Patients in liver failure after using knock-off weight loss drug

Megan Hancocks suffered liver failure after buying a knock-off drug from a beautician. (Supplied: Megan Hancocks) Senior doctors at a Melbourne hospital are warning people not to take counterfeit weight-loss drugs labelled as "retatrutide" after seeing multiple cases of life-threatening illness. Among them is a woman who found herself in acute liver failure within a week of her second dose of the drug, who has ongoing health issues six months later. The US developers of the drug called retratrutide say it is still in a clinical testing phase, and that anyone purchasing products sold under its name is getting an untested and unregulated medication. Link copiedShareShare articleSenior doctors from a hospital in Melbourne's north are warning people against taking drugs being labelled as experimental weight loss medication retatrutide, after discovering multiple cases of liver damage and other serious illness. The injectable medication has not been approved by any worldwide drug regulator, including the US Food and Drug Administrator and the Australian Theraputic Goods Administration (TGA). Victoria's chief health officer on Friday issued a health alert, saying the department was aware of six cases of acute liver toxicity associated with the unapproved peptide product. The attraction of "reta", as it's commonly called on social media, is that it may be faster acting than the existing prescription weight-loss drugs available. But doctors told the ABC that anyone buying a substance labelled as retatrutide was buying a black market knock-off. Megan Hancocks, 32, became interested in reta after seeing videos and posts on TikTok and Instagram, but couldn't find where to buy it. Late last year during a beauty appointment, she mentioned her interest in the drug to a clinician who told her she had a selection of off-market peptides bought from a Chinese manufacturer available for purchase in cash. Ms Hancocks bought a product labelled as retatrutide, as well as a popular peptide for skin commonly called GHKCU. Ms Hancocks said she now knew she did not need to use a weight loss drug. "I was quite small looking back now, but obviously your mind tells you otherwise," she told the ABC. Butterfly Foundation: For support call the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, seven days a week, 8am-midnight AEDT. Ms Hancocks hesitated for a while before injecting the medicine, because she didn't have the advice of a doctor and was unsure about dosage. But she decided to proceed and took her first dose on December 24 last year, and a second dose on December 28. Less than a week later, she went to hospital and was found to be in acute liver failure. Ms Hancocks spent about a month at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in January, but has been back in hospital multiple times since. (Supplied) Symptoms included extreme jaundice, constant nausea, vomiting, severe constipation, stomach swelling and extreme fatigue. Ms Hancocks was at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for about a month, where at one stage her doctor began discussing the prospect of a liver transplant. Ms Hancocks experienced jaundice, meaning a yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin. (Supplied) Miraculously, she said, her liver took a turn for the better and she avoided the transplant. But six months on, Ms Hancocks is on steroids for liver repair and has been in and out of hospital several times. She cannot work and now lives with her mother. Ms Hancocks said the side effects of weight gain, sores on her skin from the treatment and hair loss have taken a massive mental toll. Megan Hancocks has been suffering skin reactions to liver repair treatment. (Supplied) "When I look in the mirror I don't see the same person anymore and that's been really hard," she said. Ms Hancocks says she has avoided even her close friends, only leaving home for medical appointments. She said her experience should discourage anyone thinking of trying anything labelled as reta. Megan Hancocks is unable to work and now lives with her mother on the Gold Coast. (ABC News: Glenn Mullane) Liver transplant specialist Marie Sinclair, from the Victorian Liver Transplant Unit based at the Austin Hospital, first heard of Ms Hancocks when her treating doctor and the Royal Melbourne flagged her for potential liver transplant. Since then, Dr Sinclair has seen and heard of other patients who have become ill after taking so-called retatrutide, including a woman who presented to emergency at the Austin a few weeks ago in acute liver failure. The patient in her 20s had purchased vials labelled as retatrutide online on a recommendation from her gym, which the Austin is now having tested. Dr Sinclair said the woman's symptoms when she got to hospital included abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue and severe jaundice. These are the vials of medicine Dr Sinclair's liver failure patient received. The Austin has submitted

Patients in liver failure after using knock-off weight loss drug

Key takeaways

More in international