Expert opinion on drug safetyNov 18, 2024

More reports of accidental overdose linked to diabetes drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists in the general population

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A total of 3,348 reports of accidental overdose associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) were identified.

The reporting odds ratios (RORs) for accidental overdose varied significantly among GLP-1 RAs, ranging from 2.64 to 61.12.
All agents in the GLP-1 RA class showed significant RORs with p-values less than 0.008.
Inadequate access and affordability of GLP-1 RAs may lead to increased reliance on online and compounding pharmacies.
The increased use of these pharmacies is associated with a higher risk of prescription errors, particularly affecting disadvantaged racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
The analysis of the pharmacovigilance database indicates an association between GLP-1 RAs and accidental overdose but does not establish causation.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: The use of online and/or compounding pharmacies to access glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) increases the risk for prescription error (e.g. accidental overdose) especially in racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disadvantaged groups.

METHODS: We sought to evaluate accidental overdose associated with GLP-1 RAs submitted to the United States FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Case reports of accidental overdose reported to the FAERS were retrieved from Q4 2003 to Q1 2024 using OpenVigil 2.1. Disproportionality of accidental overdose was assessed using reporting odds ratio (ROR). Upper and lower 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated at an alpha level of 5%, where disproportionate reporting was considered when the lower 95% CI was greater than 1.0.

RESULTS: We identified 3,348 reports of accidental overdose associated with GLP-1 RAs. The RORs were significant for all agents within the class (ROR range: 2.64-61.12, all < 0.008), including semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide compared to niacin. p

CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate access, availability, and affordability of GLP-1 RAs has contributed to the increased seeking via online and/or compounding pharmacies, and is associated with greater risk for prescription errors that differentially affect racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic vulnerable populations. Pharmacovigilance database analyses cannot establish causation only association.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

More reports of accidental overdose linked to diabetes drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists in the general population

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief