A 42-year-old woman has been hospitalized in grave condition in Belo Horizonte since December after injecting an illegal weight loss drug. The medication, known as Lipoless and unregistered with Anvisa, was purchased from Paraguay without a medical prescription. The case progressed to severe neurological complications, with suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Kellen Oliveira Bretas Antunes, 42, has been hospitalized in a Belo Horizonte (MG) facility since December in grave condition after using a weight loss injection called Lipoless. According to family members, she obtained the product from Paraguay without a medical prescription or professional oversight. She initially experienced abdominal pain after the injection, but the condition progressed to severe neurological complications, resulting in total paralysis.
Lipoless lacks registration with the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and is regarded as a supposed analog of tirzepatide, a substance in drugs like Mounjaro, used for diabetes and weight loss. The product is smuggled from Paraguay and sold irregularly in Brazil, in pens or ampoules, without assurances of safety, efficacy, or origin.
In November, Anvisa suspended the circulation of various unregistered weight loss pens, including Lipoless, T.G. 5, Lipoless Eticos, Tirzazep Royal Pharmaceuticals, and T.G. Indufar. These items, marketed as GLP-1 agonists for aesthetic purposes, are illegally sold on social media and digital platforms. The ban covers manufacturing, sales, imports, and promotion, even with a medical prescription, blocking personal imports as well.
Kellen is suspected of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that attacks peripheral nerves, causing tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis affecting arms, legs, facial muscles, swallowing, and breathing.
Belo Horizonte city hall received two complaints regarding improper medication handling. The Health Surveillance team inspected the sites: one was fined for irregular fractionation, while the other showed no irregularities. The municipal administration stresses that medication handling is permitted only in licensed compounding pharmacies, not in clinics or other health services. Violations can lead to product seizures, fines, and closures. Surveillance advises using licensed services and reporting issues through official channels, such as the Services Portal or phone 156.
