Ozempic shortage sees doctors told to STOP prescribing drug to patients simply wanting to lose weight
Ozempic deficiency causes doctors to be told to STOP prescribing drugs to patients who just want to lose weight
- Semaglutide has been hailed by celebrities as a “wonder drug” for weight loss
- But the clamor to get it is fueling a national shortage, health officials say
Doctors and pharmacists have been warned to stop prescribing diabetes drugs to people who just want to lose weight.
Semaglutide has been hailed as a “wonder drug” for weight loss by celebrities such as Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson.
But health officials have warned that the clamor to get their hands on it — and similar drugs — is fueling a national shortage, putting the lives of diabetics at risk.
Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment for controlling blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
It was also approved for weight loss under the Wegovy brand in May, but has yet to launch in the UK due to supply issues.
Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment for controlling blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It was also approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy in May, but has yet to be launched in the UK due to supply issues
Wegovy and Ozempic work by triggering the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally from the gut after meals
The delay has led to an increase in “off-label” prescribing — where drugs are dispensed for something other than their intended use — exacerbating the shortages.
It means diabetic patients are struggling to get their hands on essential medication, which officials said could have “serious clinical implications.”
Yesterday, the Department of Health issued a national patient safety alert warning of the shortages and urging all healthcare providers not to hand out obesity drugs.
It states: “The supply issues have been caused by an increase in demand for these products for licensed and off-label indications.
The off-label use of these drugs for the treatment of obesity is strongly discouraged. Existing stock should be retained for use in patients with diabetes.
“These deficiencies have serious clinical implications in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.”
The warning covers a range of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including Ozempic, Rybelsus, Trulicity and Bydureon.
The drugs work by hijacking the brain to suppress appetite and reduce calorie intake, resulting in significant weight loss.
Trials of the weekly jab Wegovy found those who took it lost about 12 percent of their body weight — and cut their chances of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half.
Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant behind Ozempic, said it continued to experience intermittent supply constraints due to “unprecedented levels of demand.”
Last night, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it is working with officials to ensure diabetes patients have access to these drugs or “other clinically appropriate alternatives.”
Dr. Laura Squire, from the MHRA, said: ‘If there is a potential shortage of a medical product that could pose a risk to public health, we stand ready to use our regulatory processes to minimize those risks if necessary.
“Each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine the most appropriate course of action.”
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘We expect all healthcare providers, whether NHS or private, and all those responsible for prescribing, to take appropriate account of national guidelines such as national patient safety alerts and drug supply notices.
‘The guideline is clear that these medicines may only be prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in order to secure the supply for diabetic patients.
“Medications approved solely for the treatment of type 2 diabetes should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.”
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said: ‘We support additional guidance for healthcare professionals, and in particular reiterate the direction that off-label use of diabetes medications for the treatment of obesity is strongly discouraged.
“We do not promote, suggest or encourage the off-label use or misuse of our medications.”
Retired health assistant forced to travel 40 miles for diabetes drug
Retired healthcare assistant Elizabeth Urquhart has a list of 50 pharmacists she uses to get hold of Ozempic
Retired healthcare assistant Elizabeth Urquhart has a list of 50 pharmacists she uses to get hold of Ozempic.
She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 20 years ago and relies on a weekly injection of the drug to control her blood sugar levels.
But it has become increasingly difficult to get hold of the medication, often requiring her to travel up to 40 miles from her home in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, to find a pharmacy that stocks it.
She said, ‘It’s like gold dust, but I need it. It’s the only medication I’m on.
“If I need to get my prescription, I have to call every pharmacy. I have a list of 50 and I’m usually halfway through until I find one that’s in stock.
“We sometimes travel 30 to 40 miles to pick up the medication, but it’s so important that of course I’ll do it.”
The 66-year-old said the drug has changed her life, helped her manage her condition, and is now the only drug she can take.
In February of this year, she was rushed to hospital and nearly died from a serious complication caused by a reaction to other medications she was taking.
She added: ‘This now means I can’t take any SGLT2 inhibitors, leaving me with only Ozempic as my only available medication.
‘I’ve managed with the skin of my teeth every month to get the medicine but it really shouldn’t be and is all caused by those vain people who want to lose weight the easy way – stealing our much needed medicines .’