Dark side of Ozempic laid bare as Lottie Moss rushes to hospital after overdose
As Lottie Moss speaks out about her ordeal after overdosing on Ozempic, experts have warned others to take the drug seriously - warning why it could be harmful for those at an already low weight
Lottie Moss has spoken out about her ordeal after overdosing on Ozempic - which saw her take a dosage large enough for somebody twice her size.
Ozempic has been hailed as a 'miracle' weight loss drug by some, while others have cautioned against using it for purely cosmetic purposes.
A brand name for the drug semaglutide, Ozempic is an injectable medicine used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. However, in September 2023, Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk made semaglutide injections accessible to Brits through specialist NHS weight management services.
READ MORE: Irish people being prescribed weight loss injections without even speaking to doctor
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One year on, and there is still heated debate over how and why Ozempic should be used, with Lottie's dismaying story adding fuel to the fire. But what happens if you take Ozempic when you're already at a low weight, and what happens if you overdose?
During an episode of her podcast Dream On with Lottie, 26-year-old Lottie revealed she'd been injecting medicine into her leg that would have been prescribed to a person who weighed at least 100 kilos. Onlyfans star Lottie, who weighs somewhere within the '50s' range - around 9 stone - has admitted she sourced the drug through a 'friend'.
Lottie, who has described taking Ozempic as the 'worst decision' she's ever made, confessed: "It was below board, from a doctor, but it wasn't like you go into a doctor's office and he prescribes it for you, takes your blood pressure, and takes tests, which is what you need when you go on something like Ozempic."
After starting out at 60 kilos, Lottie dropped to 57 after her very first dose, before plummeting once again to 54, then 53 in a matter of weeks. According to guidance published on the Diabetes UK website, Ozempic is only prescribed to those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35kg/m2 or over and with additional psychological or other medical conditions related to obesity.
However, some individuals with type 2 diabetes may be prescribed Ozempic if they have a BMI below 35kg/m2, if insulin would affect their job due to the low blood sugar risks, or if weight loss could lead to improvements in other obesity-related health concerns.
Biohacker and Harvard Medical School alum Sanj Pathak, who hosts the longevity podcast Let's Get Young, spoke with the Mirror about Lottie's distressing case, and advised that those who are already at a low weight risk losing muscle mass if they turn to Ozempic.
Sanj explained: "In summary - no medical doctor should prescribe Ozempic if your BMI is not 35 or above. With low weight already you're likely to be already on low muscle mass and Ozempic (wegovy), the weight loss one, leads to further muscle loss."
Meanwhile, Jana Abelovska, Superintendent Pharmacist at Click Pharmacy, remarked that Lottie's case has 'raised awareness' of the importance of using Ozempic. She advised: "Going through official channels to get your prescription means you won't end up with a drug that’s not suitable for you, as Lottie Moss did. You're only eligible to take Wegovy for weight loss if your BMI is either 30 plus, or 27 plus and you also have weight-related health conditions.
"When you are using Wegovy for weight loss safely, you'll start at a low dose and gradually increase, reducing the risk of side effects by allowing your body to adjust to the medicine. Going slow and steady is the best way to get the results you're looking for while taking care of your health."
After her overdose, Lottie began to experience a number of agonising symptoms, and was left unable to keep water or food down without throwing up. Warning others not to make her mistake, Lottie shared: "I would rather die any day than take it again. It made me feel so nauseous.
"I took it for two weeks. It comes with a pen and different doses, you take one injection one week, one injection the next week and you take it every week, and I've never felt sicker in my life. I was throwing up, it was horrible. I took a lower dosage the first time I took it then I went up higher. I ended up being in bed for two days, felt so sick, my weight had dropped."
By the time Lottie went to the emergency room, she was suffering severe dehydration which led to her suffering a seizure - something she describes as one of the 'scariest' things she's ever endured. A friend had to hold down Lottie's feet while she suffered on the floor of the hospital room, face 'clenching' and body 'tense'. The nurse who attended Lottie was shocked to discover the dosage of Ozempic she was taking.
Emphasising the dangers of overdosing on Ozempic, Sanj warned: "Overdosing can lead to reduced insulin production and there have been cases of thyroid cancers and pancreatic issues. And there are mental side effects such as depression - there is a reason people turned to food for comfort and suddenly that's taken away."
Meanwhile, Zahra Qureshi, Pharmacist at Simple Online Healthcare, stressed just how 'vital' it is that patients use Ozempic as intended and that they 'follow the correct dosing schedule'. She cautioned: "If a patient was to overdose on the medication it can lead to an increased frequency and severity of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
"There is also an increased risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and dehydration particularly with higher doses. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include sweating, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion. In the event of an overdose, patients should seek immediate medical advice."
When approached for comment, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson said: " We understand and empathise with the health challenges this patient has faced. While we cannot comment on this particular incident, the safety and wellbeing of patients taking our medicines is our top priority.
"We care deeply about the safety and wellbeing of patients who take our medicines and strongly recommend that all patients stay in close contact with their healthcare professional for proper diagnosis, ongoing guidance, and careful monitoring.
"It is important to note that Ozempic ® (semaglutide injection) is a prescription-only medicine, meaning that it must be prescribed by a healthcare professional under strict supervision. Patients must make any decisions about treatment together with their healthcare professional so that their doctor can assess whether it is appropriate to prescribe the medicine or not, based on their assessment of the patient's individual medical profile.
"Accessing prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription or without the care of a healthcare professional can pose a direct danger to health.
"We are working closely with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to continuously monitor the safety profile of our medicines. Novo Nordisk has reported this case to its safety team who will follow up in line with procedures for safety reporting."
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