Gurgaon: Doctors in NCR have raised concerns that people are increasingly turning to anti-obesity drugs and many of them taking the pills without prescription to rapidly lose weight without keeping in consideration their side effects.
Drugs like semaglutide, which is available in India, are used for diabetes and obesity treatments, and have their benefits, but any patient should get consults before taking them, doctors said.
They added that these drugs aren’t like over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol and can have more serious side-effects.
“I have noticed that patients are becoming more aware of this drug and do their research before coming for a consultation. Its high cost can be a deterrent, but one out of every 25 diabetes patients is willing to take it. Women tend to inquire about it more due to its weight loss potential,” said Dr Tushar Tayal, lead consultant at the department of internal medicine in CK Birla Hospital.
Dr Satish Koul, senior director and unit head, internal medicine, Fortis, said, “I have seen many youngsters, especially women, who visit a dietitian or gym trainer and have started on semaglutide without prescription. These are people with no history of diabetes and are prescribed this drug by a non-medical practitioner. Most of these patients are on weight loss regime.”
Asked if these were available over the counter, Dr Koul said, “In India, who needs a prescription for buying medicines? Oral drugs like semaglutide are easily available over the counter. No one asks for a prescription.”
Even those who went about the process have found it difficult to stomach these medicines.
Rohan Mehta, a 44-year-old marketing executive in Gurgaon, was prescribed Ozempic for losing weight six months ago. He lost more than 20kg over the months, but he would often feel dizzy and nauseous. He stopped eating for weeks and found it difficult even to walk.
“I stopped the medicines as I was not able to focus on work. Though I saw the results quickly, my health was getting affected,” he said.
Other side-effects that people have reported include heart palpitations, headaches, diarrhoea and indigestion. The older generation of anti-obesity medicines typically work by inducing a hormone that signals to the brain that a person’s appetite is full. In effect, it reduces a patient’s food intake. The newer generation of these medicines, which aren’t available in India yet, affect the way body absorbs fat.
Dr Vikas Singhal, senior consultant for gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery at Medanta Hospital, said that while the development of anti-obesity drugs is exciting for a country where the condition is very common, great caution needs to be exercised in their use.
“These medicines are a resource to treat that segment of population for whom the right diet and exercise are not enough to lose weight, and for those who are not candidates for bariatric or metabolic surgery. But people should definitely not use them in a cosmetic manner to lose a few kilos,” Dr Singhal said.
“It’s important for individuals to understand that weight loss and obesity treatment are not one-size-fits-all. What works for one person may not work for another due to differences in genetics, lifestyle and health conditions. A weight loss specialist can tailor treatment plans to fit the specific needs of each patient,” said Dr Kapil Kochhar, head of general and bariatric surgery at Artemis Hospital.
