The government has issued an urgent warning after weight loss jabs including Ozempic have officially been linked to 10 deaths in the UK.
At least 68 people have been admitted to hospital after becoming ill using the injections, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.
There have been 7,228 reports of illness associated with the drugs, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The use of Ozempic and Wegovy jabs are particularly common amongst the reports.
But the reports have not proven weight loss jabs are solely responsible for every individual case.
The MHRA has said the drugs had unpleasant side effects, and instructed foctors to ‘inform patients about the common and serious side effects associated with GLP-1RAs’.
They were originally designed to manage type 2 diabetes but have since been hailed as ‘miracle’ weight loss jabs.
Doctors have already warned of potential fatalities after a young girl was rushed to hospital with life-threatening symptoms.
Last week’s numbers estimate 46 people have been hospitalized after using the drugs as of August 16.
The MHRA said this confirms the jabs should not be used for ‘unauthorised indications such as aesthetic weight loss’.
Health secretary Wes Streeting has previously warned the drugs are not ‘cosmetic’ treatments.
He said: ‘Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential. When taken alongside a healthy diet and exercise, they can be game changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health.
‘But these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram.
‘These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.’
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