She Used Weight-Loss Drugs From a Telehealth Company, Then a GLP-1 Overdose Sent Her to the ER

Overdose Risks and Telehealth Oversight: The Dangers of Rapidly Expanding GLP-1 Use

As the popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs reaches record highs, an investigation by NBC News and KFF Health News has revealed a surge in severe medical emergencies, raising critical questions about the safety of obtaining these medications through telehealth platforms. With approximately 11% of U.S. adults now using these drugs for weight loss, the convenience of online prescriptions is being scrutinized for a perceived lack of clinical supervision.

Data from the National Poison Data System of America’s Poison Centers highlights the scale of the issue: between 2019 and 2025, there was a nearly 1,500% increase in calls related to overdoses or side effects of injectable GLP-1 medications, totaling nearly 23,000 cases. While these figures do not distinguish between telehealth-prescribed medication and in-person care, experts warn that the transition to digital-only management may be stripping away essential safety frameworks.

A Patient’s Ordeal: The Cost of Improper Dosing

Leslie Gammon, 54, a North Carolina resident, experienced the consequences of this trend firsthand. After reporting that a low dose of a compounded GLP-1 drug was not curbing her hunger, Gammon was instructed to significantly increase her dosage. She received instructions to inject 46 units—more than five times her previous weekly amount. Despite her concerns, she was advised by the company to follow the provided directions. After injecting 30 units, Gammon began to experience violent, uncontrollable vomiting. Gammon, who was left with a $9,000 hospital bill, stated that medical staff confirmed she had suffered a GLP-1 overdose. “I wouldn’t stop throwing up, and it was like every 20 minutes,” Gammon said. “I was hurting. I mean, it hurt. I couldn’t talk for nearly a week after; my ribs felt like they were being beaten up.”

The Limits of Telehealth Oversight

Dr. Fatima Syed, an associate professor of medicine at Duke University and a medical weight management specialist, emphasizes that the convenience of a “click” in an email or text does not replace the necessary clinical oversight required for complex health conditions. “Obesity weight is a complex problem. Is a click enough oversight for your management of your high blood pressure, diabetes? The answer is no,” Dr. Syed said. “Your body and your weight deserve the same clinical oversight.”

According to Dr. Syed, traditional medical settings provide layers of safety checks at both the physician and pharmacy levels. In contrast, many telehealth platforms operate as one-stop shops that bypass the traditional safeguards of in-person examinations.

Broad Physiological Impact and Safety Concerns

GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for diabetes management, are now recognized for their complex, multi-organ effects. Research from the University of Washington identified 61 distinct physical effects of the medication, ranging from beneficial metabolic changes to serious negative outcomes.

Potential risks associated with these drugs include:

• Dehydration leading to secondary complications, including seizures
• Potential for accidental ingestion by children

The rise in adverse outcomes is not limited to one demographic. Other patients have reported hospitalizations for symptoms including vomiting blood, seizures due to severe dehydration, and elevated heart rates. In one instance, a 7-year-old child required two hospitalizations after self-injecting her mother’s medication.

Moving Forward with Caution

Prof. Ziyad Al-Aly, lead author of the University of Washington study, acknowledges the life-changing potential of these drugs while stressing the need for a balanced view of risks. Regarding the responsibility for her ordeal, she holds both the telehealth physician and herself accountable, noting that while she believes the doctor made a mistake, she wishes she had educated herself more thoroughly before proceeding.

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