Semaglutide injection products

Semaglutide is a medicine that is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. If you have this type of diabetes, your body struggles to control blood sugar levels. Semaglutide can help by lowering your blood sugar and reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Most semaglutide products must be injected under the skin on a weekly basis but it is also available as a tablet taken by mouth daily. In addition to treating type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has been shown to be effective in lowering body weight in obese or overweight adults with health problems related to their weight; many people who take it would lose weight as it reduces their appetite.

WHO has observed increased reports of falsified semaglutide products reported from all geographical regions to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS). The possible harm related to such falsified semaglutide varies; in some cases, the active ingredient is absent, which can lead to health complications if being used to manage blood glucose levels, weight, or cardiovascular disease risk. In other cases, another undeclared active ingredient may be contained in the injection device, e.g. insulin, leading to an unpredictable range of health risks or complications.

• Increased demand: Since late 2022, there has been increasing demand for semaglutide, especially since some specific brands were approved for weight loss in some countries. Press and social media coverage has contributed to its increased visibility and public awareness of its use for weight loss.
• Limited access: High demand for semaglutide as a weight loss product may limit access to this drug. Unmet demand is likely being fulfilled by the production of falsified semaglutide.

• Ineffectiveness: Falsified semaglutide may contain insufficient or incorrect amounts of active ingredient. This can lead to ineffective treatment of type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, no weight loss, and no reduction of cardiovascular disease risk.
• Incorrect dosages: Falsified semaglutide may not contain the correct amount of ingredients, which can either lead to overdosing or underdosing. Incorrect dosing may lead to adverse effects such as severe gastrointestinal problems or symptoms of low blood sugar, including blurred vision, palpitation, dizziness, sweating, seizure, and loss of consciousness. These can be serious effects or even life-threatening.
• Unknown ingredients: The composition of falsified semaglutide is unknown; therefore, the safety and quality cannot be guaranteed. It may cause unpredictable side-effects or interactions with other medications, posing a significant risk to the user’s health. These may include allergic reactions, toxic reactions, or other serious health complications.
• Contamination: Falsified medicines may be produced in environments that are non-sterile, leading to impurities and contamination with bacteria, fungi, or other harmful microorganisms. This can cause infections, which could range from mild to severe to potentially even life-threatening.

1. Get a prescription from a licensed doctor. If your prescribed product is not available, consult your doctor about possible substitutes.
2. Always buy the product from authorized/licensed pharmacies. Avoid buying from unfamiliar or unverified sources, such as those that may be found online and be wary of unusually low prices and injectable semaglutide stored outside the refrigerator.
3. Check the packaging and the product for damage and ensure the necessary details like manufacturer’s information, batch number, and expiration date are present.
4. Use the product as indicated by your doctor and the product leaflet. In case of doubt of the authenticity of the product, always verify with healthcare professionals and report to your regulatory authority.
5. Monitor for side-effects after using the product and report any adverse reaction to a healthcare professional.