Joint statement on inappropriate use of weight loss drugs – SAM and Digital Clinical Excellence Forum (DiCE) UK (09 August)

The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) and Digital Clinical Excellence Forum (DiCE) UK share the concerns raised by NHS England’s medical director regarding the inappropriate use of weight loss drugs to get “beach body ready”, as outlined in a statement issued by SAM in June.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients are attending hospital with serious complications and may be taking the medication inappropriately. There is also evidence of illegal supply and fake medication.

We lack robust evidence to determine the extent of this problem and the reasons for it. Therefore it is timely to remind all healthcare professionals to please fill in a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Yellow Card and ask patients, their carers and families to report suspected side effects and inform their prescribers.

We are also recommending clinicians be vigilant in looking out for signs of this problem as some patients may not always feel comfortable disclosing the use of these medications initially. Patients may have severe gastrointestinal symptoms, abnormal blood tests (ketoacidosis) or new onset abdominal pain.

Summary

Please fill in MHRA Yellow Cards when seeing patients with serious side effects from GLP 1 medication or from those who have obtained medication fraudulently/ illegally. Report here: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Dr Vicky Price, president elect, Society for Acute Medicine 

Professor James Kingsland, chair, DiCE 

DiCE is a network of the legal and regulated online sector providers within the UK, and aims to continually promote improvement in the quality and safety of digital care.