Brazil's health regulatory agency Anvisa has issued a warning about the risks associated with improperly using weight loss pens, including acute pancreatitis, which can be fatal.
The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) has raised concerns regarding the misuse of weight loss pens, commonly known in Brazilian Portuguese as "canetas emagrecedoras," which can lead to serious health issues such as acute pancreatitis. This alert follows a notable increase in reported cases of pancreatitis among individuals using these medications globally. While the risks are already noted in product leaflets, Anvisa's warning comes in light of 145 reported adverse events related to these pens in Brazil from 2020 until December 7, 2023, with ongoing investigations into whether some deaths could be linked to their use.
Weight loss pens include injectable medications like dulaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide, which are approved for specific medical conditions. However, Anvisa emphasizes that using these drugs without a valid clinical indication, particularly for cosmetic weight loss, greatly increases health risks. The agency is particularly concerned about unregulated use that could lead to potentially fatal side effects, underscoring the importance of adhering to prescribed medical guidelines and recognizing the associated dangers of unsupervised usage.
This heightened alert serves as a critical reminder for patients and healthcare practitioners regarding the responsible use of such medications. Anvisa's initiative aims to curb the misuse of weight loss pens and protect public health, especially given the rising trend of using these medications for non-medical weight loss purposes. It calls for individuals to adhere strictly to medical advice and for healthcare providers to monitor the effects of these medications more closely to prevent further health complications.
