(NewsNation) — A growing and dangerous trend is rising in a popular weight-loss drug.
Poison control centers around the country are warning about a rise in calls of patients overdosing on Ozempic.
The drug was initially FDA-approved in 2017 to treat Type 2 diabetes but became popular among people seeking to lose weight relating to health issues other than diabetes.
Since 2019, there has been a 1,500% increase in calls to poison control, some reportedly taking weeks- and months-worth of Ozempic in one sitting.
The FDA reports 157 overdoses of semaglutide, the generic name for the drug, and 26 deaths linked to off-brand substitutes for the FDA-approved brands Ozempic and Wegovy.
Common symptoms of an overdose include severe nausea, vomiting, dehydration, low blood sugar, and, in rare cases, pancreatitis, which causes severe abdominal pain.
Supply chain shortages could be contributing to the increase in poison control calls, as some patients may resort to higher-dose alternatives available at pharmacies.
Fueled by social media and celebrity endorsements, Ozempic gained popularity for rapid weight loss, which sent demand soaring.