Diabetes drug, gaining popularity for weight loss, in short supply

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A social media trend is blamed for a diabetes drug shortage. The injectable drug improves blood sugar levels and may improve heart function in type 2 diabetics with heart disease, but it also suppresses appetite.

We first reported these drugs a few weeks ago. Celebrities and influencers have been very public about using Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss, and many in Kansas City are also having success.

But popularity causes scarcity even for those who need it most.

Ernie Rupp is a pharmacist and owner of Stark Pharmacy. He also has type 2 diabetes and uses Ozempic to help control it.

“I had to switch to the tablet form, Rybelsus – and take it for 30 days,” Rupp said. “And when I went to the doctor and had my blood sugar checked. It wasn’t as good as it was on Ozempic.

Ozempic has not been approved by the FDA for weight loss, but some people have started using it and the similar, “off-label” injectable Monjaro. Two other injectables have recently gained full approval for chronic weight management: Wegovy and Saxenda. They also get good reviews for weight loss.

“I call it the wonder drug for weight loss,” Hattie Lage said.

Lage, of Lee’s Summit, decided to try the drug when her weight loss efforts failed. Within months, she reached her goal of losing 25 pounds.

These quick results fueled a frenzy. Rumors of its use by the Kardashians have sparked even more interest. Videos have sprung up on TikTok, getting millions of views.

All of this attention has led to a worldwide shortage, according to the database maintained by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Oh, we can’t get it anymore,” Rupp said.

The issue of supply does not seem to involve the drug itself, but the delivery system. All of these drugs are injected daily or weekly with auto-injectors.

“Wherever they make the pens, they run into manufacturing challenges,” Rupp said. “So they can’t send them.”

Rupp told us that Ozempic knew how many pens they needed for people with type 2 diabetes, but they hadn’t anticipated the explosion in demand from everyone who wanted them for weight loss.

“Their demand probably went up 50 to 100 percent,” Rupp said.

Today, many patients have no choice but to hop into the pharmacy, look for alternatives, or ration themselves on medication.

“If you have type 2 diabetes, you need this stuff,” Rupp said.

Without their medications, the 35 million people with type 2 diabetes could be at higher risk of heart disease, heart attacks, infections and even death. That’s why Rupp made an executive decision at Stark Pharmacy.

“We are not accepting new orders,” Rupp said. “We’re going to take care of our existing patients, rather than whoever calls us first gets it. It’s not fair to those who have been with us for years, months, decades and whatever, who need this drug to survive.

Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, said it was making “short and long-term investments to help deal with supply disruptions”, but the shortage is expected to last well into the future. ‘year.

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