Because of Stars, there is currently a hype about the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. To the chagrin of diabetics who depend on the injections.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – At least since the weight loss of celebrities like Elon Musk many have heard of Ozempic or Wegovy. The active substance semaglutide in the two drugs, with which stars in the USA are celebrating success in losing weight, however, is a drug used to treat diabetes. More and more people – also in the district – are now trying to get to the syringes to fight against annoying kilos. To the chagrin of the diabetic patients who really need the preparation. There is a delivery bottleneck.
Due to delivery bottlenecks: “Weight loss injection” Ozempic is currently only available with a prescription
“I had Ozempic for the first time in February 2021 in my pharmacy in Lenggries. At that time, the drug was newly approved in Germany and demand was very hesitant,” says Eva Loehle, a pharmacist from Lenggries. “Those who got it prescribed by the doctor were exclusively diabetics.” After the media reports about the side effect of weight loss, the demand “clearly picked up speed”.
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At the moment it is not easy to get the drug. “Meanwhile, you can only get Ozempic with a prescription that says diabetes – and I think that’s right,” says the owner of the old pharmacy. However, there are waiting lists. In Löhle’s opinion, according to medical instructions, there is nothing wrong with using Wegovy to help you lose weight. “The active ingredient is the same, only you can dose it higher. Of course, it is much more expensive.” It is currently much more difficult to get this drug.
That’s not funny. Patients are well adjusted to the drug and need their weekly dose.
The fact that Ozempic is hardly available anymore is noticed by Dr. Kerstin Metzger very clearly. The diabetologist with practice in Bad Tölz reports that some of her patients are finding it very difficult or impossible to get injections. “That’s not funny. The patients are well adjusted to the drug and need their weekly dose.” Metzger has had to work with other preparations and insulin to compensate for the weekly injection. “It’s a total stopgap. But some just couldn’t get the drug anywhere.”
She couldn’t quite understand the hype surrounding the drug among non-diabetics. “It’s certainly not a magic bullet for weight loss,” she points out. Even if most patients would lose a few kilos first, the drug has some unpleasant side effects such as digestive problems, headaches or nausea.
“Weight loss injection” often comes with unpleasant side effects
The drug is often associated with weight loss because it slows down the processes in the gastrointestinal tract, ensures a longer feeling of satiety and inhibits appetite, explains Metzger. However, the effect only lasts for a week and the dose has to be increased regularly. “Otherwise, after a certain time, patients no longer feel these effects. In addition, everything is the same once you stop taking the drug.”
Therefore, according to Metzger, it only makes sense to use the active ingredient as a supplement to a change in diet and exercise. “It can support a lifestyle change, but you shouldn’t look at it uncritically either.”
Either way, it is important that the diabetes drug Ozempic is reserved for people with a diabetes diagnosis. “As soon as Wegovy becomes more available, one can think about using it to support obesity therapy.” In Germany, only Ozempic is currently available. Although Wegovy has already been approved by the European Medicines Agency – at least for the treatment of obesity – it is currently on the pharmacies’ waiting list.
Pharmacist Andreas Heinrich cannot quite understand the interest. “There is always a risk-benefit analysis, and the drug has side effects such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or constipation,” he says. “I don’t understand why someone accepts this without being dependent on the drug for health reasons.”
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In his pharmacies in Bad Tölz and Lenggries, he also notices that customers are getting information about the drug for weight loss or are coming from the doctor with a private prescription. “But I think that this is not such a big issue here in the country as it is in big cities.” The delivery bottleneck can also be felt in the Isarwinkel: “Unfortunately, I also have diabetic patients who I have to send away.”
“The request is definitely there”
Syringes are also an issue in general practitioners’ surgeries. “The request is definitely there,” says Dr. Jörg Lohse from Muensing. He treats some diabetic patients with the drug. “In general it is well tolerated. However, I also see side effects that have not yet been listed, such as skin peeling, which make me a little cautious.”
It is bought away by patients who, without diabetes, are prescribed Ozempic by various doctors to lose weight. Thus, this therapy option for sick people is fed away by those who want to lose weight in terms of lifestyle without restricting themselves.
In fact, the European Medicines Agency is also currently examining whether the use of Ozempic and Wegovy can promote suicidal thoughts. The problem is that the drug is currently not available in sufficient quantities. Lohse: “It is bought away by patients who, without diabetes, are prescribed Ozempic by various doctors to lose weight. Thus, this therapy option for sick people is fed away by those who want to lose weight in terms of lifestyle without restricting themselves.”
The Tölz general practitioner Dr. Matthias Hügelberger says: “Patients are increasingly asking me, but as soon as I explain that Ozempic is only available for diabetics and Wegovy is much more expensive, the willingness is gone.” if you want to use the drug to lose weight, says the family doctor spokesman. In general, he would also recommend other ways for obesity therapy. (feb)
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