Ozempic Shortage

[mummydoris2006]

I have quite a few complex and chronic health conditions and am prescribed Ozempic each month to help with these among any other medications.
Recently Ozempic has become available to buy as a weight loss quick fix which has resulted today in me now not being able to get my prescribed medicine!
There is a national shortage and my nurse is out of alternative options because they've all been exhausted due to the Ozempic surge.
I understand how hard it is to hate your body and to have a lot of weight to lose but surely medical needs should come first?
I am only early 40's but take a cocktail of meds every day that help me function and still be able to work. These are carefully monitored, and through trial and error over the years keep me being able to live my life. Now I have to deal with the consequences to my health because of a new 'fad diet' in effect. Sorry, rant over ...

[Chocolateship]

It's genuinely quite a grim state of affairs, people will be rushing on to say losing weight is also important for health, which it is, but supply issues were inevitable and there should have been a way to manage demand so people such as yourself were prioritised. The same happens in the US. Until its supplemented with therapy to get to the root of someone's weight issues it won't solve the problem long term anyway.

[mummydoris2006]

That's the problem, people are seeing it as a quick fix to weight loss without dealing with the root cause of the obesity in the first place.
As soon as it was marketed I said this would happen. I was a Pharmacy Technician for 10 years before ill health made it too hard for me to maintain my career.
I've just looked online and I can buy a month's supply for £175!!

[Karmakamelion]

@mummydoris2006 really where from because when I'm looking there isn't any.

[caringcarer]

I've been prescribed by my GP and I had to give my chemist my prescription, and they ordered it for me. It took a week to come. Have you actually asked your chemist to order it for you?

[InTheGardenShed]

What about when the 'root cause' is no fault of that persons? If it's available to buy then they are entitled to buy it!!

[greylad]

Some people have faulty hormones/levels of hormones etc. This drug can address that. It's certainly not a 'quick fix.'

[Missingmyusername]

YANBU

Needs to be prescription only for medical needs.

[mummydoris2006]

@caringcarer yes I've tried every pharmacy within a 50 mile radius.

[Chocolateship]

@InTheGardenShed

What about when the 'root cause' is no fault of that persons? If it's available to buy then they are entitled to buy it!!

Entitled is probably the key word there...

[mummydoris2006]

@InTheGardenShed @greylad those people clearly aren't the ones I'm on about if they have a genuine need for it! It's the ones that are buying it because they do want a quick fix that I'm talking about. There are plenty of them as well, you only have to speak to people or read people's posts on SM or even the weight loss chat on Mumsnet.

[greylad]

@Chocolateship

Entitled is probably the key word there...

Someone is entitled for having a health condition? Could you explain a little bit more by what you mean by that as I don't think I follow. If someone's lungs don't work properly, do you think they are entitled for having asthma?

[greylad]

@mummydoris2006

@InTheGardenShed @greylad those people clearly aren't the ones I'm on about if they have a genuine need for it! It's the ones that are buying it because they do want a quick fix that I'm talking about. There are plenty of them as well, you only have to speak to people or read people's posts on SM or even the weight loss chat on Mumsnet.

Ah ok, I see what you mean. I have been following those threads for a while and there are some really inspiring stories. One lady has taken her BMI down from 45 to 30 (and is still going). The health benefits of such weight loss - on both a personal and a societal level - cannot be underestimated. Those who pop on the thread seeking a quick fix to lose 0.5 stone are told in no uncertain terms how foolish they are being. Ozempic is a serious drug with serious side effects.

[CreepyDollyOnTheShelf]

What am I missing about Ozempic? I had two googling sessions just now and months ago and it seems the weight loss isn't all that spectacular. I thought you'd lose like 20lb in a month but it's 15% of total body weight in a year. That's only a serious amount if you're close to a healthy BMI already.

[CreepyDollyOnTheShelf]

Doesn't keto (or ketosis via any other method like fasting) offer appetite suppression and hormonal rebalance as well?

[TheMurderousGoose]

A friend of a friend bought some online in order to lose a stone before her hols. Not even overweight just wanted to be slimmer.

I can understand that knowing people like that are hoovering up available stock must be incredibly frustrating if you're someone who's taking it for actual health reasons, like the OP or anyone struggling with huge amounts of weight to lose.

[Chocolateship]

@greylad

Someone is entitled for having a health condition? Could you explain a little bit more by what you mean by that as I don't think I follow. If someone's lungs don't work properly, do you think they are entitled for having asthma?

Nope, because its not the same. Undoubtedly being fat to the point you encounter health issues means there is something underlying going on and there are benefits to losing weight; but using a medication off license that is scarcely available at the moment is entitled.

[Luzina]

I am on Ozempic prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Previously I was on Victoza which was daily instead of weekly. I never had any issues getting Victoza and had expected to have loads of issues with Ozempic. So far I have had to wait a week longer than expected for the Ozempic once in the last year. I always use Boots pharmacy and make sure I request my repeat prescription as far in advance as i can manage so that any delays won’t be a problem. As far as i can tell no pharmacies ever have Ozempic in stock but usually can order it

[HabberdasheryAddict]

Unless you are a T2D, why cant you focus on healthy eating? It's not rocket science. Low carb, no sugar, eat lots of plants + lean protein. And exercise

[Spiderpl]

FFS, as a healthy weight individual, even I have the intelligence to realise it’s not an “easy fix”

The issue is with the pharma industry, not people struggling with weight.

YABU to think pharma cares about you more than its bottom line.

[TheMurderousGoose]

aren't there other similar drugs in the pipeline too? every drug company in the world will be desperate to get their version of Ozempic on to the market.

[Zandra123]

I can't get it at the moment for diabetes, tried loads of pharmacies. It worked really well bringing blood sugars under control, it's such a worry.

[xereen]

I think there might be alternatives? A friend of mine has bought an alternative to ozempic due to the shortages. I don't know what it is but apparently it works along the same lines.

She buys from a beauty salon type place.

[Whiskyinajar]

In such a time of shortage it needs prioritising for diabetic patients.

[randomuser2020]

This is surely a supply issue then, if it is available to buy for weight loss then it is available and there should be rules in place to prioritise it for medical needs over weight loss. Perhaps everyone in your situation should be reaching out to your MPs and getting their support in seeing what can be done to change this?

I can sympathise with your situation, I need lots of meds just to function and if one of those suddenly became unavailable due to something similar, I would be frustrated too.

I hope something changes with this soon.

[randomuser2020]

@CreepyDollyOnTheShelf

Doesn't keto (or ketosis via any other method like fasting) offer appetite suppression and hormonal rebalance as well?

From my understanding it is very similar as both control insulin production.