Cancer patients urged to consult with pharmacists before taking weight loss drugs

A cancer charity has urged patients to consult with medical professionals – including pharmacists - before taking any weight loss medication.

Cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support says it has received ‘a flurry of calls about the medications’ asking whether they are safe to take with cancer treatments and questions around accessing them.

It comes amid concerns elsewhere around the use of unregulated weight loss medication.

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As a result of the increased concern, Macmillan has launched new information on its website and is urging the public to get in touch with any questions or worries.

The charity says: ‘You should talk to your cancer doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any drugs that are not prescribed for you.'

The charity has warned patients to be particularly vigilant around medication found online.

‘Some people have been buying weight loss injections online from unregulated sources. There are also reports of people experiencing severe side effects from fake medicines. This is another reason to make sure you take medical advice if you are considering using these drugs.’

There have been several warnings in recent months around the use of the medications found online.

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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said this week there are concerns from pharmacists of patients accessing ‘high risk medications’, such as weight loss jabs, from unregulated sources. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) this month issued a warning to women using weight-loss jabs around the unknown risks of harm during pregnancy and said women should use ‘effective contraception’ while using the injections.

Dr Owen Carter, national clinical adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: ‘Recently we have seen a noticeable increase in calls to Macmillan’s free support line and a flurry of messages on our peer-to-peer online community about weight loss drugs.

‘We know that cancer affects everybody differently and it’s understandable that lots of people are interested in new drugs which accelerate weight loss, particularly if they want to manage their weight before or after treatment for cancer.’

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He added that while ‘quick fixes’ may seem attractive, ‘we simply do not know enough about the long-term impact of these weight loss medications to recommend them if they’re not prescribed by a specialist.’

‘Additionally, certain weight loss medications carry warnings about a potential link with thyroid cancer. However, we know that eating well and staying as active as possible are proven to help people feel better, increase their energy levels and strengthen their immune systems, which can help them to manage their weight and cope better with cancer treatment.’