McHenry Times

Rep. Joe Sosnowski raised awareness of a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning about popular medication used for weight loss in his July 31 Facebook post.

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a new warning about a popular medication used for weight loss," said Sosnowski, State Representative, according to Facebook.

In the post, Sosnowski included a link to an ABC7 report on a warning from the FDA about the potential for overdose when injecting semaglutide, which is a key ingredient in weight loss drugs like Rybelsus, Ozempic, and Wegovy. According to ABC7, the FDA has received reports of overdoses on compounded semaglutide, with some cases involving doses as much as 20 times the intended amount when using semaglutide drawn from a vial and taken by injection. FDA-approved medications are typically administered via oral tablet or pre-filled pens, but compounded versions require patients to dose themselves. It is this compounded version that the FDA has warned against.

Screenshot of Rep. Joe Sosnowski's July 31 Facebook post | State Representative Joe Sosnowski Facebook page

ABC7 reported that compounding pharmacies create their own semaglutide compounds with raw ingredients – these are not generic drugs monitored for safety and effectiveness. There are no generics for Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus.

The FDA warning was issued on July 26. "Many of the patients who received vials of compounded semaglutide lacked experience with self-injections," according to the adverse event reports. "Unfamiliarity with withdrawing medication from a vial into a syringe and coupled with confusion between different units of measurement (e.g., milliliters, milligrams and 'units') may have contributed to dosing errors." The report also noted that health care providers should be vigilant when prescribing and administering compounded semaglutide due to varying concentrations available. "If uncertain, health care providers should contact the compounder about calculating the correct dose of medication to prescribe or administer," said the FDA in its report.

Sosnowski has represented Illinois since he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2010. He now represents the 69th District. His political career began with a stint on the DeKalb City Council before he moved to Rockford and was elected to serve as the First Ward Alderman from 2005-2010. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, according to his official biography.