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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning for anyone taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, or Mounjaro. The health body made the appeal on social media for anyone suffering from a ' severe reaction ' to GLP-1 medicine. According to the Government website, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are medicines that help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating . The MHRA stated that anyone experiencing side effects - particularly acute pancreatitis - can report it in an effort to aid researchers in better understanding them and ultimately lead to 'safer prescribing in future'. The full message read: "Has someone you care for had a severe reaction to a GLP-1 medicine? Help identify people at risk. "Has someone you care for had acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro)? You can report it to Yellow Card on their behalf and agree to be contacted. They may be invited to join the Yellow Card Biobank (MHRA and Genomics England) to help researchers study how genetics may influence side effects - leading to safer prescribing in the future." The Yellow Card Biobank is a partnership between the MHRA and Genomics England which seeks to better understand how a patient's genetic makeup may heighten their risk of experiencing medication side effects. Medical professionals will use the findings from this research to help prevent patients from suffering harmful side effects by ensuring they are prescribed the most suitable medication for them, based on their genetic profile. In the UK, there are several licensed GLP-1 medicines, including semaglutide which is sold under the brand names Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus, tirzepatide (Mounjaro), and liraglutide (sold under various brand names). "Licensed" means they have been carefully assessed by the UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, and approved as safe and effective for certain uses. The MHRA has not assessed the safety and effectiveness of these medicines when used outside of their licensed use. GLP-1s are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should only be used if you are overweight or diabetic, and not if you want to lose weight for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes.
