Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a sharp warning over the rising misuse of Ozempic, a diabetes medication increasingly sought after for weight loss.
- •The board said that unsupervised use of the semaglutide-based drug exposes patients to risks such as hypoglycemia, eye disorders, acid reflux and even intestinal obstruction.
- •Officials stressed that Ozempic is approved only for adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar remains uncontrolled, not as a quick fix for slimming.
- •Counterfeit versions of the injectable drug have compounded the problem, with the PPB in earlier notices warning that fake Ozempic pens are circulating in Kenya, bypassing regulated supply chains and raising concerns over efficacy and safety.
“In light of the foregoing safety concerns, the public is advised against the off-label use of medicines and encouraged to report any suspected side effects and poor quality products,” the board said in a statement.
The agency urged consumers to buy any drugs only from licensed pharmacies and to use the treatment strictly under prescription, warning that falsified products could contain harmful or inactive ingredients.
This warning comes with the rising demand for Ozempic in the country, reflecting a global trend of weight-loss use that has stretched supply chains and drawn scrutiny from regulators worldwide. Across social media, there are claims that influencers are marketing the drug as a slimming component.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Ozempic has become the subject of mounting lawsuits as patients allege that the diabetes drug caused severe gastrointestinal problems. Plaintiffs claim they were not adequately warned about risks such as stomach paralysis, persistent vomiting, and intestinal obstruction linked to the drug.
The lawsuits, filed against Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company that makes Ozempic, accuse the drugmaker of downplaying serious side effects in its marketing while profiting immensely. Novo Nordisk has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that safety information is clearly disclosed and that the drug is approved only for type 2 diabetes management.
