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Nicole Saphier, MD is a physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, and a bestselling author of, ‘Panic attack.’ Their opinions are their own and do not reflect those of their employers.
Not all problems can be solved with a pill. Not all problems should be solved with a pill.
But in an increasingly dangerous trend, America’s medical industry presents drugs as a quick and easy fix for just about anything that ails us, whether major, minor, or even non-existent.
Now America is running out of the prescription drugs sick people need because otherwise healthy people are swallowing them.
If that sounds crazy, that’s because it is!
There is perhaps no better example of this than the growing demand for the drug Adderall, a commonly prescribed stimulant used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
In 2021 alone, 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were dispensed to patients, an increase of more than 10% over the previous year.
The number of prescriptions has skyrocketed at such a rate that, according to the Federal Drug Administration, “there is not enough supply to continue to meet the demand of the US market.”
As a result, some people with ADHD are unable to find the right medication to treat their condition.
And it doesn’t stop there.
In recent months, demand for Ozempic, or semaglutide, has skyrocketed.
Ozempic is an injectable medication that helps people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar and prevent dangerous complications. But one unwanted side effect of the drug was that it is an effective appetite suppressant.
In 2021 alone, 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were dispensed to patients, an increase of more than 10% over the previous year.
And voila, the maker of Ozempic Novo Nordisk began selling and doctors began prescribing a higher-dose version for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy.
Demand for Wegovy increased, depleting the supply of semaglutide and now people with diabetes can’t find the medicine they need. The FDA has now designated the drug as ‘Currently in Shortage’.
Something is seriously wrong when prescription drugs are handed out like candy and life-saving drugs are in short supply because doctors indulge the vanity of their patients.
Adderall fever
It is important to understand that ADHD is a real condition, a common neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests as inattention, impulsive tendencies, and hyperactivity severe enough to interfere with school, work, and other daily aspects of life, and that It affects millions of Americans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 10% of American children are diagnosed with ADHD, while the National Institute of Mental Health found that 4.4% of adults ages 18 to 44 have the disorder. disorder.
Stimulants like Adderall have been shown to be effective when it comes to helping ADHD patients manage their symptoms by increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, thereby reducing overloaded sensory inputs from the patient’s brain to normal levels.
But ADHD medications, like Adderall, are powerful and potentially addictive drugs that are easily abused.
The DEA defines Schedule II controlled substances, such as Adderall, as drugs with a “high potential for abuse, the use of which may lead to severe physical or psychological dependence.”
When someone without ADHD uses these stimulants, they may experience feelings of euphoria and increased energy levels.
Patients taking Adderall are also more likely to develop a physical dependence on the drug, which in turn leads to the development of a physical tolerance to the effects of the drug, requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the same effect. .
Studies also indicate that those who abuse Adderall are more likely to abuse other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
And abruptly withdrawing from the drug can lead to irritability, depression and extreme fatigue, with some patients experiencing headaches and even nightmares.
The DEA previously also launched investigations into telehealth companies, such as Cerebral Inc. and Done Global Inc.
Given the current shortage, a terrifying threat of recall now looms over long-term Adderall users who no longer have access to a readily available, consistent supply.
In an unusual move in the face of shortages, and a testament to how little ADHD drugs have been prescribed, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) said in December that it would not allow any increase in production. 2023 of pharmaceutical ingredients that go into Adderall and other stimulants used to treat ADHD.
The DEA previously also launched investigations into telehealth companies, such as Cerebral Inc. and Done Global Inc.
Both companies heavily promoted their ADHD subscription services on social media and hired professional nurses to prescribe medication after just a thirty-minute video conference.
A review of their social media promotions is horrible. One promotes a ‘1 minute ADHD quiz, short attention span’ with 1-click prescription refills.
Another offers help with various mental health conditions, including depression and ADHD, and shows an image of pills suggesting a quick fix with medication.
For those struggling with severe depression, the pills may suggest a way out of overdose, a dangerous warning.
RUN IN OZEMPIC
Last October, Elon Musk tweeted that the secret to his weight loss was “fasting and Wegovy,” fueling interest in the drug, known by the generic name semaglutide.
Semaglutide mimics a natural hormone released when food is eaten that regulates appetite. But it also mimics a hormone that regulates insulin levels, making it an essential drug for diabetics.
Insulin helps the body convert blood sugar into energy. People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance. Their bodies can’t get rid of sugar in the blood. It is a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to vision loss, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and even limb amputation.
In short, semaglutide is a life-saving drug and now diabetics compete for it with healthy people.
As increasing demand for Wegovy dried up the supply, doctors began prescribing Ozempic as an off-label alternative, creating a shortage of a drug intended for diabetes treatment, not weight loss. In fact, even the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy says that the two drugs are not interchangeable. But here we are.
A viral trend on TikTok called #Ozempic and #OzempicChallenge resulted in more than 250 million views on the platform and endorsements from popular influencers.
On Wednesday, comedian Chelsea Handler claimed that her doctor prescribed semaglutide and she didn’t even know it.
Last October, Elon Musk tweeted that the secret to his weight loss was “fasting and Wegovy,” fueling interest in the drug, known by the generic name semaglutide.
On Wednesday, comedian Chelsea Handler claimed that her doctor prescribed semaglutide and she didn’t even know it.
Handler revealed on a podcast that he “injected” himself with a medication prescribed by his doctor after returning from vacation and going to lunch with a friend. When her friend revealed that she was nauseated by her medication Ozempic, Handler realized that she was also taking the drug.
“I’m not in it anymore,” he said. ‘I’m not going to take a diabetes medication. I tried, and I’m not going to do that. That’s not for me. That’s not right for me.
Handler is right, although you may want to pay more attention to what you are injecting.
The shortage of Ozempic has caused some people with diabetes to seek alternative medications or take lower doses that may not be as effective in treating their symptoms. And if preferred drugs become available again, becoming available again can lead to nausea and vomiting.
There is a legitimate medical case for doctors to prescribe semaglutide to the morbidly obese. There are serious long-term consequences of being severely overweight, including heart disease, cancer, joint ailments, and more. But the latest trend is not driven by those who have failed strict diet and exercise regimens. It is being taken by people who want to lose a few pounds without putting in the effort to do so.
Nicole Saphier, MD is a physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, and the author of the bestseller “Panic Attack.”
These patients are not ‘cured’ once they lose weight on these drugs. Long-term weight loss requires a complete lifestyle overhaul. And life-saving drugs shouldn’t be in short supply for vanity. Doctors are not meant to be drug dealers for healthy people. They are meant to treat real diseases.
As parents, patients, and healthcare providers, we must recognize that there is not a panacea for every mental and physical problem, and companies that try to convince us that it exists should be rebuked.
America is getting hooked on prescription drugs, and we ourselves and medical professionals are to blame.