Semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic, works by mimicking a natural hormone to suppress appetite. It was boosted to fame after celebrities spoke of using it for weight loss and before-and-after pictures appeared on social media.

While NHS diabetes patients receive free treatments, many private healthcare users are scrambling to get their hands on Ozempic. Reuters has found one online provider, Rightangled, is continuing to offer the medication despite government restrictions.

Weight Loss

Obesity is a global epidemic that not only poses health risks for individuals, but also strains healthcare systems and impacts the quality of people’s lives. In order to alleviate this burden, many doctors prescribe weight loss medications that can help people achieve their goals. However, the effectiveness of these medicines can be limit by side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and issues with other organs. In addition, the cost of these drugs is prohibitive for many patients and they can be difficult to use in combination with other medication, dietary changes and exercise.

A new wave of injectable medicines, like Ozempic (also known as GLP-1s) have been making waves among Tik Tokers thanks to their ability to suppress appetite and create dramatic weight loss. But these life-changing injections are not cheap, costing up to a thousand dollars per month out-of-pocket without insurance. As a result, many users are searching for cheaper alternatives, and have turned to online suppliers that are willing to sell them the prescription-only drug for less.

These suppliers are taking advantage of a legal loophole that allows clinicians to prescribe GLP-1 analogues “off-label” for weight loss. The current shortage of Ozempic for Weight Loss, which is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and sold in the UK as Wegovy for type 2 diabetes when other drugs fail, has fueled this demand. Novo has responded by rationing starter kits of the drug and reducing supplies of another diabetes treatment, Victoza, to prioritize production of Wegovy.

Liver Function

In her upmarket New Delhi cosmetology and metabolic treatment clinic, Instagram-famous doctor Anjali Hooda sees celebrities, wealthy locals, and expats seeking prescriptions for weight loss drugs. But they won’t be getting them soon, as the world faces drug shortages of a class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. The injectable drugs, including Novo Nordisk A/S’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly & Co’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, mimic a naturally occurring hormone that slows digestion, releases insulin to regulate blood sugar, and quells appetite. But the injections are not without side effects.

The soaring popularity of the drug has caught the attention of leading Indian pharmaceutical companies, such as Sun Pharma and Dr Reddy’s. They are working on their own versions of Wegovy, using semaglutide as an active ingredient. While these drugs may help with weight loss, it is important to have a healthy diet and exercise plan. Otherwise, the weight loss will be temporary and patients will regain their weight.

GPhC regulations require pharmacies to obtain a full medical history for a person before giving them a medication. But some online suppliers offer to give the drugs to people without a valid prescription, as long as they pay. These companies typically require customers to provide a photo ID and fill out a medical questionnaire before shipping. This is illegal and could put people at risk of dangerous infections.

A GPhC spokesperson said the regulator would examine any suspicious documents and conduct further investigations. The regulator also has a team of compliance officers who monitor the website and review records to spot any irregularities, such as unauthorised sales.

Cardiovascular Health

The FDA approves Ozempic to reduce the risk of heart problems like heart attacks, stroke, or death in people with type 2 diabetes by helping them lose weight and control their blood sugar levels. It also has bee show to lower blood pressure. The drug is part of a new class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 meds. These meds, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, help people with diabetes lower their blood sugar levels and lose weight. They also improve cardiovascular health, including by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.

Although GLP-1 meds are not approve for use as weight loss drugs, many patients continue to take them for this purpose. This has led to a shortage of the medication. As a result, some people have been stashing boxes of the injectables in their carry-on luggage, purchasing counterfeit formulas online, or even importing them from Europe to bypass the shortage.

This demand for the medication has put stress on supply chains and sparked a legal battle over patent rights between Novo Nordisk and rivals Dr Reddy’s and Sun Pharma, which have their own versions of the drug under development. Novo’s patent on semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, expires in 2023.

While the drug is primarily use to treat diabetes, medical professionals are increasingly prescribing it to overweight and obese patients to improve their metabolic health. This off-label use of the medication has led to a spike in prescriptions and created a shortage. The shortage has also prompted some patients to purchase the medication illegally from overseas, often through unregulated websites and beauty spas and nail salons.

Blood Sugar Control

Ozempic is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It may also reduce the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems in adults with diabetes and coronary artery disease.

It’s important to know that this medication can cause low blood sugar, especially if it’s take with other drugs that can cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylureas (glimepiride, glyburide, glipizide) or insulin. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low blood sugar, such as dizziness or lightheadedness, confusion or drowsiness, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, headache, or blurred vision.

Some people who take Ozempic develop gallbladder problems, such as cholecystitis or cholelithiasis. Call your health care provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that doesn’t go away, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stool.

This medication is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneously). It can be injecte in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. A healthcare professional should show you how to inject this medication. It is important to use this medication on the same day each week. A different area should be injecte each time, and the same spot should not be use more than once a week. You can use a pen to inject Ozempic, or you can ask your healthcare provider to show you how to use an insulin needle. A pen has multiple needles that can be reuse, but you should not share your pen with anyone else. You can find out more about how to use a pen to inject this drug from the patient information leaflet that comes with it or your doctor Read More.