Drugs like Ozempic are in short supply in the Ozarks; supplies are starting to arrive

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Doctors say drugs like Ozempic used to treat type 2 diabetes are still in short supply, but supplies are starting to work. However, endocrinologists such as Dr. Rami Nair and Mercy encourage people to use drugs for the right reasons.

“People without diabetes take these medicines, and they use them only to lose weight. What is most concerning about the whole issue is that as health care providers we are always looking at safety. We bring safety to the table first. These people don’t really know the consequences of having these drugs in them,” said Dr. Nair.

These drugs work by increasing the GL1P hormone in the body. This in turn affects various things, such as how quickly food is digested, appetite and blood sugar control. It can often cause weight loss, which makes it appealing to people without diabetes.

“The problem is that people (who) do not have diabetes are asking for these drugs, they want to be on these drugs for one of the most popular side effects, weight loss,” he said. Dr. Nair.

Ozempic and other similar drugs are usually only approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is the only one approved for weight loss.

“The FDA approved the same ingredient, semaglutide, in Wegovy specifically for weight loss. So it’s the only drug approved by the FDA for weight loss,” said Dr. Nair. .

Pharmacists, such as Ashley Evans, Mercy Pharmacy’s clinical director, say that as people seek it for weight loss, they are starting to see shortages.

“We started to see a shortage of these medicines, starting at the end of 2022 as a matter of fact, we started to get new information about the benefits, and new agents joined the market. It was “There was a lot of excitement around them, and of course, the demand was more than the producers expected,” said Evans.

Dr. Nair recommends using these drugs for medical conditions such as diabetes because once you go off the medication, the weight doesn’t need to stay there.

“I would call it a quick fix or a band-aid, because if you look at the data, if you stay on medication, you lose some desired weight, then, you decide to stop the medication. You will gain three-fourths of what you lost within the next 12 months,” said Dr Nair.

Evans says the best advice if you need Ozempic or something similar is to call your doctor. Do not try to go through a manufacturer or other method without a doctor because it may not be safe.

“You know that the person who is likely to prescribe the compounded product is not familiar with other medications you are taking or a chronic condition that you have that may interfere with the safe use of this medication,” it said. said Evans.

Evans said the shortage is improving as manufacturers set up new production lines and retire old products.

“Some of the agents that we are seeing, maybe from one month to another, there may be one power that we will not get. So, I still have to do a little bit of work around, but overall, it’s a lot better compared to where we were six months ago,” said Evans.

If you are trying to lose weight, doctors recommend changing your lifestyle before using one of these drugs. That way, this shortage can be corrected, and the medicine is not saved for patients who need it.

“Please avoid taking the equipment of our diabetic patients who really need this medicine, and always put your health in the same way always think about the safety method before asking questions,” said Dr. . Nair.

Evans recommends shopping around if you have trouble finding your medication. They often have different suppliers who may have different stock. If you still have a problem, talk to your doctor.

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