Weight loss drug complications “not slowing down” says SAM president-elect (18 January)

Commenting in the Mail on Sunday (18 Jan) on an investigation which found hundreds of people are being hospitalised after suffering serious reactions to weight loss drugs, Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The Society for Acute Medicine warned last year about the number of patients attending hospitals with complications from new weight loss drugs they had purchased online. 

“We are seeing serious, life-threatening complications including inflammation of the pancreas gland and alterations in blood salt levels in these patients who were not aware of the risk they were taking.

“Sadly these presentations are not slowing down despite the issue being raised consistently over recent months.

“We continue to highlight this inappropriate use with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as there is a need for urgent regulation and control of access for weight loss drugs online to avoid more patients becoming unwell.”