Mix up in prescription for Weight loss jab-what would you do?

[Peppapigoncemore]

First off, i’m abroad, so system is likely different

I’m overweight, not obese but need to lose a few stone. I have endometriosis and pcos. I went to a private Endocrinologist and she said it may be possible to put me on Wlj’s but I had to do a lot of blood tests first. The tests showed some insulin resistance, slightly high cholesterol, plus other things-low iron, Vit D, Vitamin B12
She said using the jabs would help to lower the cholesterol and slight insulin resistance and so on and that it was all tied in (plus the hormone issues)
She said she was prescribing Wegovy for once per week for 3 months then we’d repeat blood tests and review
Whilst she was trying to do the prescription to print out (with prescription for treatment for all the low vitamins too) she said the system was down and it would likely to be emailed this afternoon or if not, Thursday when she was in.
Consultation was expensive as she doesn’t take insurance, but I feel she’s worth it.
I got home and a couple of hours later was an email with my prescription with my name on, but it was for 3 months and at only €10.30 per month (box of four doses) plus two other things on the prescription she didn’t say-Metformin and something for excessive hair (I do have these but didn’t really mention much and she didn’t. I was really confused at this point as she told me she would be prescribing Wegovy and these things were expensive per month.
Ten minutes later another prescription through with three months of Wegovy at €158 per month (much more expected) and the things for Iron, Vitamin D etc
I went to the pharmacy and showed them both and they said the first one was Ozempic and the second Wegovy
There has obviously been some mix up with prescriptions maybe with the computer issues, but they both have my name on
€20 for three months compared to €450 is huge for me

Would you get the Ozempic, email the Dr, pay the more expensive prescription, what?

And does anyone know the main differences between the two? Would I be ok doing Ozempic, are they basically the same?

Anyone

I am not sure why you wouldn't contact the doctor if there has been a mistake? I wouldn't get the wrong prescription filled as that is not as per the treatment plan that was discussed.

I'd have to email her and see what's going on, I couldn't just take the cheaper one's especially knowing that it's the wrong pricing and obviously a mistake.

Well Ozempic and Wegovy are exactly the same drug - both semaglutide. Ozempic is generally prescribed for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity. What dosage is the Ozempic and what is the Wegovy?

I would speak to the doctor really. Mainly because there are other medications with the prescriptions and you need to know why and what.

Yes, I'm curious about this too.

Because i’m finding it hard to afford but I need it

Both 0.5 mg and 1 mg
So they’d both be doing exactly the same thing?
Could I finish the Ozempic two month supply the do the Wegovy?

You're not taking your health very seriously if you're asking on a chat forum.

Speak to your Doctor.

If you came away from the expensive appointment with no clear idea what was prescribed and why, and you’ve mistakenly been prescribed both Wegovy and Ozempic then this private doctor has done a really poor job. I would not want to be starting Wegovy/Ozempic and Metformin at the same time plus another medication for the excess hair (what is that?) that’s a lot all at once.

I’d contact her and be clear that she has caused total confusion and does she really want you to take both Wegovy/Ozempic and Metformin? And then ask if you are going to have either Wegovy or Ozempic, to prescribe the cheaper one for you.

Why go to the bother of paying for a private consult if you aren't going to take the medication discussed in your appointment?

Mistakes happen, you need to let your doctor know and take their advice about which medication is correct for you. Otherwise, you would have been better just going to an online pharmacy for a prescription.

I did a Google search, and it showed up that they both contain the same active ingredient, but they are not interchangeable. Other sites said different things. My point is, unless you speak with your doctor or a pharmacist, you can't believe everything you read online.

@Peppapigoncemore also I would ask about the dose of the Wegovy or the Ozempic, as the starting dose is 0.25mg not 0.5mg, so that also doesn’t seem right. But, if it’s 3 months supply it might be one pen at 0.25mg, one at 0.5 and one at 1mg. But again you need to ask the private doctor for clarification before taking any of these prescriptions.

They are the same drug, different names. I know because I took both- Ozempic for a year then Wegovy for a year. You can't get Ozempic named medication for weight loss in the UK any more, it's now called Wegovy.

The pens and ingredients are exactly the same, just a different label.

Yes you can do that but you are better taking them in dose order. It's literally just the name that's different.

You can just email the doctor for clarification?

Please contact the doctor to clarify. Particularly as she has prescribed other medications along side the Ozempic and Wegovy. You really need her to clarify what you should get.

Normally a starting dose of both drugs is 0.25 for a month.

Hi, so you felt no difference between the two? What did you start on, is 0.5 ok, was it ok for you to just switch to Wegovy?

I would see someone else personally (doi: doctor)

0.5mg is not the starting dose of either Wegovy or Ozempic, it's 0.25mg so it is odd that you have been prescribed 0.5mg and that needs checking by the doctor who prescribed it to you.

Wegovy and Ozempic are the exact same medication, the only difference is the branding, and the dosing schedule because Wegovy is for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes control.

@Peppapigoncemore why are you asking people here when you should be asking the doctor that prescribed these medications, who should already have explained all this to you in your appointment? You need to contact the doctor and point out the many issues with what she's sent over to you and ask for urgent clarification (at no additional cost to you!).

But ‘Can’ you start on 0.5?

You “can” do whatever you want, but a pharmacist should not prescribe 0.5mg as a starting dose and should question that being prescribed by a doctor. Your doctor should not prescribe it to you. Furthermore I strongly would advise not to, as if you are someone that reacts well to this medication you are seriously increasing your change of significant side events. Like gastric upset, D&V, which can lead to severe dehydration.

Normally, people can’t start on 0.5mg as it can’t be prescribed to them. The only way would be to deliberately inject 0.25mg twice, which most people are sensible enough not to do.

So does no one ever start on 0.5? Sure ive heard that they do

No, people don’t start on 0.5mg, and if your private doctor wants you to do that whilst also starting on Metformin then they should have clearly told you why and the reasons they are ignoring the usual dosing schedule of 4 weeks on the 0.25mg dose.

But does it do any harm to start on it? Can you put it so the pen does 0.25mg?

I already outlined the potential harm that taking double the intended starting dose might cause.

I don’t know if the Wegovy/Ozempic pens in your country can be set to deliver a partial dose and do 0.25mg from a 0.5mg pen.

It seems like you don’t want to clear up the prescribing confusion nor work out what the doctor that you’ve paid for their advice actually wanted you to take.

You need to go back to the doctor and get the correct prescription.

Ozempic, wegovy and metformin will all reduce your blood sugar levels by changing the way your body produces insulin.

Taking all 3 when you only have mild insulin resistance could leave you with low blood sugar.

To give context, I use Mounjaro, prescribed for T2 diabetes, at the point where I was prescribed it I was also using insulin and metformin. I was phased off of both the insulin and metformin after starting mounjaro as my sugar levels were well enough controlled by the mounjaro and taking all could have left me at risk of low sugar levels which can lead ultimately to unconsciousness.