Comedian Park Na-rae and YouTuber Short Mouth Sun have been embroiled in controversy over claims that they received prescriptions for a controlled appetite suppressant known as the "butterfly drug" through "injection aunt," and Min Hye-yeon, a family medicine specialist who is the wife of actor Joo Jin-mo, warned about the dangers of the drug.
Min Hye-yeon said on the YouTube channel "Doctor Hyeyeon" on Jan. 16, "Recently, new drugs such as Wegovy or Mounjaro have become popular, and articles about existing appetite suppressants like the butterfly drug have appeared in the news frequently, so I want to summarize appetite suppressants at this point."
She added, "The most commonly prescribed medications are psychotropic drugs such as phendimetrazine or phentermine. They have been used for a long time and are well known, and compared with newly developed drugs they are inexpensive and can be taken simply by swallowing."
She also said, "All appetite suppressants are prescription drugs. Most prescription drugs carry significant risks of side effects if not used properly, so you must have a full consultation with a doctor."
She warned especially about the butterfly drug, "The problem with the widespread discussion of the butterfly drug these days is that these drugs are psychotropic medications. They act on my brain. That means potentially fatal side effects can occur, and there is a risk of misuse or, in severe cases, addiction."
She said, "So there are many contraindications, prescriptions require caution, and they must be prescribed and taken carefully. Many people complain of palpitations or dry mouth after taking the drug," and "Because they affect neurotransmitters that act on the brain, some people experience tremors, insomnia, depression, anxiety, mood regulation disorders and various adverse reactions."
She explained, "For that reason, these drugs are approved only for short-term prescriptions of up to three months. Some people ignore the prescription period and visit multiple clinics to take them long-term. That is quite dangerous. Clinical trials for drug approval were conducted short-term, so safety for long-term use has not been established."
She added, "In fact, a few months ago there was a major issue when a woman receiving treatment for phentermine addiction died after failing to have a bowel obstruction treated. That shows these types of drugs carry a high risk of addiction and the possibility of unexpected other side effects, so you must receive proper care from a doctor at a hospital and, after direct instruction from the doctor, take the medication only short-term within three months."
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