By Caitlin Tilley, Dailymail.Com Health Reporter
18:15 08 October 2023, 18:15 08 October 2023 Updated
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Demand for blockbuster weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wigovy is skyrocketing as more people want them to lose weight.
But what happens if someone who wants to lose weight but doesn’t meet the drug’s criteria (BMI over 30 or diabetes) seeks a prescription but is turned away by their health care provider?
They are turning to medical spas and telemedicine services, where they can receive prescriptions for injectable semaglutide, the active ingredient in both drugs, without having to visit a doctor in person.
Medical spas are considered a middle ground between day spas and aesthetic medical centers.
Med Spas offer a combination of medical and cosmetic procedures, including hair restoration, Botox, microneedling, and fillers.
Laws regarding medical spas vary by state, but some spas are required to be operated by a licensed physician, while others do not require a physician to operate, but the majority of medical spa staff are physician assistants. , nurses, and estheticians. Provides various instructions.
Dr. Jason Huang, the physician who created the intermittent fasting diet, told DailyMail.com that the ease with which medical spas can distribute semaglutide is “ripe for abuse.”
“You can go to a medical spa or wherever you want and get it,” he said.
Ozempic is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 2 diabetes, but it is prescribed off-label for weight loss. Meanwhile, Wegovy, which was also initially approved for diabetes, was also approved for weight loss.
Novo Nordisk, which makes both weight loss drugs, says it does not sell semaglutide for distribution to medical spas and has sued several weight loss and health clinics across the U.S. for allegedly selling copied versions of its drugs. did.
However, semaglutide is currently on the FDA’s drug shortage list, so it can be dispensed at pharmacies affiliated with medical spas.
Compounding is the mixing and combining of ingredients to create the specific medicine that a person needs. This is a legal way for patients to obtain medication that meets their needs if a particular brand is out of stock.
But in May, the FDA warned that some pharmacies were using unapproved semaglutide or compounding it inappropriately.
Telemedicine companies, which are remote medical services, also offer an easy way for customers to obtain the drug, sending semaglutide to their homes by mail so they can inject the drug themselves.
Those who do not wish to inject themselves can obtain a course through a medical spa where a healthcare professional will administer the injections on their behalf.
Dr. Huang said, “A friend of mine went to Texas and was meeting some friends. Her friends are trying to lose 3 pounds and are going to Ozempic.”
And she asked, “How did you get Ozempic?” [her friend said]”Oh, I just went to the medical spa and they gave me that.”
“They didn’t see a doctor, no one knew about her situation, no one evaluated her before giving her medication.”
Dr. Hwang added, “We have a clinic here in Toronto. The doctors have to see 70 patients a day, and they basically walk in, get a prescription for Ozempic, and walk out. That’s all.
“They built a system. They made a lot of money. Unfortunately, the people running it are now very prominent and making a lot of money, so they get paid a lot of money. . He has a lot of influence. He’s written a paper about it.
“But if you look at what he’s actually doing, he’s just handing out material to everyone with no second plot. It’s ripe for abuse.”
A medical spa in New Mexico is advertising a course of semaglutide for $350 for the first month and $500 for the second month.
This includes weekly magazinesEmaglutide injections and “Monthly Lipominomix injections,” a fat-burning shot that promises to break down fat in the liver.
The MedSpa website says:If you come in every week during business hours, your weigh-in and injection will take less than 15 minutes. ”
Another clinic is promoting this for $850 and another is promoting a buy 2 get 2 free sale for $1,800.
Once you see your doctor, Ozempic costs about $900 for a month’s supply, but your insurance company may cover some or all of the cost.
A TikTok video by a medical spa in Utah shows employees imitating a song with the lyrics, “Call the pharmacy, my doctor won’t fill out the script.” .
At the American MedSpa Association (AmSpa) blog post For those eligible for semaglutide injections, we recommend that prescribers collect information about the person who wishes to take the drug, including blood tests and pre-existing medical conditions, to ensure that the person is a suitable candidate. doing.
However, most states allow video or phone measurements, which means health care workers cannot directly measure patients’ weight and vitals, and some may lie to get medication. There is.
AmSpa noted that tests, measurements and observations done remotely need to be “adequately replicated” compared to those done in person.
The blog states, “In the case of weight loss treatment, patients may present with a stated desire to begin semaglutide treatment to lose weight, and it may initially seem like a viable option. But for now, this is just a theory or a hunch and not enough to form the basis of professional judgment.
“However, by reviewing the patient’s medical history, examining the current health status, and looking at indications and contraindications, we can determine the patient’s condition and determine whether this semaglutide treatment can help the patient. It gives you concrete evidence.” This allows doctors to discuss the risks of treatment with patients and obtain informed consent. ”
In June 2023, Novo Nordisk filed a federal lawsuit against five weight loss and wellness clinics in Texas, Florida, New York, and Tennessee for allegedly selling copies of its medicines.
They asked the court to prevent spas and clinics from claiming that their medicines contain the main ingredients Ozempic, Libersus, and Wigovy.
The drug company also asked a federal judge to make it clear to spas and clinics that their products are not affiliated with Novo Nordisk or approved by the FDA.
He sued Champion Health and Wellness Clinic, which operates in Houston. His Nuvida RX weight loss clinic at Effinger Health in Tallahassee. Ekzotika’s Cosmetic Laser Professionals Med Spa in Miami. Flawless Image Medical Aesthetics operates in East Syracuse, New York, and Pro Health Investments operates in Memphis, Tennessee.
Champion Health and Wellness’ website boasts of its semaglutide program. The program is “an in-office or virtual consultation program that can be conducted entirely from home.”
“You can lose up to 25 pounds in 2 months. You can lose up to 50 pounds or more in 4 months,” the website says.
It also says that patients can repeat the program as many times as they like and that “no special diet” or “difficult training is required.”
“Just inject once a week and watch your weight drop.”
Despite their weight loss benefits, Wegovy and Ozempic have a growing list of serious problems. Side effects include depression, suicidal thoughts, nausea, and vomiting.
A very recent study found that people using the drug for weight loss were more likely to develop pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, and gastroparesis.
In addition to losing the enjoyment of food, some people report having a “no desire” to engage in activities they previously enjoyed, such as drinking or gambling, and some people are able to break long-standing habits.
Because this drug is relatively new, the long-term effects of the drug are still being studied.
Additionally, recent studies have shown that patients who stop taking injectable drugs may have difficulty regaining all the weight they lost and may need to continue taking the drugs for a long time.
