The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) decided on Wednesday (16) to make the retention of medical revenue mandatory in the sale of so-called weight loss pens such as Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy. Medicines are prescribed for patients who want to lose weight.
From now on, Pharmacies should retain the prescription at the time of purchase by the consumer. Before the decision, the sale was made only with the presentation of the revenue.
The measure was taken by Anvisa during a meeting of the board of directors of the agency. Unanimously, the agency understood that retention is necessary to increase the control of the use of these drugs and protect the public health from the “irrational consumption” of weight loss.
Indiscriminate use
Retention of the medical prescription is defended by health entities. At the end of last year, Brazilian societies of Endocrinology and Metabology and Diabetes released an open letter defending the retention of revenue for the sale of LPG-1 agonists, technical name of the slimming pens.
For entities, indiscriminate use creates concerns about the health of the population and the access of patients who really need treatment.
According to experts, The use of weight loss without medical follow -up and with inadequate dosage can cause nausea, abdominal distension, constipation or diarrhea.
Incorrect use can also aggravate psychological and food disorders.
