Close-up Of A Young Diabetic African Woman Injecting Arm. Photo/Shutterstock
By Daisy Okiring
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 – 3:47 PM EAT
The Ministry of Health has sounded alarm over the rising misuse of Ozempic, a diabetes drug that has recently gained popularity globally as a quick weight-loss solution.
Through the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), authorities have cautioned Kenyans against the unsupervised use of the medicine, warning that the trend could expose users to severe health risks.
Ministry Issues Safety Alert
According to PPB Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fred Siyoi, semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic — is approved strictly for the management of type 2 diabetes in adults who struggle to control blood sugar levels. However, he emphasized that using the drug outside this medical purpose, especially without supervision, is dangerous.
“Semaglutide is a prescription-only medicine and its unsupervised or off-label use may result in serious health outcomes,” Dr. Siyoi noted in the advisory issued Tuesday.
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Although the treatment has proven benefits for diabetic patients, experts remain concerned over its safety when used as a slimming injection. Among the common side effects flagged are low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), acid reflux, intestinal obstruction, and eye complications, some of which may escalate to life-threatening conditions.
Global Craze Fuels Misuse
The caution comes at a time when Ozempic has become a social-media-fueled craze, promoted as a “miracle jab” for weight loss. This surge in popularity has seen non-diabetic users scramble for the drug in different parts of the world, a trend that health officials in Kenya fear could spark black-market sales and uncontrolled consumption locally.
PPB has urged members of the public to avoid off-label use of semaglutide and to report any adverse reactions or poor-quality products through its pharmacovigilance platforms.
“The public is advised against using these medicines outside their approved purpose and encouraged to file reports of suspected side effects,” Dr. Siyoi added.
The Ministry has now called on Kenyans to exercise caution and seek professional medical advice before using prescription drugs, stressing that the misuse of Ozempic for cosmetic weight-loss goals could carry irreversible consequences.
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