To think weight-loss injections should be prescribed in person only. The scale of abuse must be shocking.

[Thisisdrugabuse]

Hear me out here. I have had 5 friends in their 30s and 40s tell me they're using weight-loss injections from online sources. Fine. Except one is a size 8 and another a size 10. Oh, it's so easy to get, just upload a photo of a day you looked chubbier a few years ago and change your height/ weight a bit. Out of my friends that recently told me they're taking it, the size 8 is on the highest dose. She looks ill. Only 1 is over a size 14 I'd say.

Am I being unreasonable

No-to think these medicines are not licensed for normal sized people. They might be at risk of osteoporosis, liver problems and who knows what else. It all seems dangerous and completely unregulated.

Yes- jog on op. These are important medicines helping lots of people and if people lie, that's their issue.

I think it is disingenuous to suggest that any health problems incurred by irresponsible use of prescription drugs obtained by deception "is their own problem". It really isn't -unless they also seek whatever medical assistance required to fix it through the same private means by which they obtained the prescription. Should the NHS be required to step in to sort out side-effects and mishaps, it suddenly becomes all of our problem. But then I think that there are quite a few instances where the individual should contribute to their own care (if need arises from self-inflicted events, habits and actions) because we shouldn't be burdening the system unnecessarily.

A side note on side effects was raised by a GP friend who is worried people are taking it too close or during TTC, either man or woman.

They highlighted Mounjaro was linked to birth defects and lower birth weights in trials on rats and was worried about this.

source re rats/defects: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215866s000lbl.pdf

I agree with you completely, it is.

I offered my experience as ordering from a legitimate pharmacy and not having to provide proof of weight to the discussion as I think there’s a viewpoint on this thread that people purchasing mounjaro who are already healthy weight could only be getting it from unlicensed suppliers, which is not my experience.

I have always been slim but had a fast metabolism and love food, after having children (I’m 33) it slowed down by my love for food hasn’t and now even though I’m a size 10 I’m not happy with the way my body looks. I have always had very low self esteem about my body even when it was perfect, so yes I agree with you it’s very disordered. Being completely honest.

I think there is scope for abuse and I believe OP. A drug which was licensed for diabetics is now being taken by hundreds of women who havent been checked properly. There are many people who are clinically obese .They should be first in line for the drug.The govt are making it available to those groups now for free. Women who are getting hold of it with no proper checks are at risk. Also what happens when you stop taking the drugs? The Independent says that nearly every one piles on some or more weight!

Please read my previous response to another poster. I’m not bragging in any sense of the word, I know it’s disordered. I was offering up my experience ordering as a person with a healthy BMI from a licensed pharmacy and not being asked for proof of weight as and addition to the discussion, as several people have posted that people with healthy BMI’s cannot be approved for MJ which has not been my experience, rightly or wrongly.

Oh c'mon! A size 8 and has been struggling to maintain without starving?? I have been thin and I'm now obese. When I was thin, I did not struggle with food. I did not feel hungry all the time and think about food, and overeat. In fact I maintained my thinness from my 20s until my late 30s. Something shifted in my 40s. I went to the doctor then and they just shrugged their shoulders at me. As you become obese, your body and hormones become more and more dysfunctional and that's why people struggle to lose or even maintain. That's why diet and evercise alone don't work for most people. Someone who has never been obese will not have these issues! It's just not possible unless they have the will power of a saint and then you are drifting into eating disorder territory.

Interestingly, I am similar. I was BMI 30.8. Have lost the first stone & am 28.5. I'm going in person to a pharmacy, who did indeed tell me that if I'd presented to them now they'd not be able to treat me, but because I was over 30 when started I qualified. They've also said as soon as I hit BMI 24 they'll stop providing, which is perfect. I'll hopefully then lose a little more to be 23.

I too piled on 3.5 stone during menopause & just want to feel like me again. I lost a stone by myself (I exercise daily too) but it had stuck like glue & would not budge. My MH was taking a battering as nothing fitted & I felt so unlike myself.

My pharmacy do monthly health checks & it's very thorough.

If I wanted to get WLI ‘under the table’ I know at least 3 different places I could with hardly any questions asked, there is a small but significant trade out salons etc locally to me. But I like to know what I’m putting into my body so I’ve gone for the legitimate route with a reputable online pharmacy who have very stringent checks.
Like others on this thread I’ve tried and failed so many times to stick to a calorie deficit to lose weight throughout my life, had PTs, done meal replacement diets, cut out UPF, been to the useless NHS weight loss services, seen a private nutritionist, fucked my ankles up running and doing HIIT training - WLI are the only thing that has worked. I’m inching towards a healthy waist measurement and a weight that means I can resume my chosen sport which are my goals as opposed to trying to get to a certain BMI.
Like all drugs (and alcohol) there will be people who develop a problem/choose to abuse them either through ignorance or desperation but that’s a societal problem rather than an issue with the drugs themselves.
@Thisisdrugabuse your friends need to take personal responsibility for their actions and understand what they are putting into their bodies but I’d hazard a guess they are also people who think a ‘cheeky line’ once in a while won’t do them any harm 🙄

Were you concerned op when your friends with eating disorders were using laxatives, or amphetamines?or a simple finger down the throat? Because that's what people with eating disorders do, my friends over the years have abused all of these in some form for weight loss, to the extent that 30 yrs ago one became hospitalised. As sad as that is, that's their lookout. It's not that easy to get these injections, despite all the anecdotal stories, but people will find a way, they are extremely effective though, as someone who has struggled for years with that stubborn stone and a half it's come off relatively easy without the constant hunger, the added benefits have been a complete abstention from alcohol, and a dramatic reduction in inflammation which has reduced pain.
Leave the concern to the relevant controlling bodies op, and if you really do have that many friends with Ed and mental health problems, I'd maybe back off a little for your own MH.

What's ethnicity got to do with it? BMI over 25 is considered overweight. 23-25 is perfectly healthy.

Stupid is as stupid does 🤦‍♀️

Same. My BMI was 33 when I started MJ a month ago. I definitely looked overweight but when I went to my GP she did not believe I qualified until I stepped on the scale. You have to have BMI >30 in Belgium (where I live) and cannot get it from any online pharmacies on the basis of photos alone.

Quite a lot actually lol

from the NHS BMI calculator

I see it now. Very interesting! I learned summat.

Ethnicity can be very relevant. 23 - 25 is NOT perfectly healthy for many people as it is Overweight.

Yes, I have had friends do this in the past and I was concerned too. These are different friends.

I have a work friend who clearly used it to lose weight last year when she wasn't more than about a size 14 to start with. She now looks painfully thin, her face is gaunt, and it's aged her quite a lot in appearance.

This sounds wholly unethical. To be honest, it's a disaster all around. The biggest issue with these injections are that they enable rapid weight reduction and so muscle loss is a factor at play. Muscle is crucial for strength, mobility, and overall health far into the future and I do think lots of people on these injections are primarily concerned about the number on the scales, rather than the composition of their bodies inside.

Does she have an ED? If she’s a size 8 and taking, I’d say it’s highly likely. Why is her husband thinking of leaving her? I think that’s quite harsh.

What I’d say is if she has, or you suspect she has an ED, I’d put more energy in trying to support her as a friend, and less getting angry about the availablity of the injections.

Have a look at the LEAP method for supporting people with mental health conditions who don’t believe they’re unwell.

I think it should be available as a pharmacy medicine to anyone with BMI 25 and over. Perhaps it soon will be.

Truth is there are hardly any drugs if any where you need to be seen 'in person'. In the UK we have a weird idea about drugs ie that they have to be accessed through our GP. That isn't, and has never been the case. We need to take more responsibility for our own health and if you rely on your GP, well best of luck to you!
Presumably if you are a medical professional with any interest in drugs you will know that drugs can be prescribed safely off label and that 'not recommended for' does not relate in anyway to 'not safe for'
The vast majority of people getting ill on these drugs are buying God knows what from beauticians and not registered prescribers. I'm not sure we can legislate for such stupidity. I mean these people are allowed to vote! The sellers should be prosecuted.
But in short, no of course this should not be an in person drug. It's just not how prescribing works.

14 is a reasonable size to start the drug for many (unless tall). What dress size equates to 'painfully thin'? I have a friend who is a dress size 6 and even she doesn't look 'painfully thin'.

The fact she now looks older to you is irrelevant. She's likely more concerned about her improved health than what random colleagues think of her appearance.

Ethnicity can play a very big part in obesity related illness. In fact if you look at a BMI calculator it asks about your ethnicity. It’s important. It’s relevant.

'not recommended for' does not relate in anyway to 'not safe for'

Very True. I have a loved one who’s on an off label dose of a particular medication. It’s about twice the recommended amount.

Unfortunately this kind of drug is always going to be open to abuse. People need to take responsibility for themselves. If they openly lie to get access then that’s their lookout. They know the risks and are choosing to damage their body to see a certain weight on a scale. You can’t argue with stupid.