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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [HEALTH]

2 clusters · 11 sources · 30 days · First seen about 1 month ago · Last updated 12 days ago

Medication consumption and adverse reactions in Portugal

Overview

Data from the 2025 National Health Survey (INS 2025) indicated that 33.2% of the Portuguese population aged 15 and older consumed non-prescription medications. This usage was most prevalent in the 35 to 44 age group (40.4%) and the Algarve region (38.6%).

By 2026, reports from Infarmed, the national medicines authority, highlighted concerns regarding weight loss and diabetes medications. Specifically, the GLP-1 receptor agonist class saw 695 notifications of suspected adverse reactions between January 2024 and September 2026. Tirzepatide accounted for the majority of these reports, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and hair loss being noted. This rise in notifications follows a massive increase in the distribution of tirzepatide in community pharmacies, which grew from 10,689 packages in 2024 to 434,768 in 2025.

Entities

National Institute of Statistics · Algarve · Trulicity · Lisbon · Alentejo

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Infarmed reports that the rate of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has remained relatively stable over the years.
[● 3 SOURCES] A total of 695 notifications regarding four GLP-1 receptor agonist substances were recorded between January 1, 2024, and September 21, 2026.
[● 2 SOURCES] Reported adverse reactions include vomiting, diarrhea, and hair loss.
[● 2 SOURCES] Tirzepatide, the active substance in Mounjaro, accounts for the majority of the notifications.
[● 2 SOURCES] The number of tirzepatide packages in Portuguese community pharmacies rose from 10,689 in 2024 to 434,768 in 2025.
[● 2 SOURCES] Semaglutide usage also showed high volumes, with 626,142 packages recorded in 2025.

Timeline

12 days ago

[HEALTH] 9 sources
Infarmed reports daily adverse reactions for weight loss drugs in Portugal
Infarmed reports an average of one suspected adverse reaction per day for GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs in Portugal, totaling 695 notifications since early 2024.
about 1 month ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
Portugal reports high non-prescription medication use
Data from Portugal's 2025 National Health Survey shows 33.2% of residents aged 15+ used non-prescription drugs, with the highest rates in the Algarve and among younger age groups.

Sources

aenfermagemeasleis.pt · cmjornal.pt · diarioviseu.pt · dnoticias.pt · observador.pt · portal.comunique-se.com.br · postal.pt · recordeuropa.com · revistaempreende.com.br · uai.com.br · veja.abril.com.br