You need to do some proper reading/ research around how the drug works, the potential side effects both minor and more serious, any risk factors and basically weigh up risk/ reward if it’s worth it for you.
The drug is licensed in the UK to be used as a treatment for obesity. That means that there’s enough evidence that for a great many people it will be both effective and safe. It’s also been used in more or less the same way but for longer in the US so there’s plenty of evidence there. It’s also been used for longer still for type 2 diabetes management.
Correctly sourced from a reputable provider who has done a proper evaluation, and used as directed - it’s considered to be a safe drug that’s well tolerated by most people who qualify for it.
But all drugs come with risks - from paracetamol and ibuprofen upwards. It’s very common for users to experience side effects, ranging from mild to really unpleasant. And more rarely yes, there can be severe side effects including pancreatitis.
Living with obesity also comes with unpleasant side effects and poses long term risks to your health. So it’s a case of weighing up whether it’s worth the risk to you personally and only you can decide that - perhaps in consultation with a healthcare professional if that would be helpful.
For me, it has some fairly severe gastrointestinal effects (diarrhoea and vomiting basically) any time I go above the lower doses. I had to take a break, but started again on the lowest dose and am managing it much better this time. It has not been an easy journey and I’ve had to slow it right down as the very fast loss, whilst it felt great to achieve, unfortunately came with too high an impact on my quality of life. How I use it now is less effective, but still just enough for a slow and steady loss and still worth it to me. But that’s my choice and you have to make your own.
Most of the scare stories in the media, as well as the friend who knows someone who knows someone who ended up in hospital types, when you trace it back it turns out they were getting it the same place they get their knock off botox, or they’d lied to get it prescribed so never should have been taken it, or they’re using the leftovers from a friend who tried it, or they’re not using it as prescribed. I haven’t personally come across such a story where the person actually qualified for the drug, was prescribed it correctly and took it according to instructions - not to say it doesn’t happen, but it’s not as common as the horror stories make out.