r/Semaglutide • u/theipaper • 3d ago
Why the viral £50 Mounjaro 'dose hack' could be dangerous
https://inews.co.uk/news/viral-mounjaro-dose-hack-dangerous-362259341
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u/theipaper 3d ago
People using Mounjaro weight-loss jabs have been warned against extracting an unauthorised extra dose out of the prefilled injection pens to save money.
The devices are supposed to contain four doses of the weight-loss drug – enough for four weeks – but some users are reporting they can get a fifth dose out of the pens.
People buying Mounjaro from online pharmacies typically pay from £100 to £250 for four weeks’ supply. So, getting an extra dose out of the pens could save up to £50 a month.
But hacking the devices in this way could lead people to get an incorrect dose of their medicine, which could be dangerous, health safety experts have warned.
The reports come after NHS England announced tight restrictions on who can get Mounjaro through GPs under the NHS, meaning that most potential users will continue having to pay for private prescriptions.
“The drugs are expensive but weight loss is strongly desired, so as a commodity, these drugs are hotly sought-after,” said Professor Naveed Sattar, a cardiologist and obesity expert at the University of Glasgow.
“It’s no surprise people are going to such extraordinary lengths.”
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u/theipaper 3d ago
Appetite suppressant
Weight-loss injections first arrived in the UK two years ago, in the form of Wegovy, which mimics a gut hormone called GLP-1, normally released after eating to quell appetite.
Mounjaro mimics both GLP-1 and a second gut hormone called GIP, and seems to be more potent than Wegovy, causing about 20 per cent weight loss after a year’s use, compared with Wegovy’s 15 per cent.
With about a third of people in the UK classed as obese, the NHS has tightly restricted access to both medicines over fears they could bust the country’s drugs budget.
About a million UK people are now thought to be buying the drugs from online pharmacies, in an unprecedented mass use of private health care. But some people struggle with the monthly cost.
Facebook and other social media forums have become a common way for people to swap tips on the cheapest suppliers, and some Mounjaro users are now discussing how to get the extra dose out of the prefilled pens.
The hack is possible because, before each injection, a small amount of liquid should be squirted out of the needle to ensure there are no air bubbles, in a process called “priming” the pen. Manufacturer Lilly has put extra liquid into each pen in case people squirt out too much.
Breaking open pens with pliers
Getting it out is not straightforward, though. The pens have to be twisted before each use and they have been designed to lock in place after four doses. Therefore some people are having to force the drug out.
The i Paper understands that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) believes people could physically injure themselves when trying to remove the fifth dose from the pen. The move also goes against the medication plan agreed with the person’s healthcare provider.
A spokesperson for Lilly said users should not do this, as the remaining liquid may not be a full dose. “It is important to note that there will be a residual amount of medicine left after the fourth dose. This does not correspond to a full dose,” she said. “Any excess solution in the pen after use should be discarded.”
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u/theipaper 3d ago
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer of the MHRA, said: “People should follow the dosing directions provided by their healthcare provider when prescribed weight-loss medicines and use as directed in the patient information leaflet.
“Medicines are approved according to strict dosage guidelines. Failure to adhere with these guidelines, such as tampering with pre-dosed injection pens, could harm your health or cause personal injury.”
Sara Le Brocq, co-founder of patient support group All About Obesity, said the amount of medicine typically left appeared to be at least as much as the ordinary doses. “It’s a bit crazy that there’s so much of it,” she said.
“Yes, there’s only meant to be a month’s worth of medication in there. But if you’re paying all this money to get access to the medication, and there’s an extra dose in there, I don’t blame people for trying to get the extra.”
Mounjaro on NHS
NHS England has said that from 23 June, GPs will be able to prescribe Mounjaro for weight loss, initially only to people who have severe obesity – defined as a BMI of 40 or over – and four health conditions related to their weight.
After the first year this will expand to include people whose BMI is 35 or over, then it will expand further still.
“That sounds like quite a lot of people but it’s really not,” said Le Brocq, adding that the rules were disappointing.
The MHRA has medically approved Mounjaro for anyone with a BMI of over 30, or over 27 plus one weight-related condition.
Read more: https://inews.co.uk/news/viral-mounjaro-dose-hack-dangerous-3622593
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u/Similar_Can_4761 2d ago
Doubt...
They aren't overfilling these things to the point where somebody is going to accidentally OD (if an OD amount is even anywhere close to the max dosage which it probably isn't)by making sure they aren't wasteful or wanting to be frugal.
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u/Plastic_Platypus3951 2d ago
I have pulled those last bit out of Ozempic pens with a sterile insulin syringe on week five and made up the difference with my next pen. It is easy and a pen usually has an overfill of about .25 mL or 1/3 a typical dose. So really it is a free dose every 3 months.
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