I was left paralysed by mini-stroke from using fake weight loss injection pen – it was absolutely terrifying

A WOMAN told of the “terrifying” moment she had a mini-stroke after using a fake weight loss injection pen.

Jennifer Clare Finestone sourced what she thought was a Saxenda pen from a pal, which is used to reduce your appetite and make you fuller for longer.

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The 37-year-old, from Baillieston, collapsed at home after using the device for a week and later realised it was fake after comparing it to a genuine one.

She relayed the horrifying moment she woke up paralysed unable to speak or move.

Jennifer told the Daily Record: “I was trying to shout for help but the words weren’t coming out of my mouth.

“I knew what I was trying to say but I just couldn’t speak. I also couldn’t move one side of my body.

“I managed to send a voice note to a friend after I started to feel a bit better and he told me I should phone an ambulance because of how bad I sounded.”

Jennifer was rushed to hospital where medics told her she had suffered a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke.

Doctors believed this was likely to be caused by stress and lifestyle choices.

But after doing some research, Jennifer told her GP she believes the fake “skinny” pen may have caused her to collapse.

She is urging others to be wary of the risks of using fake pens and says to bin them if they are in any doubt.

She added: “I had heard and seen so many people sharing how well the pen had worked for them and I thought I would give it a try.

“But I obviously regret using it and how I got it.

“I had gained weight again after losing a bit for a wedding and I knew the pen suppressed your appetite. I thought the one I bought was real but I know now it wasn’t and it was actually full of Insulin, which can be fatal if overdosed.

“People really need to know what they are injecting. I hope reading what happened to me puts them off buying the pens under the counter.”

A spokesperson for Saxenda Manufacturer Novo Nordisk said: “Product safety for patients is a top priority and we will support patients to the best of our ability to protect them against falsified products.

“Novo Nordisk is the only company in the UK with MHRA-approved products containing liraglutide, which are available by prescription only from a registered healthcare professional.

“Purchasing a prescription-only medicine online without a prescription from a registered healthcare professional exposes patients to potentially unsafe products that have not been reviewed by the MHRA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.”

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