Urgent warning issued to anyone using weight loss jabs during heatwave
Pharmacists have issued an urgent warning to anyone using weight loss jabs amid the UK heatwave.
A rare red warning for extreme heat has been issued by the Met Office as the UK has sweltered in exceptionally hot and humid conditions.
After record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday (24 June), the heatwave forecast is set to continue on Thursday (25 June) and Friday (26 June), and the Met Office said it is possible the figure could be 'beaten again'.
Pharmacists are now warning Mounjaro and Wegovy users that their weight loss medication could be rendered useless this week.
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Since both pens become ineffective above 30°C, Ian Budd, Lead Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4U, the trusted online pharmacy, advises: "When it comes to heat damage, an overheated pen can look completely normal.
"That's why keeping your pen below 30 degrees is so important. You can't always rely on a visual check to tell you if something's gone wrong, so you have to rely on what temperature you think the pen may have got to."
The experts have urged anyone using the pens to never leave them in a car, a bag in direct sunlight, or on a windowsill.
They also recommend using a medical travel pouch or cool bag with cooling inserts or ice packs to transport safely, as well as keeping the pen in its original packaging to protect it from light as well as heat.
If you're unsure whether your pen has been exposed to heat, contact your pharmacist before injecting
"Once you start your weight loss pen, it can be stored at room temperature, as long as this does not exceed 30 degrees centigrade," the experts add. "When in use in this way, Mounjaro can be used for up to 30 days, and Wegovy can be used for up to 42 days."
Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), noted: "Most medicines need to be stored at temperatures below 25°C. But cars, trains and buses can heat up quickly during the summer, and rooms with direct sunlight can get much hotter than you’d think.
"Even bags and pockets can get warm enough to cause problems, especially if you’re out all day or at a festival, sports event, or the beach. Heat can break down the active ingredients in medicines, meaning they might not work when you need them.
"Medicines that need to be kept in the fridge – such as insulin or certain liquid antibiotics – are especially vulnerable to heat. If they’re left out too long or stored incorrectly, they may not work properly when you take them. If your medicine has changed colour, developed an unusual smell, changed texture, or looks different in any way, this could signal heat damage.
"Ask your pharmacist for advice."
When approached for comment, Novo Nordisk referred Tyla to the advice shared by the MHRA.
Eli Lilly referred Tyla to the Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet, which states: "Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the pen label and on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
"Store in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C). Do not freeze. If the pen has been frozen, DO NOT USE. Mounjaro KwikPen can be stored unrefrigerated, not above 30 ºC, for up to 30 days after first use and then the pen must be discarded. Do not use this medicine if you notice that the pen is damaged, or the medicine is cloudy, discoloured or has particles in it.
"Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment."
Rhiannon Ingle