OzempicGLP-1 receptor agonistschronic weight managementadverse drug reactionsFrom global celebrity conversations to social media weight-loss trends, drugs likehave gained widespread attention among people looking for quick weight-management solutions.
Patel said the prescription and use of GLP-1 receptor agonists have been restricted exclusively to endocrinologists and internal medicine specialists.“Initiation and continuation of therapy are required to be undertaken only under the strict supervision and monitoring of the treating specialist physician,” the minister said, adding that the move is aimed at preventing inappropriate use and reducing risks associated with unsafe consumption.
The CDSCO has issued advisories directing manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to ensure that these medicines are supplied only through authorised channels and used strictly according to approved indications and product labels.
The regulator has also asked State and Union Territory drug controllers to take action against diversion of medicines into unauthorised supply chains, misleading promotions and advertisements encouraging inappropriate use.The government has further expanded monitoring of promotional activity across print media, television, digital platforms, social media and outdoor advertisements.Violations will invite action under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.The National Coordination Centre–Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI), operated by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, has also stepped up safety monitoring of semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists.Healthcare professionals, adverse drug reaction monitoring centres and marketing authorisation holders have been sensitised to report suspected side effects linked to these medicines.
Awareness campaigns have also been launched encouraging doctors and patients to reportMeanwhile, Dr. K Vijay Kumar, Consultant - Internal Medicine & Diabetology, Sakra World Hospital, said, “As of now, the medicine is mainly approved for obesity as it is recognised as a chronic disease and would require long term treatment and definitely not for short-term benefits like in for a wedding photo shoot.Stopping the medicine has clearly shown that the lost muscle mass may not regain as much as lost unless preserved and maintained with proper exercise.”Health authorities also stress that these medicines require proper patient selection, prescription and monitoring rather than self-use based on trends of online popularity.
Ozempic
GLP-1 receptor agonists
chronic weight management
adverse drug reactions
From global celebrity conversations to social media weight-loss trends, drugs likehave gained widespread attention among people looking for quick weight-management solutions. But the Centre has warned that these medicines cannot be used as casual weight-loss aids, restricting their prescription to specialist doctors and allowing their use only for approved medical conditions.Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said drugs such as Ozempic and othermust meet strict safety, quality and efficacy requirements under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 before approval for manufacture, import or marketing in India.The minister said the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved these medicines only for specific indications; Type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults andamong adults with specified medical conditions.With growing interest in these drugs among people seeking weight loss without medical necessity, the government has introduced additional safeguards. Patel said the prescription and use of GLP-1 receptor agonists have been restricted exclusively to endocrinologists and internal medicine specialists.“Initiation and continuation of therapy are required to be undertaken only under the strict supervision and monitoring of the treating specialist physician,” the minister said, adding that the move is aimed at preventing inappropriate use and reducing risks associated with unsafe consumption. The CDSCO has issued advisories directing manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to ensure that these medicines are supplied only through authorised channels and used strictly according to approved indications and product labels. The regulator has also asked State and Union Territory drug controllers to take action against diversion of medicines into unauthorised supply chains, misleading promotions and advertisements encouraging inappropriate use.The government has further expanded monitoring of promotional activity across print media, television, digital platforms, social media and outdoor advertisements.Violations will invite action under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.The National Coordination Centre–Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI), operated by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, has also stepped up safety monitoring of semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists.Healthcare professionals, adverse drug reaction monitoring centres and marketing authorisation holders have been sensitised to report suspected side effects linked to these medicines. Awareness campaigns have also been launched encouraging doctors and patients to reportMeanwhile, Dr. K Vijay Kumar, Consultant - Internal Medicine & Diabetology, Sakra World Hospital, said, “As of now, the medicine is mainly approved for obesity as it is recognised as a chronic disease and would require long term treatment and definitely not for short-term benefits like in for a wedding photo shoot.Stopping the medicine has clearly shown that the lost muscle mass may not regain as much as lost unless preserved and maintained with proper exercise.”Health authorities also stress that these medicines require proper patient selection, prescription and monitoring rather than self-use based on trends of online popularity.
