By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Wegovy<\/a>, Zepbound and other cutting-edge weight-loss drugs can be tough to get these days.<\/p>\n They\u00e2\u0080\u0099re in short supply, and often too expensive to afford without insurance coverage.<\/p>\n Because of these barriers, many people are doing an end-run around their doctor\u00e2\u0080\u0099s office, reaching out to potentially unreliable sources that promise to set them up with the drugs, a new survey finds.<\/p>\n About 1 in 4 people surveyed said they would consider using an injectable weight-loss drug without consulting their doctor, Ohio State University researchers report.<\/p>\n Their reasons for skipping the doctor include:<\/p>\n Lower cost (18%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Not covered by insurance (15%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Unable to get a prescription from their doctor (9%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Lack of availability through a pharmacy (6%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n However, unlicensed online pharmacies or dodgy telehealth sites could be risky places to turn to for these drugs, experts said.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u0080\u009cIt\u00e2\u0080\u0099s really important for those who want to lose weight to first discuss options with their doctor,\u00e2\u0080\u009d said Dr. Shengyi Mao<\/a>, an internal medicine specialist with Ohio State.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u0080\u009cIt is not one-size-fits-all, and every medication can have risks and side effects,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Mao added in a university news release. \u00e2\u0080\u009cA trusted doctor can go through a patient\u00e2\u0080\u0099s medical history and current medications to assess their particular risks and benefits.\u00e2\u0080\u009d<\/p>\n The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued two warnings this year about compounded semaglutide, which has caused dosing errors that resulted in severe nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia and hospitalizations.<\/p>\n Drug compounding involves combining, mixing or altering drugs to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient. The problem is, compounding a drug can make it tough to accurately calculate the proper dose a person should take.<\/p>\n Some compounders are also using semaglutide salt in their concoctions, which is a different active ingredient than the one used in Wegovy and Ozempic.<\/p>\n The FDA also is investigating reports of counterfeit Ozempic being sold in the United States, researchers noted.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u0080\u009cObesity is a serious and complex chronic disease and shouldn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t be addressed in a one-size-fits-all approach,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Mao said. \u00e2\u0080\u009cThat\u00e2\u0080\u0099s why a comprehensive weight management program is often the best choice because losing weight and keeping it off requires a lifestyle change and lifelong commitment.\u00e2\u0080\u009d<\/p>\n \u00e2\u0080\u009cThese weight-loss drugs may be effective for some people, but they can cause serious side effects and the weight may return after they stop taking them,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Mao concluded.<\/p>\n The survey involved 1,006 people polled Aug. 16-18 via web and telephone. <\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on compounded semaglutide<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: Ohio State University, news release, Sept. 17, 2024<\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n\n