Ever since new guidelines for doctors and pharmacists emphasized that Ozempic is only indicated for the treatment of diabetes, he said he was scolded, snorted and ridiculed for trying to obtain Ozempic. Obese patients are talking.
The drug’s active ingredient, semaglutide, is approved for the treatment of obesity in high-dose form. However, Wegovy, a drug containing this ingredient, is not available in Ireland. As a result, bariatric doctors here are prescribing low doses of Ozempic to thousands of patients.
The Medical Council issued guidance last week for Ozempic, stating that “off-label” prescribing for Ozempic in settings of scarce supply “poses risks to patients for whom the drug is indicated.”
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Since then, some patients who used Ozempic to treat obesity have been told by pharmacists that they can no longer administer it, and others have been reprimanded for taking the medicine that was in short supply, obesity groups say.
Ms Rachel, from County Meath, said she was outraged and snorted when she was asked to explain why she wanted Ozempic at her local pharmacy. She said she was told by her pharmacist that she was “taking life-saving drugs out of the hands of diabetics.”
“I felt scolded and humiliated and there was a line behind me at this stage. I added that I got it.
Elizabeth, who lives in Dublin, said pharmacies had refused the drug in recent months and her GP told her to prescribe Saxenda, a more expensive and less effective obesity drug.
“I told them I was not in a position to pay any more monthly drug bills because I had already paid for the drug payment plan. They said there was nothing they could do. I have to keep it,” she said.
judge and jury
Mary, who lives in Dublin, said she experienced “disdainful” and “offensive” attitudes when she went to pharmacies for a prescription for Ozempic to treat obesity.
“I think it’s an unfair position to have a pharmacist when he’s a judge and a jury,” she says.
The Obesity Research Association of Ireland and the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity claim that the Medical Council’s guidance is “alarming” and poses risks to professionals prescribing semaglutide to obese patients. there is Evidence Base and International Guidelines”.
The guidelines “further suggest that obese people are less worthy of treatment and less clinically necessary than people with diabetes,” the groups said.
“The guidance provided to pharmacists in the Medical Council communication poses a significant risk of increasing stigma and discrimination against people with a history of obesity in the community.”
unbearable situation
Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell said her profession now calls for asking patients the clinical reasons for prescribing Ozempic and whether it’s diabetes or weight loss.
“This is an intolerable situation for both pharmacists and patients. Patients are left feeling shamed and frustrated, and pharmacists are outraged at not being able to provide the best possible care to their patients.”
The Medical Council told The Irish Times that doctors are expected to use resources appropriately and responsibly under ethical guidelines.
“This statement was not meant to suggest that physicians should not prescribe Ozempic. Rather, its purpose was to raise awareness of supply issues and the need for careful prescribing.”
