《TAIPEI TIMES》 Guide on weight-loss drugs planned

The Taiwan Diabetes Education Association said yesterday that it plans to work with domestic and regional partners to develop Asia's first guidelines on preventing and managing side effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs.

The guidance will cover the safe use of medications in weight loss and diabetes management, including considerations for patients undergoing surgery or hospitalization. The association said it hopes to publish these guidelines in international academic journals in January next year.

Ou Hongyi, chairman of the association, said that GLP-1 drugs will slow down gastric emptying, meaning food stays in the stomach longer. This may increase the patient's risk of complications while undergoing surgery or anesthesia.

Patients are usually advised to stop taking their medications two weeks before surgery, he said. However, patients with more severe diabetes should first be evaluated by the hospital's diabetes care team, who can adjust their treatment regimen to keep blood sugar levels within a safe range while off medication. Patients who are already hospitalized are often switched to insulin during their stay.

The association is inviting representatives from various Taiwanese medical organizations to help develop guidelines that will cover precautions for different types of GLP-1 drugs, switching between drugs and how to respond to accidental overdoses.

Ou Hongyi said that the preliminary draft is expected to be completed by the end of this month, and the publication target is January next year. These guidelines are designed to help patients get the benefits from their medications while minimizing risks, rather than causing panic.

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration said yesterday that it has received 63 reports of suspected adverse reactions involving GLP-1 receptor agonists so far this year, mainly gastrointestinal problems.

Liu Jiaping, senior technical specialist of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Group of the Food and Drug Administration, said that 39 reports related to the use of drugs for weight loss and 24 related to diabetes treatment.

Reported reactions include gastrointestinal problems, such as abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and pancreatitis, as well as hypoglycemia, nausea, vomiting, and injection site discomfort.

Liu Jiaping said that the Food and Drug Administration has required pharmaceutical companies to submit post-marketing safety research plans and develop risk management plans. The agency is monitoring drug safety information from Taiwan and abroad and implementing measures to address newly identified risks.

To prevent illegal products from entering the market, the FDA requires local health departments to conduct annual inspections of the distribution and use of GLP-1 injections.

The agency is working with Meta to remove posts promoting illegal sales and with the Taiwan Network Information Center to block illegal websites. It provides e-commerce platforms with keywords that help them identify and monitor prohibited online sales.

The Food and Drug Administration reminds the public that GLP-1 receptor agonist injections are prescription drugs and should be used only as directed by a physician after examination and professional evaluation.

Anyone experiencing suspected adverse reactions should seek medical attention immediately. Medical professionals and patients who suspect that a drug is causing an adverse reaction should report it to the National Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Center established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The FDA also warns the public not to purchase medications from unauthorized sources or use them without medical supervision because of possible health risks associated with improper use or products from unknown sources.