As costs for Ozempic have risen in current months, many individuals could also be searching for cheaper options for managing diabetes or weight reduction.
Some docs, together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are warning of the potential dangers of utilizing “knock-off manufacturers” of semaglutides, which belong to the GLP-1 class of medicines.
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity physician who has prescribed pharmaceutical-grade variations of those drugs since 2019, mentioned he’s “involved” by this development.
OZEMPIC PUSH FOR SENIORS? SOME DOCTORS SAY MORE PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OVER SHOULD BE ON IT
“Resulting from the price of brand-name Ozempic, increasingly more individuals are turning to cheaper knock-off variations, usually discovered on-line or by way of non-regulated channels,” he advised Fox Information Digital.
“These knock-offs are synthesized in non-medical environments with out the required high quality assurance or high quality management, making them inherently dangerous.”
There’s the potential for these drugs to be dangerous when there’s no oversight of their supply or manufacturing high quality, Osborn warned.
OZEMPIC PATIENTS MAY FACE DANGEROUS RISKS DURING SURGERY
“After they’re made in unregulated environments, there is not any telling what you’re placing into your physique.”
Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a weight-loss physician in New York Metropolis, confirmed that some individuals are searching for low-cost options, however famous that their potential risks have gotten extra broadly identified.
“This occurred to considered one of my sufferers earlier than he got here to me,” she shared with Fox Information Digital.
“He bought a medicine from a pharmacy in Florida after which the drug simply stopped working. Weeks later, the pharmacy shut down.”
Most of the illegitimate pharmacies that aren’t credited by their state’s native pharmacy board will “simply disappear,” Decotiis mentioned.
“You must solely be utilizing pharmaceutical-grade variations prescribed by a licensed physician.”
The most important danger is that the affected person has no concept what’s within the drugs, she warned, as disreputable suppliers may add fillers to the merchandise.
Take into account the supply
Drugs like Ozempic require “precision in manufacturing,” based on Osborn.
“You must solely be utilizing pharmaceutical-grade variations prescribed by a licensed physician,” he mentioned.
“The chance with these variants is just too excessive, and there’s no regulation to make sure they’re made correctly.”
Individuals ought to use warning when ordering any remedy on-line, docs agree.
“Except you’re getting the remedy from a licensed pharmacy with a sound prescription from a health care provider, buying Ozempic or its knockoffs on-line is harmful,” Osborn warned. “You’ll be able to’t confirm the product’s supply, elements or security.”
“I do know of a number of nurse practitioners who stockpile Ozempic knock-offs and promote them on their Fb pages,” he famous. “In essence, there’s a large black marketplace for it.”
OZEMPIC, THE HAPPY DRUG? STUDY SUGGESTS WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS COULD REDUCE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY
Whereas some on-line platforms could also be authorized as a result of a well being care supplier is writing the prescription, there might be different related dangers, Decotiis famous.
“It could be that there isn’t any customized care or any physique composition being adopted.”
Shortages of those unregulated drugs are additionally frequent.
“That is problematic after paying upfront, as many sufferers by no means get the remedy they thought they’d get,” Decotiis mentioned. “The client have to be conscious.”
One of many largest purple flags is that if a web based platform presents to instantly ship a medicine, Decotiis famous.
‘DUAL-ACTION’ WEIGHT-LOSS PILL HELPS PEOPLE DROP 13% OF BODY WEIGHT IN THREE MONTHS IN EARLY TRIALS
“If you should purchase it instantly, it’s an illegal website,” she famous. “These websites get shut down every day — who is aware of what they’re really shelling out.”
Professional compound corporations solely work with physicians, Decotiis mentioned, and don’t talk instantly with sufferers.
Price-saving choices
If price is a priority, there are safer options than buying knock-off manufacturers, specialists say.
“Many pharmaceutical corporations provide affected person help packages — your physician can information you to these choices,” Osborn mentioned.
“There are different prescription drugs which may be extra reasonably priced, however nonetheless protected and efficient for reducing insulin ranges and driving weight reduction,” he added.
One instance is metformin, one other time-tested diabetes remedy.
Added Osborn, “In no way must you flip to unregulated options simply to save cash.”
WEGOVY, THE WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATION, GETS FDA APPROVAL FOR USE AS HEART DISEASE PREVENTION DRUG
Decotiis acknowledged that it may be “very tough” for many individuals to acquire Ozempic and comparable drugs.
“These medication are costly, and it’s arduous for many individuals to get the care they want,” she mentioned.
“In no way must you flip to unregulated options simply to save cash.”
“For compounded merchandise, you’re paying by ounce, whereas with huge pharma, you’re paying for a month-to-month provide,” she went on.
“With the massive pharma medication, you’re paying extra up entrance, however because it goes up in dose, it’s really cheaper.”
With compounded drugs, a licensed pharmacist or doctor combines, mixes or alters the elements to create a personalized drug to fulfill a affected person’s particular person wants, however it’s not FDA-approved, based on the company.
“This implies the company doesn’t assessment compounded medication for security, effectiveness or high quality earlier than they’re marketed,” the FDA states on its web site.
‘Security first’
Osborn reiterated that drugs like Ozempic ought to solely be prescribed by a doctor licensed to put in writing prescriptions — “not a nurse practitioner by way of a telemedicine go to or a chiropractor.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“When used accurately, these drugs are highly effective instruments, however may be harmful within the fallacious palms,” he mentioned.
“All the time seek the advice of a well being care supplier with the correct coaching and expertise in utilizing these drugs. Security first.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The FDA and the World Health Group (WHO) have each investigated instances of counterfeit Ozempic merchandise in current months and years.
“FDA is conscious that some sufferers and well being care professionals could look to unapproved variations of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) medication, together with semaglutide and tirzepatide, as an choice for weight reduction,” the company wrote in a current announcement on its web site.
“This may be dangerous for sufferers, as unapproved variations don’t endure FDA’s assessment for security, effectiveness and high quality earlier than they’re marketed.”
For extra Health articles, go to www.foxnews.com/well being
The FDA recommends that retail pharmacies solely buy genuine Ozempic by way of approved distributors of Novo Nordisk, the corporate that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, and that sufferers solely get hold of Ozempic with a sound prescription by way of state-licensed pharmacies.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk and the FDA for remark.
Discussion about this post