The demand for Ozempic is placing the lives of diabetics in danger, medical doctors say – as individuals attempting to drop pounds are fueling the nationwide scarcity

Docs and pharmacists have been warned to cease prescribing diabetes remedy to individuals who simply wish to drop pounds.

Semaglutide has been hailed as a “miracle drug” for weight reduction by celebrities like Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson.

Nonetheless, well being officers have warned that the decision for entry to this and related medication is fueling a nationwide scarcity that’s placing the lives of diabetics in danger.

It’s marketed below the model title Ozempic and is out there from the NHS as a therapy to regulate blood sugar ranges in individuals with sort 2 diabetes.

Underneath the model title Wegovy, it was additionally accredited for weight reduction in Might however has but to hit the market within the UK as a consequence of provide difficulties.

It’s marketed below the model title Ozempic and is out there from the NHS as a therapy to regulate blood sugar ranges in individuals with sort 2 diabetes

The delay has led to an increase in “off-label” prescriptions, the place medication are given out for a use aside from what they’re supposed for, exacerbating shortages and inflicting diabetes sufferers to wrestle to get their important medicines, which authorities say can have “extreme medical implications”.

This week, the Division of Well being issued a nationwide affected person security alert, urging all well being care suppliers to not distribute anti-obesity medication.

It states: “The availability issues are as a consequence of an rising demand for these merchandise for licensed and off-label indications.”

Off-label use of those compounds to deal with weight problems is strongly discouraged. Current shares have to be conserved to be used in sufferers with diabetes.

“These bottlenecks have severe medical implications for the administration of sufferers with sort 2 diabetes.”

The warning pertains to numerous medication referred to as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), together with Ozempic, Rybelsus, Trulicity and Bydureon. These work by hijacking the mind to suppress urge for food.

Trials of the weekly Wegovy injection discovered those that took it misplaced about 12 p.c of their physique weight and lowered their danger of growing sort 2 diabetes by greater than half.

Novo Nordisk, the pharma big behind it, and Ozempic mentioned short-term provide shortages continued as a consequence of “unprecedented demand”.

Semaglutide has been hailed as a “miracle drug” for weight reduction by celebrities like Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson

The Medicines and Healthcare Merchandise Regulatory Company (MHRA) says it’s working with regulators to make sure diabetes sufferers have entry to those medication or “different clinically applicable options.”

dr MHRA’s Laura Squire mentioned: “When there’s a potential provide scarcity of a medicinal product that would pose a danger to public well being, we stand prepared to make use of our regulatory processes to mitigate these dangers.”

A Division for Well being and Social Care spokesman mentioned: “We count on all healthcare suppliers, whether or not NHS or personal, and all these chargeable for prescribing, to take due account of nationwide steerage.”

“It’s clear from the rules that these medication ought to solely be prescribed for the therapy of sort 2 diabetes to make sure the care of diabetic sufferers.”

“Medicine accredited solely for the therapy of sort 2 diabetes shouldn’t be routinely prescribed for weight reduction.”

A spokesman for Novo Nordisk mentioned: “We help extra steerage for healthcare professionals and particularly agree that off-label use of diabetes drugs to deal with weight problems is strongly discouraged.”

“We don’t encourage, advocate or encourage the off-label use or misuse of our medicines.”