Someone close to us was rushed to Emergency Care at 2:00 in the morning last Monday.
Over the past few years, Ozempic has become a buzzword from key personalities in Hollywood, across social media, and in everyday conversations. Originally developed as a prescription medication for managing Type 2 diabetes, its active ingredient, semaglutide, helps regulate blood sugar and, as a side effect, supports weight loss. This has led to a surge in demand, with many people seeking it out for a “quick fix” weight loss injection.
Ozempic works by mimicking a hormone in the body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which helps regulate blood sugar levels, slows digestion, and signals to the brain that you’re full. For people with Type 2 diabetes, this can be life-changing, and for those struggling with obesity, it can aid in weight loss when combined with proper diet and exercise.
Its popularity exploded after celebrities and influencers began openly or subtly crediting it for rapid weight loss results. But the surge in demand quickly outpaced the supply, opening the door to unregulated and counterfeit sources.
Being a health nut, I always keep abreast of these wellness trends and ozempic has always been in my radar, as well as its potential dangers.
In 2023, the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) both reported cases where counterfeit pens containing insulin instead of semaglutide were sold. In some instances, patients experienced severe hypoglycemia requiring emergency treatment.
In the Philippines and other countries with looser border control over medicines, online marketplaces and “Instagram sellers” have been caught offering suspiciously cheap or unlabelled Ozempic pens. Without regulation, these products could be anything.
As for our family, who still prefers not to disclose where he sourced his ‘stash,’ Ozempic reacted negatively with his current liver condition. He was on his second pen (or his second week) and he was rushed to the hospital for severe disorientation. It seems he has been operating on ‘auto-pilot’ since he took it last Friday/Saturday and it’s been causing him lapses in his normal daily function.
Initial findings showed hyperammonemia and encephalopathy. He underwent a series of diagnostic tests—including a CT scan, cranial and full abdominal MRI, MRA, and EEG (electroencephalogram) —to assess brain activity and check the condition of his internal organs. He remains in the hospital recovering, now out of critical danger.
Consuming Ozempic doesn’t go cheap. I see it being sold by online sellers at around Php6,500-7,000/pen (approx. US$117). But in consuming unregulated Ozempic, you just don’t deal with the financial setback in the hopes of losing weight, you also carry the risk of losing your health. Remember, weight loss is optional. Staying alive isn’t. Choose safety over sketchy shortcuts. After all, the goal of using any medication—whether for diabetes or weight loss—is better health, not jeopardizing yours.
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