- The Food and Drug Administration reports a shortage of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic.
- The news came after the drug went viral as a cause of weight loss.
- Some people take off-label drugs to lose weight, experts say.
Ozempic, a prescription drug used to treat people with type 2 diabetes, has been making headlines on social media platform TikTok for its weight loss side effects. The results are so dramatic that there is a surge in non-type 2 diabetes patients seeking off-label drugs for weight loss benefits, and there is a shortage of drugs for people with type 2 diabetes. 2 Diabetes who need it for other reasons.
Drug shortages are becoming a serious problem for patients who need drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, forcing them to resort to other, less effective means.
Drug shortages are becoming a serious problem for patients who need drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, forcing them to resort to other, less effective means.
What is Ozempic and how does it help people with type 2 diabetes?
Ozempic is a weekly injection to treat type 2 diabetes. It is used not only to control blood sugar levels in adults, but also to make lifestyle changes in terms of diet and exercise.
"Ozempic belongs to the GLP-1 RA family of drugs that help patients in three ways," said Martha Garcia Stout, PharmD, JD, Associate Professor of Health Professionals and College of Science, University of Central Florida. said. "By slowing gastric emptying, it delays nutrient absorption and prevents postprandial blood sugar spikes; increases levels of circulating insulin by stimulating the production of more insulin; from the liver to the bloodstream. reduce the release of excess sugar.
"Ozempic belongs to the GLP-1 RA family of drugs that help patients in three ways," said Martha Garcia Stout, PharmD, JD, Associate Professor of Health Professionals and College of Science, University of Central Florida. said. "By slowing gastric emptying, it delays nutrient absorption and prevents postprandial blood sugar spikes; increases levels of circulating insulin by stimulating the production of more insulin; from the liver to the bloodstream. reduce the release of excess sugar.
Why is there a shortage of Ozempic?
As part of the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Ozempic helps regulate digestion and appetite.
Ozempic increases the amount of insulin in the body to keep blood sugar from rising. It can slow the movement of food through the stomach and lower the amount of sugar in the blood.
Ozempic increases the amount of insulin in the body to keep blood sugar from rising. It can slow the movement of food through the stomach and lower the amount of sugar in the blood.
One result of using Ozempic is weight loss. Go viral on TikTok with the hashtags #Ozempic and #OzempicWeightLoss, both of which publish videos tailored to millions of viewers and see dramatic changes in weight loss for people on medication Did. Many of them do not have type 2 diabetes.
“Ozempic is a very potent hypoglycemic agent and one of the most effective hypoglycemic agents. However, it also has some very important weight loss effects, usually important for people with type 2 diabetes. Yes," said Dr. Kathleen Dungan, an expert in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University.
“Ozempic is a very potent hypoglycemic agent and one of the most effective hypoglycemic agents. However, it also has some very important weight loss effects, usually important for people with type 2 diabetes. Yes," said Dr. Kathleen Dungan, an expert in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University.
As a result, Ozempic is prescribed off-label. This means taking an FDA-approved drug for a use that is not FDA-approved.
"A non-diabetic patient who wants to lose weight is urged to have her doctor prescribe Ozempic for similar significant weight-loss and appetite-suppressing effects," Garcia-Stout said. says.
"A non-diabetic patient who wants to lose weight is urged to have her doctor prescribe Ozempic for similar significant weight-loss and appetite-suppressing effects," Garcia-Stout said. says.
How serious is the Ozempic shortage for patients with type 2 diabetes?
"If patients aren't true advocates for themselves and don't move on, they run the risk of blood sugar levels getting out of control, leading to hospitalization and other consequences," Dungan added. has a sister drug, Wegovy, which is actually approved for weight loss in obese people. This drug contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic – Semaglutid. Wegovy is close, as is Ozempic.
"Wegovy uses the same molecule, but in different dosages and with different FDA regulations and policies," Dungan said.
"Wegovy uses the same molecule, but in different dosages and with different FDA regulations and policies," Dungan said.
Is Ozempic safe for weight loss?
Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, but one is FDA approved for weight loss and the other is not. Novo Nordisk, the maker of both drugs, says the two are incompatible.
Novo Nordisk's website says: Other FDA-approved chronic weight management drugs are:
Novo Nordisk's website says: Other FDA-approved chronic weight management drugs are:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Hypoglycemia
- Gallbladder disease
- Allergic reaction
What can people with type 2 diabetes do if they are unable to get their prescription filled?
"Patients can ask their physician about switching to an alternative GLP-1 RA product," Garcia-Stout said. “This may include the use of other semaglutide products. Patients may receive injectable alternatives to dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Bydureon), or liraglutide (Victoza), and oral lixisenatide (Adlyxin). Other members of the GLP-1 RA drug family can also be relied upon, such as the alternative “Oral Exenatide (Byetta)”.
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