INDISCRIMINATE USE OF MOUNJARO AND CIRCULATION OF PRODUCTS OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN AS AN EXPRESSION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/qc09as49Keywords:
Self-medication; Obesity; Public Health; Drug Use; Health Surveillance.Abstract
The global increase in obesity has driven the incorporation of new pharmacological therapies, including tirzepatide, commercially known as Mounjaro whose high metabolic efficacy has contributed to its rapid diffusion in the clinical and social landscape. However, the expansion of its use beyond approved indications, coupled with the circulation of products of dubious origin, has highlighted a problem that transcends the individual sphere and assumes relevance in the field of public health. This study aimed to analyze the indiscriminate use of Zepbound and the circulation of products of dubious origin as an expression of a public health crisis. This is a narrative review with a qualitative approach, conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases, using DeCS descriptors related to the topic, including studies published between 2020 and 2026, as well as recent regulatory documents. The findings indicate that the popularization of the drug is directly related to the influence of digital media, aesthetic values, and the relaxation of risk perception, favoring self-medication practices and consumption without professional supervision. In parallel, the expansion of informal markets has intensified the circulation of products without guaranteed quality, safety, and efficacy, increasing the risk of adverse events and health fraud. It is also observed that this scenario compromises the comprehensiveness of care and poses challenges to health surveillance, pharmacovigilance, and public policies for the rational use of medicines. It is concluded that the phenomenon analyzed reveals weaknesses in regulatory mechanisms and in the mediation between therapeutic innovation and collective protection, requiring integrated strategies for control, health education, and institutional strengthening to mitigate the impacts of this problem.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Lucas Andrade Menezes, Helena dos Santos Reis, Marta Alencar Alves de Souza , Karmem Mirella Hanorata Cabral da Silva, Caroline Maria Rodrigues Silva , Fabiane de Jesus Monteiro Teixeira, Thaís Silva dos Reis, Riviane Larissa Santos Carvalho Cardozo , Maria Nazaré Lopes Baracho , Valquiria Kopke dos Santos, Ahirlan Silva de Castro
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