Calls to NSW poison hotline spiked 1176 per cent in four years

Around 330 patients in NSW were referred to hospital last year for mistakenly overdosing on Ozempic and other diabetes drugs.

Patients have been referred to hospital emergency departments after mistakenly overdosing on diabetes drugs such as Ozempic, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Fresh figures obtained from Australia’s largest poisons information centre in NSW shows 332 distressed calls were made in the year ending 2024 relating to semaglutide, sold under the brand names including Ozempic and Wegovy in Australia.

Calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre (PIC) seeking advice on poisonings from semaglutide have spiked 1176 per cent in four years. In 2020, 26 users of the type 2 anti-diabetes jabs called the phone based advice centre for help.

Last year, 54 per cent of patients complaining of poisonings and suspected poisonings from GLP-1 agonists were able to self-manage at home under the guidance from the centre.

Hospital management was required in 21 per cent of cases.

Around 336 patients were referred to hospital last year for overdosing Ozempic and other diabetes drugs. Photo: Getty Images

The bulk of calls that year (2024) related to Semaglutide, a commonly used GLP-1 agonist, accounting for approximately 75 per cent.

The primary reasons for the calls were accidental medication errors, adverse reactions and self-poisoning.

The most common symptoms of complaints reported included nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre (PIC) seeking advice on poisonings from semaglutide have rocketed 1176 per cent in four years. Photo AFP

There is also a risk of hypoglycaemia (also known as low blood sugar) in patients taking other medications for diabetes, particularly sulfonylureas and insulin.

Some reported symptoms lasting between one or two days, and others prolonged symptoms lasting up to one week.

The TGA has not approved diabetes drugs like Ozempic for weight loss purposes, while Mounjaro and Wegovy can be prescribed for fat-loss purposes in very limited cases and where it is “an adjunct to a reduced-energy diet and increased physical activity”.

The Ozempic anti-diabetic medicine Photo: AFP

In 2021, the centre received 72 calls about GLP-1 agonists, which more than doubled the following year to 158. In 2023, 177 complaints were logged.

The hike in poisonings are partly blamed on the rise in GLP-1 jabs.

Last year the PBS recorded 2,574,854 prescriptions across the country.

Last year the PBS logged 2,574,854 prescriptions across the country for the anti diabetes drug. Picture: Wayne Taylor

In 2023, 1,969,043 Australians were prescribed Ozempic on the PBS, 1,004,145 in 2022, 483,733 in 2021 and 45,705 in 2020 when the drug was first listed on the PBS.

“GLP-1 agonists are relatively new and high-profile classes of medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus but more recently, they have gained popularity among the public for supporting weight loss,” said Genevieve Adamo, Senior Specialist from the NSW Poisons Information Centre said.

“Calls to the NSW PIC related to GLP-1 agonists have increased from 26 in 2020 to 332 in 2024. This may partially reflect the growth in numbers of people using these medicines.

“To prevent accidental medication errors from GLP-1 agonists NSW PIC advises the community to always write down or mark off the dose on a chart and always follow the instructions on the label.

“Ensure your doctor, diabetes educator, nurse or pharmacist has given you clear instructions on how to use your medicine, particularly on how to load a dose and inject correctly.”

She added that it was important not take an extra dose or increase the dose without direction from the GP and to only use prescribed medications from an Australian pharmacy.

Counterfeit products from online providers may not be safe.