I’ve just had the call from my Gp today taking me off Rybelsus due to supply issues. I’m honestly devastated as I was the first medication that truly worked for me. As much as the weight loss was good, it was really the diabetic symptoms that made the biggest difference as I was able to sleep through the night without needing to get up to go to the toilet several times. I’ve been looking online to see if I can buy it privately but can’t find anything. Can’t believe that we have been put in this position.
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Ozempic Supply Shortage
- Thread starter ellcor
- Start Date
Oldvatr
Expert
Do you have access to WeightWatchers? Could you take out a 2 year suscription with them? They have a supply priority agreement with Novo Nordisk for Wegovy, which is a similar drug to Ozempic but it is a stronger dose than the diabetic version, and is an injectable so not like Rybelsus which is the oral version ~This is why the NHS etc cannot get access to the drugs until Nordisk ramp up production to sevice the extra million or so doses being prescibed. Thats the price for fame. Money,, Money, Money, thats what they got.
MrsA2
Expert
A lot of the t2s on here find relief from symptoms by lowering the sugars and carbs in their diets. I'm one, I lost 3 stone, all my symptoms and am in remission simply by eating low carb., no medication
What do you eat, are you open to changes to benefit your health?
Thank you for your suggestion. I will have a look.
Thank you for your comments, I’m happy to hear that diet worked for you. When I was first diagnosed I went to a specialist dietitian and followed a plan but it had no impact on my symptoms, even though I lost weight. This is the first medication that has alleviated my symptoms which is why I’m so disappointed.
Oldvatr
Expert
If you do find a source then the following info may be useful
Wegovy vs. Ozempic: What Is the Difference? | Ro
Wegovy and Ozempic have the same active ingredient: semaglutide. But Wegovy is approved for weight loss, while Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes. Learn more.
ro.co
My googling suggests that Weightwatchers in the UK aren't supplying wegovy yet, you have to email to be put on a wait list and ask questions? (And I wasn't game to give them my email address).
If I wanted wegovy as a treatment for T2 I'd want more information about how WW were doing the medical monitoring and whether they would prescribe it at all if you were T2....
Have you got any more information on the weightwatchers rollout @Oldvatr ?
If I wanted wegovy as a treatment for T2 I'd want more information about how WW were doing the medical monitoring and whether they would prescribe it at all if you were T2....
Have you got any more information on the weightwatchers rollout @Oldvatr ?
What was the diet plan you followed?
Oldvatr
Expert
No, I am not a follower of fashion. I think you have collaborated the info I saw on the marriage announcement between WW and NN. Not surprised, it cost them Billion $ or so, so they will need to take time to recover from the shock. I believe they also got into bed with an online pharmacy who will do the rollout the triage and the dispensing and payment side of the purchases, but fom memory the subscription was being handled by WW. I saw a USA price of something like 940 USD a month. I have seen a UK pharmacy offering it at £900 a month without subscription or contract but they too like the rest of the world will have to wait for supplies, so that pigeon hole is closed at the moment. I note that the UK pharmacy I saw also quoted £120 a day for the Rebelsus pill so yet another goldmine for NN. But again they showed out of stock.
The other possibilty is Walgreens who have a similar sweetheart deal with Eli Lilly for Tirzepatide which is also a GLP-1 argonist with added goodies and not yet on the market (awaiting FDA approval) So again money talked and stole the prize.
I am not sure how the team working on getting FDA approval for stop smoking / OCD treatment / ADHD treatment uses for Ozempic, but they will have to join the queue too. The cure for cancer team have not followed up on their application for Ozempic, but they do have approval for a trial using it.
As an unrelated derailment, Canagliflozin and Empagliflozini are also going on supply difficulties now that they have been approvred for treatment of and as a prophylactic for heart failure, heart disease. kidney failure, kidney reduced function patients. We diabetics seem to be the victims of theft and grand larceny.
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It was designed for me to take into account my food allergies. But it was essentially a vegan diet with no processed sugar or carbs, and limited natural sugars and carbs like fruit, brown rice, quinoa, etc. so mainly veggies and tofu.
Oldvatr
Expert
Wegovy is also approved for use by T2D diabetics. in USA No mention of insulin use or T1D et al. Not sure about UK licencing.
Will be very interesting to see how WW handle the medical aspect. I suspect they have plenty of non diabetics willing to pay $$$ to use it so it would be easier for them just to rule out T2s. Maybe I am overly cynical?
Oldvatr
Expert
I think a certain level of cycnicism is healthy. WW have a captive audience and a team of contract doctors on call to act as locums so they can officially triage and prescribe the jabs. I am not sure that they are geared up for follow on but they probably use the FDA reporting service similar to the UK yellow card system. This is an aspect i think they will skimp on since it is expensive to manage. It is also not helpful to the WW healthy approach to weight loss if their subscriberes are puking up in the toilet or in public (even more mortifying) The bottom line must be preserved at all costs, and legal consequences tend to be high cost.
Oldvatr
Expert
On the news this afternoon. Sales of Ozempic in the US have rocketed,and Novo Nordisk is well on track to exceed their 2023 forecast made in last years AGM
www.pharmaceutical-technology.com
I said it was Big Money talking. This is why forum members may be experiencing supply shortages.
Novo Nordisk blockbuster Ozempic boasts 23% sales surge in 2023 - Pharmaceutical Technology
Novo Nordisk’s leading drug Ozempic (semaglutide) is forecast to demonstrate a sales growth of 23% in 2023.
www.pharmaceutical-technology.com
I said it was Big Money talking. This is why forum members may be experiencing supply shortages.
