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Issues getting medication - T2

chaoticliloj

chaoticliloj

Active Member
Messages
38
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Hi,
I’m having issues getting Ozempic (on my last injection) and now I’m being told Invokana is having issues too. I’ve contacted the doctors but got told they’d send an alternative to the pharmacy on prescription but this was a while ago and the pharmacy have had nothing else sent to them.
I don’t know what I should do - the doctor will only allow prescriptions when you have one week left of medication so I’m stuck. I know it’s not like it’s insulin but I can’t afford for my glucose level to go really high again (it was high for over 2 years due to steroids) - I’m in the uk.
Does anyone have any idea of alternative meds I can ask for?

Many thanks
 
Obviously I’m not a doctor.. but I believe there is a nationwide shortage of ozempic injections - my endo mentioned when I started on insulin.

He did mention semaglutide (ozempic is semaglutide I think) is also available in tablet form. He didn’t want to start me on that as he wanted my BG to come down quicker hence insulin (I’m on steroids)

Now I’m not sure and of course you would need to speak to your GP but is oral semaglutide an option?
 
IBEX82 said:
Obviously I’m not a doctor.. but I believe there is a nationwide shortage of ozempic injections - my endo mentioned when I started on insulin.

He did mention semaglutide (ozempic is semaglutide I think) is also available in tablet form. He didn’t want to start me on that as he wanted my BG to come down quicker hence insulin (I’m on steroids)

Now I’m not sure and of course you would need to speak to your GP but is oral semaglutide an option?
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Thanks, I was on that before starting the injection but my body is weird and works on tablets for a few months but then my body starts to stop working with the tablets - no idea why. I’m hoping the doctor sends something else to the pharmacy by next weekend. It’s so difficult to see someone nowadays too - not had my yearly check for 3 years which is bad but I guess they go by the blood tests the hospital does for another issue. Thanks for the suggestion. I’m all for people losing weight but to use a drug meant for diabetics is hard on the people who need it. Have a good weekend
 
chaoticliloj said:
Thanks, I was on that before starting the injection but my body is weird and works on tablets for a few months but then my body starts to stop working with the tablets - no idea why. I’m hoping the doctor sends something else to the pharmacy by next weekend. It’s so difficult to see someone nowadays too - not had my yearly check for 3 years which is bad but I guess they go by the blood tests the hospital does for another issue. Thanks for the suggestion. I’m all for people losing weight but to use a drug meant for diabetics is hard on the people who need it. Have a good weekend
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Totally I agree with you and you’re right - the shortage is more than likely due to to it being available privately (and on the NHS) for weight loss.

Ozempic is a GLP-1 agonist and there are a few others in that class, Victoza, trulicity, Lyxumia etc and I think they are injectables - maybe the replacement will be one of those?

It’s shocking they haven’t seen you to go through the best options really.
 
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