Poison control calls involving semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) soared after the drug was approved for weight management in 2021. Researchers have linked the increase to accidental dosing mistakes rather than intentional misuse.
The researchers from the University of Texas say that simple education about proper weekly dosing and gradual dose increases could help prevent many of these avoidable incidents.
Originally introduced as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) quickly gained widespread popularity after the FDA approved semaglutide for weight management. As demand for the drug accelerated, poison control centres also began reporting a steep increase in calls, with semaglutide standing out far above other medications.
Accidental dosing
Although most incidents involved accidental dosing or therapeutic mistakes rather than intentional misuse, the sheer size of the increase surprised the research team. The researchers said before 2021 poison control centres typically handled between 1,000 and 1,500 GLP-1RA related cases each year. By 2023 poison centres had recorded more than 8,000 GLP-1RA related calls.
The researchers found that many of the poison control cases could have been avoided with better patient education. Semaglutide is designed to be injected once a week, not every day. Patients also begin treatment with a low dose that is gradually increased over time.
The data showed that a common mistake was taking the medication daily instead of weekly. Starting immediately with the highest dose instead of following the recommended step by step schedule was also a common mistake.
