Calls to WA poisons hotline for Ozempic and similar semaglutide drugs increased by 88 per cent in one year

The number of West Australians who have sought help from the State’s poisons hotline with concerns about negative effects to weight-loss and diabetes medications such as Ozempic has increased by 88 per cent in a year. Figures obtained by The West Australian revealed 85 calls were made to the WA Poisons Information Centre in 2024 relating to semaglutide medications. Semaglutide, the active drug in Ozempic, works by mimicking a natural hormone released in the gut after eating. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, slows digestion and increases feelings of fullness. It was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2019 for type 2 diabetes treatment in adults. People seeking advice on potential semaglutide poisonings increased by 2733 per cent in three years, with only three people calling the hotline in 2021. In 2022, 32 people called, and there were 45 calls made for help in 2023. Out of the 85 calls last year, 21 per cent of people required hospital treatment for their symptoms. There were a range of reasons for the calls including adverse reactions, intentional misuse and accidental errors. The most common symptom for calling in relation to the medication was nausea and vomiting, which is a known side effect of semaglutide. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners quality care committee member Gary Deed said it was important to use the medication as prescribed as it can have “potent side effects”. “There is increased prescribing and usage so that could be the biggest driver of the calls but we do know from clinical studies that up to 20 per cent of people utilising the medication can get gastrointestinal side effects as a known complication,” he said. “A number of those people may call a helpline to get support. “These numbers reflect an important realisation that these medications are potent, both in the way they work on the body’s metabolism but also they may have potent side effects, so it’s important we need to be careful about use of the medications.” Common side effects of semaglutide drugs include gastrointestinal issues including nausea, constipation and diarrhoea. With rising concerns about people accessing the drugs online, Dr Deed said it was important talk to a GP or a specialist before using the medication. “There is a concern that some people obtain medications from internet providers and therefore they may not have a good support network that allows people to know what to do when they get these side effects,” he said. “Some of these side effects can be prevented by talking to your GP about what you need to do to work with the medication in a safe way.” A North Metropolitan Health spokeswoman said people are reminded to use medications according to prescriptions. The increase in poisons hotline calls come as Ozempic prescriptions for under-18s in WA jumped from just six in the 2020-21 financial year, to 70 in 2022-23 before peaking at 129 in 2023-24. The Department of Health and Aged Care figures are thought to be the result of off-label prescribing by doctors, which occurs when drugs are prescribed to treat conditions other than those approved by the TGA.