Saxenda: Weight-loss drug helped woman lose 10 stone
BBCA woman who shed 10 stone (63.5kg) after using a weight-loss drug bought on the internet says the treatment was "life-changing".
Lizz Adair, from Market Weighton, was overweight most of her life until she bought daily injection Saxenda from an online pharmacy.
Doctors said people should always have a GP consultation because of potentially serious side effects.
They also warned buying the drug online was "dangerous".
Saxenda suppresses appetite and is only prescribed by doctors to help people with a high body mass index (BMI).
Ms Adair found she could buy the drug over the internet.
"My friend used it and [the weight loss] was so radical I just thought 'oh my goodness, this is amazing, this is a miracle drug, I need to get some'," she said.
"Now I can walk miles and miles and my feet aren't aching the next day, I'm not laid up in bed.
"It's definitely life-changing," she added.
Saxenda, which is known as GLP1 medication, should only be used for weight loss after a consultation with a GP.
However, Ozempic, which is also a GLP1 drug, is used in the treatment of diabetic patients but has seen a spike in demand because of use by people trying to lose weight.
Dr David Sheehan, of Nettleham Medical Practice near Lincoln, said people should always see a doctor before taking the drugs because of potentially serious side effects and the dangers of buying them online.
"We're still having some difficulty getting the GLP1 medication for our diabetic patients," said Dr Sheehan.
"There are people who really need it for their health, either with significant obesity or with diabetes."
In August, a shortage of Ozempic meant a diabetic Lincoln man was told the drug was not available because it was popular with celebrities as a weight-loss aid.
Dr Sheehan said buying the drugs online "really is dangerous".
Up to one in 100 people experience rare side effects from the drug including reduced kidney function and kidney failure, according to Lloyds Pharmacy.
Anyone experiencing these side effects should contact their doctor immediately.
In July, some weight-loss jabs were investigated for a link to suicide.
The Department of Health and Social Care said supply of GLP1 drugs was expected to increase by mid-2024.
"Our guidance is clear. Glucagon-like Peptide 1 receptor agonist medicines, that are solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes, should only be used for that purpose and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss in order to protect supplies for patients with diabetes," a spokesperson said.
Clarification 22 December 2023: This news story has been amended to clarify that Saxenda is not a drug approved for use in the treatment of diabetes in the UK.
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