Health Officials Warn of Dangerous Fake Diabetes Drug in Lebanon

 Lebanese health officials have reported that eleven people in the country have suffered from dangerously low blood sugar levels after injecting suspected fake versions of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug, Ozempic. One of the victims required hospitalization for treatment. A director for the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Rita Karam, suspected that the drugs were counterfeit after discovering that the doses were different from those calibrated for authentic Ozempic injector pens.

The increasing demand for Ozempic and other weight loss drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo’s Wegovy, has led to a surge in counterfeit versions worldwide. Counterfeit Ozempic has already been discovered in at least 17 countries, including the UK, Germany, Egypt, and Russia. Health officials have issued warnings to pharmacies and consumers to remain vigilant since the contents of these counterfeit drugs are unknown.

Investigations into the 11 cases in Lebanon are ongoing, but the source and batch numbers of the fake drugs have not yet been identified. Three individuals took the suspected fake Ozempic to control their diabetes, while four used it for weight management. The remaining four injected the drug for an unspecified indication.

Diabetes patients rely on medication like Ozempic to manage their blood sugar levels. If blood sugar drops too low, they can experience hypoglycemia, which may manifest as headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness, or seizures.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health issued two recalls related to Ozempic in January 2023, but no cases of potentially counterfeit Ozempic were reported in the country in 2022. Novo Nordisk has declined to comment on the Lebanon cases.

The prevalence of obesity in Lebanon is a significant health concern, with more than a quarter of Lebanese adults classified as obese. Obesity is closely associated with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. In 2021, nearly 9% of adults in Lebanon had diabetes compared to nearly 14% in the United States.

It is important to note that Ozempic is neither purchased nor provided by the Ministry of Public Health. Meanwhile, the scramble for supplies of Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs has led to shortages in several countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, and Belgium.

As efforts to combat counterfeit drugs continue, authorities are urging individuals to exercise caution and only obtain medications from trusted sources.

https://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/news2/suspected-fake-ozempic-causes-hypoglycemia-in-11-in-lebanon-2/384596/