, a generic version of Novo Nordisk's type-2 diabetes and anti-obesity drug Victoza. India has about 100 million people living with diabetes and obesity each, Eli Lilly said earlier this year.
