Ozempic: a drug for weight loss | The absence of Ozempic, when it becomes popular to lose weight, worsens the health of Valencian diabetics.

Experts are clear that the core of the problem is not the obese people consuming the product or the endocrinologists prescribing Ozempic, but the imbalance between supply and demand that the pharmaceutical industry has not corrected. “This is a global problem due to very high demand, which causes supply problems,” says Dr. Eva Sola, president of the Valencian Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition (Svedin). “Many patients experience poor glycemic control if they cannot find Ozempic or switch to another drug. The effects of sugar vary from person to person, but many have worsened glycemic control when switching medications and experience digestive side effects such as nausea or vomiting,” he adds.

According to Saul, “Patients with type 2 diabetes find this drug helpful because it controls their glycemic levels, their sugar levels, and can reduce cardiovascular risk,” he says. And as for alternative drugs, when pharmacies do not have Ozempic, she notes: “Not all drugs are the same, there are studies that say that some alternatives worked, although others were not successful, it depends on each person,” says the specialist . “But this creates problems for them because it decompensates their sugar levels in some cases,” he adds. “The vast majority of Valencians with type 2 diabetes found it difficult to detect it and eventually went to their doctor, who changed the treatment to another similar option, but given orally, although the drug did not work well for some. ” dot.

The College of Pharmacists of Valencia (MICOF) confirms that various forms of injectable semaglutide (Ozempic) currently continue to have supply problems. “This is a drug that is only indicated for adults with type 2 diabetes,” they say, but the MICOF Medicines Information Center adds that, like any other treatment, “from a community pharmacy, if the prescription is correct, it should be dispensed. thus complying with the criteria prescribed by the doctor.

Calling from Gandia or Xativa

Laura works as a pharmacist in Valencia. “The shortage of this diabetic drug has been affecting diabetics for many months now. It was an odyssey for both the pharmacist and the patient. We had months when not a single container was delivered,” says the woman. “They even called us from Gandia or Xativa, wanting to come to Valencia and ask us for an apology. Real madness, from which, unfortunately, not only these drugs suffer,” says the professional. “Ultimately, the alternative for many patients in our pharmacy was for the prescriber to switch to oral. But the problem is that it does not have the same effect because it must be taken on an empty stomach and also interferes with the effects of other medications that the patient is taking. That’s what I’ve been getting complaints about: more adverse reactions in people who don’t notice the same effect, it makes them anxious because they have to take it every day,” he says.

The Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) has sent a circular to endocrinologists and pharmacies explaining the importance of prescribing Ozempic only to patients with diabetes, as well as authorizing a new drug of this type, called Wegovy, intended exclusively for control. overweight. Now this new drug is being born, although in fact the problems with the supply of Ozempic began in October 2022, and since then there have been shortages and the industry has not been able to solve the situation.

For this reason, AEMPS has found a way to encourage doctors to try prescribing other medications. “For new people now developing diabetes, if they meet a set of criteria set by the Agency, we recommend starting with a different treatment. If supply of Ozempic cannot be guaranteed, we will give priority to drugs that are out of stock. problems in order to be able to ensure continuity of treatment,” Sola says in this regard.

Ozempic is an injectable drug given once a week and belongs to a family of drugs that facilitate the pancreas’ secretion of insulin, “which helps patients better absorb glucose and control blood glucose levels.” In addition, it reduces appetite and helps with weight loss. From there it was clear that it is also effective in helping to lose weight, but these people are also sick, that excess fat causes health problems,” emphasizes President Sveden, who points out that the industry “Efforts must be made to guarantee the supply of the necessary resources,” notes Sola.