A 26-year-old mother, Leigh-Anne Lagden, had a terrifying near-death experience after accidentally injecting herself with five times the recommended dose of a weight-loss drug provided by a company promoting itself on Instagram. Lagden, from Newcastle, England, shared with The daily mail who received a month’s supply of the prescription drug in June after following the brand on social media.
Lagden explained that he initially took what he believed was the “recommended” dose of 0.5 ml, but soon experienced serious side effects. “I started vomiting blood and was rushed to the hospital twice,” he told the outlet. She recalled that the brand reached out to her on Instagram after she followed them and sent her the free injections in the expectation that she would promote their product. The medication came in a liquid solution with a needle that she was expected to mix and administer herself.
When Lagden first approached the brand, concerned about her symptoms, she was told that nausea was normal with the treatment. However, his condition rapidly worsened and he experienced four days of continuous vomiting, during which he was unable to keep any food or liquid down. “After the second day of being sick, my mother called 111 and they told me to go to the hospital immediately.” she remembered.
Once admitted to the hospital, doctors discovered that the black vomit she was expelling was, in fact, blood. “I thought I was going to die,” Lagden said. Medical professionals expressed concern about his dangerously elevated heart rate and abnormal liver readings. “My blood tests were off the charts,” he shared, adding that doctors explained that he had likely “overdosed” on the medication, which was supposed to be taken in smaller doses of 0.1 ml.
After a harrowing recovery that included multiple intravenous drips, Lagden has struggled with ongoing health issues, including eating difficulties. Despite his recovery, he decided to cut ties with the brand, which showed no remorse when he contacted them to tell them about his experience. “I would never take them again,” he said, adding that he has since focused on natural methods of losing weight through diet and exercise. “I think that’s why I’ve lost so much weight now, as I’ve been walking everywhere.”
When contacted for comment, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, clarified its policies regarding potentially harmful weight loss products. informed goal The daily mail which prohibits the sale of medications on Instagram and Facebook, adding that any content related to weight loss products or cosmetic procedures is restricted to users under 18 years of age.
Lagden’s story serves as a warning to those who approach companies offering free products through social media, especially when the products involve self-administration and lack clear instructions from qualified professionals. Their experience highlights the risks associated with unregulated promotional health products and highlights the need to impose stricter restrictions on companies that market such items online.
