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 ...

It is ill-advised to question to Ozempiceers. You take your life in you hands to do so 😬

It's horrendous that people are able to source this online, and basically lie to do so. It should be GP/Consultant prescription only.

I'm unlucky in that although having issues with Metformin (modified release) my surgery isn't prescribing this due to the supply issues.

I've been suggested it by my practice nurse. If it's legal then why you take a drug isn't the business of others. If the drug supply chain to mainstream pharmacies isn't working then that's a separate issue, nothing to do with legitimate prescriptions for a drug.

Maybe selfishness is a side effect?

It should only be used for complex weight issues after prolonged attempts by other methods. A lot of people are buying online not in these circumstances.

You don't even need to lie. You can get it from a local beauty salon place, the sort of place offering aesthetics I think.

Obesity IS a medical condition and many people buying ozempic privately will have other problems related to their weight. Why do you think your medical conditions trump theirs? Is it because you think all overweight people are just greedy, lazy slobs with no willpower, and therefore you’re better than them and more deserving of treatment?

Gee I dunno. Maybe it's related to this part of her post...

'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.'

you're not wrong.

My friend feels quite nauseous most of the time with this. It's quite unpleasant for her I think. Though that might be part and parcel of the appetite suppression.

I think she is one of those people who had tried everything though and this was a last resort before gastric band sort of thing.

Someone with a current medical condition of whoms life is improved heck even saved in some cases should be prioritised when there's a shortage, yes. I'm astounded anyone would think differently.

I'm on semaglutide for diabetes and my pharmacy can't get it either. Neither can my local chemists. So I'm basically screwed

I've lost 2 stone 13 lb in 3 months and 1 week. My BMI has gone down from 60 to 51. I'm still going.

My GP has told me to put in prescription one month before I run out to ensure supply.

There are other treatments available for obesity though. And while obesity does have an impact on one's health diabetes is much more serious and has to be very carefully managed! I don't know how you typed that with a straight face to be honest (and I am obese!)

So those that can't obtain ozempic for diabetes.....there's alternatives you are also now using?

Yes I know diabetes is very serious. Both my parents have it, my father’s heart is failing because of it, all my grandparents died from complications related to it. People of my ethnicity are more genetically predisposed to developing it. I myself am borderline with pre diabetes. I could have easily gone to full blown diabetes by now if I wasn’t careful and wasn’t taking these new drugs, at my considerable expense. So maybe I should just not buy them privately, get diabetes then be a burden on the NHS for the rest of my life, and risk my future health? Would that make me more worthy of having ozempic?

I see my point was proven very quickly.
There's never much responsibility taken for how people became obese in the first place. Any suggestion of psychological issues around food are shot down at high speed. Everyone eats like a sparrow but is obese 🤷🏼‍♀️ except for that one lass who had a BMI of 26 and took ozempic to lose weight but was still eating McDonald's regularly 🤦‍♀️

That's no justification full stop to take a supply of a drug that someone else medically needs. It would be like non cancer patients buying chemotherapy over the counter "just in case". There would be outrage if that was happening.

I am prescribed ozempic for diabetes as I can't tolerate other diabetic medications. It has made such a difference to me in controlling my blood sugars. I've already made as much use out of my prescriptions as possible by buying extra needles to use up the extra medication in the pens, I have one dose left which I'm due to take Friday, not sure if I'll be able to squeeze another one out of it after that. I spoke to my pharmacy on Monday and they said to call them back in about a week as they MIGHT know if they'll be getting a delivery by then. If I can't get it I'm not sure what I'll do.

@AutisticLegoLover

Or.....maybe.....weight gain through disability? Or, maybe through an accident leaving someone immobile or even, hard to imagine I know,but possibly through hormone related conditions or even medication for other conditions??

Yet there you go with your sweeping generalisations trying to got people into a neat little box

People buying it online still have to have a prescription, I think some posters think you can get it on Amazon or something! I'm currently having a lot of trouble getting hold of HRT meds - should I blame all the people who decided to ask for HRT after watching Davina Macoll's documentary?
I don't see why we need to set one group of people against another.

Do you think people taking it for weight loss are aware that there are diabetics who can't get hold of it? There hasn't always been this shortage has there?

Actually I come under that bracket but still lost weight because despite the many obstacles they are mostly just excuses. None of those things you've quoted stop someone losing weight if they really want to. I'm speaking as a disabled, diabetic, hormone lacking health care professional. Lack of accountability is rife on this thread which just shows what a fighting battle this of us who genuinely need it as part of their health regime that keeps them alive are facing

We could save a lot of money too if all those people on antidepressants just took responsibility and pulled themselves together
(that seems to be your argument OP)