I wanted to share some key information with you that relates to my special report on the fake Ozempic boom.
For those of you who have met with your doctors and have prescriptions for weight loss or antidiabetic drugs like Ozempic, the challenging part can be actually finding them in stock here in Metro Detroit.
Here’s some helpful information from the FDA and a trusted local pharmacist about what you can do amid the Ozempic shortage.
Finding FDA-approved drugs for weight loss
Finding FDA approved drugs for weight loss can be difficult.
Currently, Zepbound, the weight loss version of antidiabetic drug tirzepatide, is the hardest medication to get, according the local pharmacist I interviewed for our special report on fake Ozempic drugs.
The demand for weight loss prescriptions is unlike anything he has ever seen for any drug -- and he’s been in the business for decades. It’s simply overwhelming. He gets dozens of calls each day from people in our area looking for Zepbound or Ozempic.
But the supply of all of these drugs varies dramatically from day to day. Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic all are currently in short supply, according to the FDA’s drug shortage list. Click here to check the list, which is updated daily.
What to do amid drug shortage
Are you looking for weight loss drugs that are in short supply? Here’s some key advice from the FDA:
- Start early. Patients who are taking medications like Zepbound, Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro typically receive a one-month supply, or four injection pens at a time. For the best luck in finding the next month’s doses, pharmacists advise patients to start calling around at least a week or two before they need their next box of injections.
- Be flexible. Patients may need to call multiple pharmacies. Doctors’ offices are getting used to frequent emails and calls from patients asking for new prescriptions to be sent to different locations, depending on which pharmacy might have the dose the patient needs.
- Try getting on a waiting list. Some pharmacies allow patients to be on a waiting list. With an active prescription, pharmacy workers will try every day to get the medication and will contact patients if they happen to get a dose that patient needs.
- Consider switching to a different medication. If patients have gotten used to a particular medication and aren’t experiencing too many side effects, most will want to stick with the same drug that’s working for them. But if a popular weight loss drug is not available, doctors may encourage patients to switch to a different medication to avoid a gap in treatment with that class of medication.
Get to know your pharmacist
Pharmacist Monty Kamposh of Tel-12 Pharmacy in Southfield said its vital that you develop a connection and a professional relationship with your pharmacist. The more they know about your needs, the more likely they will be able to accommodate those needs. It’s all about communication.
While some of these smaller pharmacies work with their own representatives, larger chains like CVS and Walgreens may be more likely to get these drugs and keep them in stock.
Some local compounding pharmacies may be able to assist, but the FDA has encouraged people looking for these drugs to stick with the name brands they’ve been prescribed by their medical professional.
Beware of drugs sold online. Weight loss drugs being sold online, especially from unofficial sources, pose risks. There is a concern as to what you may actually be injecting into your body.
When it comes to your health, safety is key. That’s why discussing any of these medical needs with a professional is essential.
Be sure to tune into Local 4 and Local 4+ at 11 p.m. on Monday, June 24. We’re sharing a special report on the dangers of fake Ozempic and black market weight loss drugs.
---> Related: WHO and Eli Lilly caution patients against falling for fake versions of popular weight-loss drugs