TIRZEPATIDE AND THE RISKS OF USING IT WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/revgeov17n6-005Keywords:
Tirzepatide, Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonist, Self-Medication, Adverse Effects, Patient SafetyAbstract
Tirzepatide represents a milestone in metabolic pharmacotherapy as the first dual agonist of both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Although it has demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity , its growing popularization has been accompanied by a worrisome phenomenon of non-prescribed use without medical supervision. The objective of this study is to conduct a literature review on tirzepatide, emphasizing the risks associated with its use without a medical prescription. Safety profile analyses show that the most frequent adverse events are gastrointestinal (nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting) , alongside rare and serious risks such as acute pancreatitis, biliary disease, acute kidney injury, and warnings regarding suicidal ideation and thyroid C-cell tumors. In conclusion, unsupervised use eliminates essential screening for absolute contraindications , leads to inadequate dose titration , prevents monitoring for severe drug interactions, and exposes users to the dangers of unregulated markets, including counterfeit products and improper storage.
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