Weight Loss Drugs: 1 in 4 Would Use Without Prescription, Survey Shows [Video]

A survey of U.S. adults has found that 25 percent of respondents would consider using weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro without consulting their doctor first.

“A patient could have a serious or life-threatening side effect such as severe dehydration, pancreatitis, or allergic reaction,” internal medicine physician at Ohio State University, Dr. Shengyi Mao, told Newsweek when asked about a worst-case scenario of taking these drugs without a prescription.

“While side effects may also happen for patients who are prescribed these medications, the prescriber is likely to be screening patients for appropriateness of taking the medicine, and monitoring for reactions and know how to deal with them.”

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor analogs, developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.