TOKYO REPORT: Diabetes Drugs for Weight Loss Spur Side Effect Warnings

Tokyo, March 23 (Jiji Press)–Experts are warning about side effects linked to the use of diabetes medications for weight loss, at a time when the injectable drug Mounjaro is gaining popularity for dieting in Japan, especially among women. Although Mounjaro is approved in Japan as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, it is widely referred to on social media as a weight-loss drug. In some cases, it is prescribed casually without sufficient explanation of potential side effects, fueling concerns about possible health risks. 13 Kg in 2 Months Developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co., Mounjaro was launched in Japan in 2023. Its generic name is tirzepatide. The drug mimics hormones secreted by the small intestine and acts on the brain’s satiety center, reducing hunger and suppressing appetite. In June last year, a 33-year-old woman struggling with weight gain was introduced by an acquaintance to an online clinic that prescribed Mounjaro. The woman, who works in customer service, said she was initially hesitant to use a diabetes medication. She recalled, however, that people around her “were all getting the shots.” She was prescribed a one-month supply of injectable pens for about 30,000 yen. After starting the treatment, she said her hunger disappeared and that she was able to get by on just one meal of fruit a day. In two months, her weight fell by 13 kilograms, from 78 kg. She experienced severe side effects, though. Along with intense headaches, she developed spots on her face and around her waist. Even the smell of fried food made her feel nauseous. After she stopped the injections, the weight she had lost returned. She started using them again last October at a higher dose. Since then, she has lost about 18 kg, but she has also suffered significant hair loss, and her physical condition has yet to fully recover. “I’d prefer to lose weight through exercise,” she said. “I want to stop using Mounjaro.” In addition to gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, Mounjaro may also cause hypoglycemia and acute pancreatitis. Easily Obtained from Home Mounjaro is used not only to treat diabetes but also as a medication for obesity. When prescribed for obesity, however, it is generally not covered by public health insurance, making it more expensive. Even so, it can still be obtained relatively easily, primarily through online medical consultations. Its use for simple weight loss, rather than as a treatment for obesity, is believed to be widespread. According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there has been a series of cases in which the drug was prescribed without sufficient explanation of possible side effects or adequate screening for pre-existing conditions, resulting in problems. At the clinic where the customer service worker received her prescription, she said no explanation of possible side effects was provided at all. According to her, the prescription was issued after an exchange lasting barely a minute. The reality is that the drug can be obtained from home with ease. Masahiro Fukuda, director of Fukuda Clinic in Osaka, western Japan, warned that using Mounjaro for weight-loss can pose health risks, including osteoporosis. “In principle, prescriptions should be based on in-person consultations and examinations,” Fukuda said. “Online medical care should serve only as a supplementary measure in unavoidable circumstances.” He also emphasized that “the (social) environment that makes women feel they must lose weight is itself part of the problem, and that mindset needs to change.” “Using Mounjaro for purposes other than treating diabetes or obesity is entirely inappropriate,” he said. “The ethics of doctors who prescribe it to people who don’t need it are also in question.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]