PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch is warning Mississippians of unapproved and compounded weight loss drugs.
Weight loss drugs have been on the rise in the last few years, with drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic staying at the forefront.
Fitch says that deceptive sellers are making claims about the products that are misleading, while also promoting unapproved and compounded ingredients in products that have yet to be tested, such as tirzepatide and semaglutide products.
Some of these untested products include sublingual drops, lozenges or films taken under the tongue, topical skin patches and nasal sprays.
Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide products that are sold by compounding pharmacies, outsourcing facilities, med-spas, wellness centers, online retailers and people on social media might not have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Here are some tips from Fitch’s office to protect yourself:
- Be aware of suspiciously low prices of weight loss drugs sold by unlicensed providers
- Talk to your medical provider before using any pharmaceutical medication
- Products marketed as “research-grade” or “research-use-only” should be avoided
- Always make sure that you are purchasing products from a licensed pharmacy when shopping online
- Check for FDA approval or regulatory clearance of the drug before you use it
- Avoid drugs or supplements that do not list all ingredients or come in unmarked packaging
- Be wary of products sold or shipped from other countries
- Talk to your health provider about sellers offering to sell more than three months of a GLP-1 medication at once
“It is critical that consumers remain vigilant and ensure that they are purchasing safe, regulated weight loss drugs,” said Fitch. “I urge Mississippians to work with their licensed prescriber and pharmacist when taking these prescription medications and to purchase them only from a licensed and regulated source. If you think you have purchased an unapproved product, please report it to my office.”
The Attorney General’s Office can be contacted at 601-359-3680.
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