TAMPA, Fla. — You’ve probably heard of the drug Ozempic, which is used to treat diabetes. But along the way, doctors discovered that it also helps patients lose weight by suppressing their appetite.
The drug is in high demand, causing supply shortages around the world. Now, the FDA has issued a new warning regarding this popular drug.
Health authorities are now increasingly concerned about counterfeit Ozempic pens after several people in Austria were hospitalized after injecting them with counterfeit Ozempic drugs.
Counterfeit products have also been found on drugstore shelves in the United States. Counterfeit products contain insulin.
“Insulin is literally life-threatening for people who don’t have high blood sugar, who don’t have diabetes, and giving them insulin can kill people, and that’s really, really alarming,” the committee said. Dr. Jill Wagoner, who is board-certified, explained: Family medicine doctor.
ABC Action News anchor Paul LaGrone asked Dr. Wagoner. How worrying is that? ”
She replied, “That’s very worrying and really scary to think about.”
Dr. Wagoner points out the misconception that obesity is a character flaw and not a serious medical condition. This problem is exacerbated in a results-oriented society where patience is often in short supply and quick fixes are often sought.
“That’s why people go to medical spas and have someone inject them with something, because they don’t think of it as a medical condition. That’s the real problem,” Dr. Wagoner said. Ta.
LaGrone then asked, “So how do people protect themselves when it comes to buying the right products so they don’t get scammed or buy something that’s life-threatening?” I asked.
“Never accept anything with a prescription unless you receive it from your health care provider,” Dr. Wagoner explained.
Lasita Lee is a nurse in Tampa. She, like many others, has discussed Ozempic, but she still has doubts.
“Actually, one of my doctors recommended this disease before, but I rather like to let nature take its course,” Lee said.
She continued, “I try to ride my bike to stay fit. So do whatever you can without going to drugs first.”
Dr. Wagoner warns that there are some side effects to taking Ozempic. These include nausea and abdominal pain. In severe cases, even paralysis of the gastrointestinal tract may occur.
She said the alternatives are equally dangerous for people battling life-threatening obesity.
“We need to talk in real terms and look at the risks as well as the benefits,” Dr. Wagoner said.
LaGrone asked, “Is it sustainable for someone to inject Ozempic for years?”
She answered: “Diabetes have been using it for years. So we have some background and data to look at what happens when you use it for years. The difference is that most diabetics are It’s something we don’t expect to cure. So it wasn’t meant to be a short-term treatment. It was meant to be part of a long-term treatment.”
At this time, researchers and doctors don’t yet have enough data to determine what happens when someone stops taking the drug.
But one thing is clear: if you want to try it, talk to your doctor first and don’t buy it on the internet.
“I think that’s a bad idea. If you go on a website and somebody writes, ‘We have a doctor,’ they’ll write that.” Don’t worry. That’s cheating. It’s not good medicine,” Dr. Wagoner said.
According to experts, here’s what to look out for when spotting fake Ozempic pens:
- The labels on counterfeit packaging may be of poor quality.
- May not contain tamper-evident perforations.
- Look for your batch number. The batch number printed on the fake Ozempic box may not match the strength of the product listed on the box or pen.
