Sharp Increase in Semaglutide Overdoses Amid Weight-Loss Drug Popularity Surge

Older Weight-Loss Medicines Regain Popularity as Newer Drugs Face Shortages and Insurance Hurdles

Semaglutide, a medication prescribed under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, has seen a significant increase in reported overdose exposures in the United States, with at least 2,941 cases reported between January 1 and November 30, 2023, according to America’s Poison Centers.
The number of semaglutide overdoses in 2023 is more than double the 1,447 reported in 2022, which was more than double the 607 reported in 2021.
Semaglutide, originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, has surged in popularity as a weight-loss drug, with more than 4 million prescriptions issued in the United States in 2020.
Most overdoses are accidental, often due to patients not waiting a week between doses or misunderstanding dosing instructions.
Older weight-loss medicines are seeing a resurgence in popularity due to insurance hurdles and shortages of newer drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.