Thursday 22 September 2022 12:08 AM Migraine and epilepsy drugs are being promoted to under-18s as weight-loss aids ... trends now
Dangerous prescription-only drugs are being marketed to teenagers as weight-loss solutions on TikTok, a probe has revealed.
One medication being floated under the tag #dietpills is topiramate, which is dished out to people suffering from epilepsy and debilitating migraines.
When used correctly, the drug — currently the subject of a Government review into whether it is safe — can effectively treat these problems.
It can also cause users to lose their appetite and experience weight-loss.
But it can also produce some rare, yet serious complications, such as glaucoma and kidney problems.
Investigators found potentially dangerous prescription only medications are being promoted as weight-loss aids to teenagers
One of these drugs found to be promoted by TikTok users as weight-loss aid was the prescription only medication topiramate which is given to people suffering from epileptic fits and migraines. It is currently the subject of a Government safety review after its use was linked to birth defects when taken during pregnancy
The drug has also been linked to birth defects if taken while pregnant or when trying for a baby, which promoted the Government to launch a safety review in July.
Investigators found nearly a third of the 100 most popular posts on the social media platform's #dietpills tag pushed tablets as a way to stay slim.
This was despite the account used being registered as belonging to a 16-year-old girl.
Furthermore, a quarter of these posts promoted topiramate or other prescription-only drugs.
In some of the posts, users said that the pills helped 'curb' their appetite and boost their body temperature to lose substantial amounts of weight.
Experts today said the promotion of these drugs as weight-loss aids was 'completely inappropriate' and that there was a danger they could cause 'real harm'.
The UK lists only two drugs as safe and effective treatments for weight loss, yet neither are routinely offered to children.
These are orlistat, which is available over the counter at high street pharmacies, and prescription-only liraglutide.
However, a swathe
