The Ministry of Health’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a safety alert cautioning Kenyans against the misuse of semaglutide-containing medicines, such as Ozempic, for weight loss.
The warning comes amid growing global attention on the drug, often promoted by celebrities and influencers for rapid slimming results. In Kenya, authorities recently raised concern after some public personalities openly endorsed semaglutide for cosmetic purposes, sparking fears of unsafe, unsupervised use.
PPB Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fred Siyoi stressed that semaglutide is strictly a prescription-only medicine approved for the management of type 2 diabetes in adults whose blood sugar levels remain uncontrolled.
“While semaglutide is effective in controlling diabetes, its misuse carries significant risks. We have received growing safety concerns, particularly when the drug is used outside its approved medical purposes.” He said.
The regulator listed possible side effects, including low blood sugar (hypoglacemia), eye complications, acid reflux disease (gastroesophageal), and intestinal obstruction. These, Dr. Siyoi noted, may range from mild discomfort to life-threatening complications.
Globally, concerns about off-label use have intensified. In the United States, health authorities have reported hospitalizations and even deaths linked to unapproved versions of semaglutide sold online. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also warned against counterfeit products being marketed as weight-loss injections.
The Ministry of Health has signaled a crackdown on unregulated promotion of semaglutide, noting that endorsements by celebrities and influencers could mislead the public and deprive diabetes patients of essential treatment.
Dr. Siyoi urged Kenyans to report suspected side effects or poor-quality products through official PPB channels, including the electronic reporting system (pv.pharmacyboardkenya.org), email ([email protected]), phone (+254-795-743049), or USSD code (dial *271#).
