(The Center Square) – As the sale of weight loss drugs skyrocket around the country, Illinois’ attorney general is saying buyer beware.
Sales of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have soared, with over 1.6 million prescriptions issued in Illinois last year, nearly a 14% increase from the year before. The most prescriptions went to adults ages 55 to 65 (29%), followed by seniors 65 and older (26%).
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning consumers about misleading advertising by medical spas, wellness centers, online retailers and social media sellers that state or imply they are offering name brand GLP-1 medications or generic versions of name brand medications, when in reality they are offering compounded drugs.
“Compounded drugs are not the same as generic drugs,” said Raoul. “They are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as they are often produced on site.”
He added that the FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, quality or effectiveness, however, and these drugs may pose health risks.
Raoul’s office recently issued cease and desist letters calling on five med spas to stop using language that misleads consumers about the products they are purchasing. He encourages Illinois residents to report deceptive marketing or the sale of unsafe weight loss products on the attorney general’s website.
The FDA has issued warnings to try to stop the distribution of illegal versions of GLP-1 products. Some GLP-1 medications are being sold directly to consumers without prescriptions or are research-only products that should never be used by humans.
Raoul is urging consumers considering taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss to first consult a trusted physician and fill any prescriptions at state-licensed pharmacies and avoid obtaining or filling prescriptions from unknown sources.
