Amid the rising concern over GLP drugs and their rampant misuse, India is set to tighten regulations around them. The government is also trying to find out the potential side effects of using the drug. The authorities have instructed the citizens, especially the consumers and medical professionals, to report if they observe any negative reaction with the usage of any GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide.In India, there is a strict policy regarding drug standards. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an apex body under the health and family welfare ministry, is the organization that regulates drug standards. Recently, the IPC issued a public notice for observing the safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, including popular semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide, the Mint reported.Notably, Indian regulatory authorities, including the health ministry, the IPC, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), are making enormous efforts to monitor the potential risks of these weight loss medications. As part of this, the IPC and other bodies are calling for post-marketing surveillance to ensure patient health, identify any previously undocumented side effects, and create a safety net for the citizens. According to the Mint report, the IPC said in the document, “Apart from semaglutide, any adverse event caused by other GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as dulaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide) should also be reported to the PvPI – Pharmacovigilance Programme of India.”The patients, consumers, and medical professionals can report adverse events (AE) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to ARD monitoring centres. In addition, ADR forms are also available on the IPC website, and there is a toll-free number of 1800-180-3024. The mobile app ADR PvPI 2.0 is easily available on the Google Play Store and the ADRMS software.Also Read: GLP-1 Drugs: Why India Needs Stricter Rules NowWhat is the GLP-1 Drug Mainly Used For?The GLP-1 drugs are a popular genre of medication that mimics the original GLP-1 hormone in the human body and is responsible for controlling blood sugar, slowing digestion, and increasing feelings of fullness. Several big names fall under the GLP-1 drug category, like semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide.What Are The Side Effects Of GLP-1 Drug?There are several possible side effects related to the use of the GLP-1 drug:One of the most common side effects is vomiting and nausea.This medication can also cause general digestive disruption, thus causing diarrhoea or constipation.Some other possible side effects include fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, bloating, and decreased appetite.In some rare cases, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, and thyroid C-cell tumors.