Ozempic, the highly popular GLP-1 agonist drug touted by many celebrities for weight loss, is in short supply, according to its drug maker Novo Nordisk. The drug is FDA approved to treat diabetes but is often used off-label for its many other benefits which include weight loss. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, works by delaying emptying of the stomach keeping patients more full as well as working on hunger centers in the brain preventing cravings. It can also treat diabetes because it stimulates the pancreas to release insulin which then decreases blood sugar levels.
The drug is extremely effective for both diabetes and weight loss and has many additional benefits, including decreasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. In addition, semaglutide can also protect the kidneys in diabetics.
Ozempic is in shortage for a variety of reasons. The drug is in high demand, and drug manufacturing has not been able to keep up with the accelerated need for it. In addition, because it is administered as a weekly injection, production of an injectable drug is harder than production of an oral pill.
Widespread prescriptions through telehealth are also contributing significantly to the Ozempic shortage. Many digital telehealth companies offer Ozempic with very little vetting of patient information according to reports from CNN. This opens the door for prescription abuse, as some patients are able to receive a prescription for Ozempic without having diabetes or being obese. Invariably, this limits the availability of the drug for those that need it most, mainly diabetic patients with elevated blood sugar levels.
The Ozempic shortage can have profound effects on diabetic patients who rely on the drug to maintain normal or healthy blood sugar levels. Without diabetic medications, patients face the real risk of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Over time, this can have devastating consequences and can lead to serious health complications including but not limited to nerve damage, kidney disease and even cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and stroke.
Ozempic’s absence from pharmacy shelves may also force patients to seek alternative medications in an attempt to better control blood sugar levels. However, switching to different medications is not always straightforward. Many patients with diabetes spend months if not years finding the optimal medications that are tailored to their bodies to obtain adequate control of their blood sugar levels. Sudden changes to their regimen can result in destabilized blood sugar levels, which can result in the need for more frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels and possibly adjustments of medications.
Even if patients achieve adequate control of their blood sugar levels, drugs other than GLP-1 agonists may have different side effect profiles. This can make different drug regimens intolerable or uncomfortable for patients. Furthermore, different class of drugs may not offer the same benefits of Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists, such as protecting the kidneys or decreasing the risk of heart disease.
In an effort to address the Ozempic shortage, the FDA has allowed the emergence of compounded versions of the drug to enter the market. Compounded drugs are medications that are altered or combined or mixed with specific ingredients to serve a patient in some way. They can be very helpful for patients that need a drug but have an allergy to a specific ingredient. A compounded version of Ozempic would have semaglutide as part of its ingredients, but would differ from the branded version of Ozempic by having additional ingredients not found in the branded version.
The catch 22 of compounded drugs are they are not FDA approved, and they do not undergo the same vigorous testing for safety and quality that branded FDA approved drugs go through. Thus, diabetic patients that need to turn to compounded Ozempic may experience unwanted side effects that are not associated with branded Ozempic, and that may not be entirely safe with respect to their overall health and well-being.
Although the Ozempic shortage has largely been driven by the enormous demand for it, we must all as individuals do our part to ensure that is available for the diabetics that really need it and rely on it. This means if you are not diabetic or obese, do not seek a prescription for it. As public health practitioners, we must prioritize medications for a critical medical need over that of seeking benefit for less severe conditions.
In addition, physicians must be held accountable for the prescriptions they write. Doctors must thoroughly investigate a patient’s need for Ozempic and truly tease out if they meet the qualifications for the prescription.
For some diabetics, Ozempic could be the difference between controlled and uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
