A Brazilian woman has been diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal neurological disorder after using an illegal weight loss injection obtained from Paraguay, according to her family. The case has sparked serious concerns about the dangers of unregulated pharmaceutical products entering the market.
Hospitalised Twice After Using Unauthorised Medication
Kellen Oliveira Bretas Antunes, a 42-year-old administrative assistant from Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, was first rushed to hospital on December 17 last year after experiencing severe abdominal pain following administration of an unauthorised weight loss pen. She was discharged on Christmas Day with suspected drug intoxication, but her health crisis was far from over.
Just days after returning home, Ms Antunes was readmitted to hospital with a concerning array of neurological symptoms that would eventually lead to a devastating diagnosis. Her family reported that she developed muscle weakness, dark urine, significant neurological issues, and respiratory failure during this second hospitalisation.
Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Medical professionals eventually identified Ms Antunes' condition as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system. This serious condition typically begins with sensations of pins and needles in the hands and feet before progressing rapidly over several weeks.
The syndrome can cause muscle weakness, numbness, tingling sensations, sharp peripheral pain, breathing difficulties, drooping muscles, and visual problems including double vision. In severe cases, GBS can lead to paralysis and become life-threatening if respiratory muscles are affected.
Current Treatment and Recovery Outlook
Ms Antunes' stepdaughter has reported that while her condition has stabilised after initial improvement, she faces a lengthy recovery process expected to take at least twelve months. The patient is currently undergoing haemoglobin treatment designed to slow the progression of GBS and support nervous system recovery.
"She is stable. There has been a significant improvement, but the process will be long, right?!" her stepdaughter explained. "Since she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, it will take at least 12 months of treatment, with physiotherapy, speech therapy and other specialists."
Authorities Unable to Analyse Paraguayan Medication
A particularly concerning aspect of this case emerged when medical authorities attempted to analyse the contents of the weight loss pen. The stepdaughter revealed that João XXIII Hospital could not properly examine the medication because it originated from Paraguay, highlighting significant regulatory gaps.
"Initially, she was hospitalized with severe abdominal pain, and drug poisoning was confirmed," she stated. "My father retrieved the vial from our house and took it to João XXIII Hospital for analysis, but they couldn't analyze it because it was a medication from Paraguay."
Official Warnings About Unregulated Slimming Products
This incident has prompted Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to issue a public warning about the dangers of purchasing unlicensed slimming pens. The agency emphasised that not all weight loss injections available in Brazil have proper authorisation for sale.
Anvisa cautioned that medications obtained from unauthorised sellers are frequently unregulated, with no reliable information available about their origins, ingredients, or manufacturing standards. This creates significant health risks for consumers who may unknowingly expose themselves to dangerous substances.
Medical Experts Voice Serious Concerns
Endocrinologist Márcio Lauria spoke to Brazilian outlet Globo about the inherent dangers of using medications with unknown origins. He stressed that unregulated products could contain virtually any substance, with potentially devastating consequences for users.
"Every time you ingest a medication whose origin you don't know, it could contain anything," Dr Lauria warned. "We know that these pens go through a whole production process, and sometimes you buy one that hasn't received all the necessary care for the safety and efficacy of the medication."
The case of Ms Antunes serves as a stark reminder of the serious health risks associated with unregulated pharmaceutical products and the importance of obtaining medications only through legitimate, authorised channels with proper medical supervision.
