Tirzepatide weight‑loss drug faces illegal use warnings in Costa Rica and Colombia

The Costa Rican Association of Endocrinology warned that aesthetic clinics are offering tirzepatide and other weight‑loss treatments without proper medical supervision, posing serious health risks. Association president José Guillermo Jiménez said the drug should be handled only by qualified endocrinologists and cautioned that patients may be receiving unverified substances from unknown sources. He warned, “Una situación estética puede manejarse por diferentes personas, pero la parte estética no tiene que meterse con la salud…”.

In Bogotá, the city’s Health Secretariat issued a similar alert, emphasizing that tirzepatide and semaglutide must be prescribed by a doctor and obtained from authorized pharmacies. Sub‑secretary Julián Fernández stressed, “Es importante recordar que no se trata de soluciones mágicas para todas las personas.” The agency announced increased inspections to curb the sale of counterfeit or unregistered products and warned against self‑medication.

Both authorities highlighted the growing public‑health concern over unregulated weight‑loss drugs in the region.