Millions taking weight loss jabs in the UK could be at increased risk of a potentially deadly complication amid a sizzling heatwave, medics have warned.
Britain is set to bask in 26C (79F) temperatures from today with the mercury predicted to soar even further to a potential 32C (90f) by next week—as hot as Barbados and Malibu.
While many will be enjoying what has been dubbed the ‘Mediterranean melt’ medics have warned patients taking revolutionary weight loss jabs need to be extra cautious in the heat.
This is because drugs, such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic can cause dehydrating nausea and diarrhoea.
Dehydration is a potentially deadly condition where the body loses more fluid than a person takes in from drinking.
It typically causes headaches and dizziness but if not treated quickly can even lead to seizures, kidney failure or prove fatal.
Pharmacist and nutritional therapist Deborah Grayson, known as The Godmother of Pharmacology on TikTok, told MailOnline patients on the jabs need to be aware of the added danger heat can put on their body.
‘You’ll need to be extra careful about hydration during hot weather as these medications often cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea—all of which can lead to fluid loss,’ she said.
Britain is set to bask in 26C (79F) temperatures from today with the mercury predicted to soar even further to a potential 32C (90f) by next week. Stock image
Pharmacist and nutritional therapist Deborah Grayson, known as The Godmother of Pharmacology on TikTok , told MailOnline patients on the jabs need to be aware of the added danger heat can put on their body
‘A heatwave means patients could be at serious risk of dehydration, which can cause dizziness, low blood pressure, and put stress on the kidneys.’
She added: ‘This is particularly important for new users of the weight loss medication, whose bodies are still adjusting.’
Ms Grayson urged patients on the jabs to ensure they were drinking water frequently ‘even if you’re not feeling thirsty’ and to set a timer to remind them to do so.
She also advised patients to avoid alcohol and caffeine which can also have a dehydrating effect on the body.
Other safety tips to avoid dehydration while on the drugs include avoiding going out at the hottest part of the day and sticking to small ‘bland’ meals to avoid triggering vomiting and diarrhoea.
Above all, Ms Grayson urged parents experiencing these side effects to contact their GP if concerned.
‘If you can’t keep fluids down, speak to a doctor. Even mild symptoms can turn serious quickly in a heatwave, so don’t take any chances,’ she said.
Safety information distributed with the jabs also warns of the risk of dehydration while using the medications.
Mounjaro’s also reads: ‘In some cases you may experience loss of fluids/dehydration, e.g. due to vomiting, nausea and/or diarrhoea, which may lead to a decrease in kidney function.
It continues: ‘It is important to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.’
Broad symptoms of dehydration include, darker and smellier urine, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, as well as fatigue and sunken eyes.
More than an estimated 1.5million Britons are estimated to be using weight-loss jabs each month.
And more could be on the way-as British GPs will be able to prescribe the jabs directly to patients from this month.
This is a shake-up from the previous system which required patients to attend a specialist NHS weight-loss clinic to get the jabs on the health service.
Both Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed for weight loss on the NHS.
Ozempic is a medication for diabetes but contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy—semaglutide—and there have been reports of being prescribed ‘off-label’ for this purpose.
However, this will initially only be available for severely obese patients with multiple health conditions.
Other commonly taken medications, such as antidepressants are also linked to heat-related dangers with patients at increased risk of sunburn.
Warnings of the heat-related risks of the jabs comes just a week women taking Mounjaro were warned earlier this month that it may make their contraception ineffective and could even be harmful to unborn children.
