USERS of an unlicensed weight loss drug have been warned after several cases of liver damage linked to the ‘godzilla’ jab have been reported.
officials have sounded the alarm after discovering that six users of the experimental jab – which is still in clinical trials – have suffered acute liver toxicity.
The unlicensed fat jab retatrutide has been linked to six cases of liver damage Credit: Getty
Retatrutide has become wildly popular despite not yet being legal to use Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
The condition results in an inflamed liver and can cause permanent damage over time, leading to the liver failing entirely in some cases.
Retatrutide – known as “reta” online – has not yet been approved for use, meaning all current sales of the peptide product are illegal.
But despite this, people have been purchasing the dodgy injection online and via social media .
The alarming warning comes as one young Australian told how she took what she thought was retatrutide after being offered it at a beauty appointment but later ended up with liver issues.
Megan Hancocks, 32, purchased the drug last year and was sadly rushed to hospital within a week with life threatening liver failure after suffering severe jaundice and yellow eyes.
Users have long taken to social media forums to discuss how to access what they believe is the drug online, sharing tips and advice, while others say they have been offered it at beauty and nail appointments.
Megan Hancocks was rushed to hospital with liver damage after taking retatrutide Credit: Facebook/Megan Hancocks
Examples of retatrutide products in Australia that have been linked to liver toxicity Credit: Health.vic
Australia’s chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd issued an urgent plea last month for people to stay away from the illegal jab amid growing reports of serious reactions.
“Unapproved peptide products pose a growing public health risk,” he said , stressing that people “should not use these products”.
Six cases of acute liver toxicity have been reported in Victoria, Australia, since January with products reportedly being purchased online, through friends and through social media ads for muscle growth, fat loss and anti-ageing.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Caroline McElnay, said : “The clinical presentation of the cases reported to date suggest additional contaminants may be contributing to the observed liver toxicity in the products.”
While the investigations are ongoing, it is believed that similar cases from use of the unlicensed drug have been reported in other parts of Australia as well.
The use of unlicensed can carry significant health risks, including contamination, infection, local tissue damage where the product is injected or potentially life-threatening reactions.
The reported cases of liver damage have experienced tiredness , jaundice , abdominal pain, dark urine and abnormal bruising.
The Australian Department of Health has urged anyone who has purchased retatrutide to not use the product.
“Anyone who has used and has developed unusual or unexpected symptoms should seek medical care promptly,” it said in a health alert.
“Prescription medications should only be purchased from a licensed pharmacy or chemist,” it added.
In Megan’s case, this warning came too late to prevent damage to her liver.
She claims she was offered off-market peptides sourced from a Chinese manufacturer during a beauty appointment last year, the Daily Mail reported.
She said she had bought a vial labelled retatrutide and took her first dose on Eve and a second dose a few days later.
But Megan was rushed to the Royal Hospital within a week with acute liver failure.
The use of unlicensed retatrutide can carry significant health risks Credit: Getty How to spot fake weight loss injections
Without testing injections in a laboratory, it can be difficult to spot a fake. However, there are a few things to look out for:
- Is the packaging of a high quality?
- Is the box damaged or flimsy?
- Can you read the information on the box or is the text badly printed?
- Does the box include the brand name, not just the active ingredient?
- Is there a serial number or batch code you can check with the manufacturer?
- Is the liquid in the pen clear and colourless?
- Is the pen broken? Does it have rough edges or loose parts?
If you’re in any doubt, don’t use or buy the medication – especially if you’re not sure where it’s come from.
Source: Lloyds Pharmacy
Her symptoms included severe jaundice with a yellow colour to her eyes, along with nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, stomach swelling and debilitating constipation.
Doctors treated her for about a month and even considered the possibility of a liver transplant, but her condition stabilised before the procedure was needed.
Six months later, she remains on steroids to repair her liver and has been hospitalised multiple times.
Megan is sadly unable to work and lives at home with her mum.
She told ABC News: “I was quite small looking back now, but obviously your mind tells you otherwise.
“When I look in the mirror I don’t see the same person anymore and that’s been really hard.”
It comes as are trying to get their hands on counterfeits of the jab as trials suggest it could be the best one yet.
Studies suggest will be even stronger than currently available Wegovy and Mounjaro, earning it the nicknames “Godzilla” and “Triple G”.
The drug is being manufactured by Eli Lilly, the creator of Mounjaro , but it is still in clinical trials and has not been licensed for use.
Despite this, shady websites are using a legal loophole to rip off the ingredients and sell it for “research purposes ”.
This is supplying a concerning trade on social media despite no guarantee of users getting the correct chemical.
Dr Sophie Dix, of MedExpress, told The Sun last week: “Retatrutide is still an experimental so may have long-term risks that are not yet fully understood.
“Even if it does pass all clinical trials and the pharmaceutical version is deemed ‘safe’, illicit market product will still have risks because purity is uncertain and the doses recommended by sellers may be risky to use.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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