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Original poster

Ozempic!! Where are you buying it?

70 replies

NatureNurture85 · 04/06/2023 19:09

I’m diabetic and have it on prescription but I can’t get it anywhere!!!! I need to get back on it asap. I’m happy to pay for it now until back in stock! Help! And yes posting in AIBU for traffic.

OP posts:
Nordicrain · 04/06/2023 19:13

What does your doctor say?. Why do you need to buy it, can't you get it on prescription?

OliviaFlaversham · 04/06/2023 19:14

There seem to be huge shortages. I know someone who is using it for weight loss (not diabetic) and I wonder if the increase in people using it for this purpose has raised demand and it isn’t being matched. They went to London to get the last batch (live an hour or so away from there).

CherryBlossomPants · 04/06/2023 19:15

Nordicrain · 04/06/2023 19:13

What does your doctor say?. Why do you need to buy it, can't you get it on prescription?

There’s a shortage of it which has been contributed by people who are buying it for fat loss.

Im sorry OP it must be so stressful not being able to get the medication you need.

Original poster
NatureNurture85 · 04/06/2023 19:49

As PP said. Basically people are buying it for weight loss. Which means those of us prescribed it for medical reasons are looking at other medications. I mean I can look at other stuff but Ozempic has worked so well for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
NatureNurture85 · 04/06/2023 19:50

Another diabetic family member of mine who is on it phoned 16 pharmacies!!

OP posts:
dozydaisy · 04/06/2023 19:58

I’m also taking Ozempic for diabetes and have a prescription that I just cannot get. Really worrying now about my numbers rising.

caringcarer · 04/06/2023 20:06

I have been put on it by my GP. I had to hand my prescription into my chemist and wait for 6 days whilst they.orfeted it in for me. After 4 days they rang and said they had one pen but my prescription was for 4 pens. I collected the first pen then 2 days later got a call stating the other 3 pens were in. You could ask your chemist to order it in.

ArcticSkewer · 04/06/2023 20:19

I last bought from Juniper, they still had stocks a few weeks ago

Original poster
NatureNurture85 · 04/06/2023 20:41

caringcarer · 04/06/2023 20:06

I have been put on it by my GP. I had to hand my prescription into my chemist and wait for 6 days whilst they.orfeted it in for me. After 4 days they rang and said they had one pen but my prescription was for 4 pens. I collected the first pen then 2 days later got a call stating the other 3 pens were in. You could ask your chemist to order it in.

Oh right. I will look into this thanks so much!!

OP posts:
reelcat · 04/06/2023 21:43

I really feel for you and have a family member who is also struggling to get it. People just using for weight loss only think of themselves

unvillage · 04/06/2023 21:55

reelcat · 04/06/2023 21:43

I really feel for you and have a family member who is also struggling to get it. People just using for weight loss only think of themselves

This is unfair. Ozempic has been heavily pushed by private companies as a weight loss drug for months now without mention that it is also a medication for diabetics. I don't use it but know people who do and there was absolutely no mention of a shortage from these private companies like Juniper prescribing it for weight loss. People just aren't being made aware.

ArcticSkewer · 04/06/2023 22:00

It's for sale on the private market. That's capitalism. If you want it banned from private sale then lobby your MP. If you want the private company to preferentially sell to the NHS I would assume they would want to charge more, but again, lobby your MP.

NerdyIsMyMiddleName · 04/06/2023 22:14

None available for weight loss either - I've had to come off it completely, having tapered off a couple of weeks ago. It's a worldwide thing.

Also - my BMI was 45 and it was causing serious health issues, so it wasn't just to lose a few pounds so I could get into a bikini! I do think comments like the one above are extremely unhelpful.

I do agree that people with diabetes should be first in line, but with such a demand why aren't they stepping up production?

caringcarer · 04/06/2023 22:28

It was going to be released as Wegovy for weight loss but not enough production to allow this yet.

nebulae · 04/06/2023 22:56

reelcat · 04/06/2023 21:43

I really feel for you and have a family member who is also struggling to get it. People just using for weight loss only think of themselves

Very unfair. Obesity a medical condition as well. It often leads to type 2 diabetes. Would you rather people wait until they're diabetic before they get access to a medication that can help them? And cost the NHS even more?

If you want to blame anyone blame the pharmaceutical companies for not making enough of it.

ThinWomansBrain · 04/06/2023 22:59

same problem with the tablet form as the injections

Thriwit · 04/06/2023 23:20

I believe the EMA issued a supply shortage notice last October, stating that an increase in demand was leading to supply shortages, urging HCP to switch diabetic patients to other medications, and warning that off-label use (such as for weight loss) would put diabetics at risk.

So it sounds to me like the issues have been known about since last Oct, and ideally people wouldn’t have had it prescribed for weight loss until supply could be ramped up further. They’re estimating issues to continue throughout 2023.

I think all you can do is keep trying pharmacies - prioritise calling different chains. I’ve had to do that with epilepsy meds before, I know how terrifying it can be.

VDisappointing · 04/06/2023 23:50

My husband who is a diabetic has supply issues too we just had to ring around

Catchasingmewithspiders · 04/06/2023 23:56

reelcat · 04/06/2023 21:43

I really feel for you and have a family member who is also struggling to get it. People just using for weight loss only think of themselves

My GP suggested it to me because my health conditions put me at high risk for diabetes.

Ive stopped taking it due to the shortages but if I dont try to stop myself from becoming diabetic I will be called selfish on MN and now if I do I still get called selfish.

Glitterybee · 05/06/2023 00:43

Myjuniper £230 per month

teddyandgypsy · 03/07/2023 18:37

And you are thinking of who, exactly? Ozempic was put on the market and many of us bought it. There was never any question of there being shortages and now it has doubled in price and is very hard to source. Those of us using it for weight loss are just as desperate and feel annoyed that we were never warned there would be a problem. As for your situation, I am sorry you are struggling but this is certainly not the fault of those of us prepared to pay for it with hard-earned money. Doubtless you are getting your moneys worth out of the cash-strapped NHS whereas I am putting my money where my mouth is - literally.

teddyandgypsy · 03/07/2023 18:39

The person who wrote the message doesn't think at all of others - it is just herself she is concerned with

OnlyFannys · 03/07/2023 18:43

Doubtless you are getting your moneys worth out of the cash-strapped NHS whereas I am putting my money where my mouth is - literally.
Yeah those monsters using the nhs to get the medication that they need to live

EatThoseFrogs · 03/07/2023 18:45

teddyandgypsy · 03/07/2023 18:37

And you are thinking of who, exactly? Ozempic was put on the market and many of us bought it. There was never any question of there being shortages and now it has doubled in price and is very hard to source. Those of us using it for weight loss are just as desperate and feel annoyed that we were never warned there would be a problem. As for your situation, I am sorry you are struggling but this is certainly not the fault of those of us prepared to pay for it with hard-earned money. Doubtless you are getting your moneys worth out of the cash-strapped NHS whereas I am putting my money where my mouth is - literally.

Wow, this is very aggressive.

Off label use has skyrocketed which has led to supply issues.

Diabetics who have been on the medication for a long period of time for the prescribed use are now struggling to access it.

The real fault here is the companies who have started pushing it without increasing production. BUT it really doesn't make you any more deserving because you're paying private for off label use?!

Diabetics are paying via taxes for prescribed use of the med too and are now struggling to continue their regime which could have serious medical impacts.

You seem very defensive about this.

teddyandgypsy · 03/07/2023 18:55

Not aggressive at all. Merely responding to a poster who was very disparaging about anybody taking a drug that she apparently needs. Many people were prescribed Ozempic for weight loss - obesity being a known precursor of diabetes you would think the poster would have more sympathy. If drugs were not marketed commercially there cost would be prohibitive, even to the NHS, meaning very few people would be able to access them. I was told that the Danish factory that makes Ozempic (and yes, there is only one) suddenly switched all their supplies to the US market which has left Europe floundering. Not good practice but commercial reality. We can only hope that they either expand their production or change their policy but many of us using it for weight loss have been left stranded in the same way as the OP. Neither she nor I are more entitled - we just have to hope the situation eases.

As for the cost issue, we have ALL paid for the NHS from our taxes and we get pitiably little in return. Like many people I have abandoned what we laughably call a health service in favour of private medicine. I make many sacrifices to pay for this, including using my life savings to fund cancer care when the uncaring NHS became the Covid only service. So please don't lecture me on peoples rights. The NHS is appallingly badly run but even if it were not, it is completely outdated. We need to move to an insurance-based system where everybody pays something, be it only £1 monthly. Then we won't get people like me paying twice for healthcare. So lets not hear the argument about 'I paid for it so I demand it,' again. We have ALL paid.