Wegovy, Mounjaro: Caution Urged for Adolescent Use... "More Side Effects Than in Adults"

As the age eligibility for GLP-1 class obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro has been expanded to include adolescents aged 12 and older, the government has urged caution, emphasizing that the risk of side effects is higher in teenagers and calling for safe usage.

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On November 14, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that it will distribute safety leaflets on the proper use of obesity medications tailored for adolescents to public health centers, medical institutions, and related organizations such as the Korean Hospital Pharmacists Association nationwide.

The leaflet contains information on: ▲ eligible patients for obesity medications ▲ administration methods and precautions ▲ storage and disposal instructions ▲ adverse events (side effects) and reporting procedures.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained that since the launch of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class obesity treatments in the second half of last year, usage has increased and reports of side effects have also been continuously rising. The ministry has designated these drugs as "priority monitoring targets for adverse events" and is monitoring side effects in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management.

GLP-1 obesity medications are prescription drugs used as adjuncts to calorie-reduced diets and increased physical activity for weight management in adolescent patients aged 12 and older who have been diagnosed as obese by a physician, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher (based on adult standards) and a body weight exceeding 60 kg.

Clinical trial results showed that obese adolescents aged 12 and older had a higher incidence of side effects such as cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and hypotension compared to adults receiving regular doses. Even when used within the approved indications, adolescent patients may experience various side effects, including gastrointestinal adverse events such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stressed that, since adolescents are still in the process of growth, careful monitoring is required for issues such as insufficient nutritional intake, weight loss that may affect growth, dehydration due to gastrointestinal side effects, and acute pancreatitis. The ministry emphasized that these medications should only be used within the approved indications, with a doctor's prescription and under the guidance of a pharmacist.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to distribute the obesity medication safety leaflet to households through all schools, and to continuously provide accurate information to adolescents and parents considering obesity medications by posting card news and other materials on platforms such as Together School and Hakbumo Onnuri. In addition, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, tailored safety information on obesity medications will be provided through youth-oriented websites and facilities, including the integrated information network "Youth 1388," the youth activity information service "e-Youth," and the National Youth Training Center.

If unexpected side effects occur after normal use of these medications, the drug adverse event reporting and compensation system of the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management can be utilized.

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