One woman’s attempt to slim down for her wedding day took a dangerous turn when she decided to take gray market semaglutide, landing her in the emergency room. Healthline reports that the woman, referred to as Amy Jenson for privacy reasons, was advised by her naturopath to try semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy injectables, to help reach her goal weight and prevent diabetes. She purchased the drug from a compounding facility and began experiencing severe stomach problems almost immediately.

Despite the side effects, she continued taking the drug to maintain her weight loss for her upcoming wedding. However, the decision proved to be more dangerous than she anticipated. The day after her wedding, she woke up with severe stomach pain and had to seek medical attention in a foreign emergency room, where she learned that her appendix was infected and needed to be removed immediately.

Experts noted that while large-scale clinical trials have not shown a direct link between semaglutide and appendicitis, there is a possibility of a connection that requires further research. Furthermore, in the unregulated gray market of drugs, there is a risk that the woman may not have been receiving semaglutide at all.

This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obtaining medications from unregulated sources and the potential risks associated with using them without medical supervision. It underscores the importance of consulting healthcare professionals and obtaining prescription medications through legitimate and regulated channels to ensure safety and effectiveness.