Ozempic shortage causes medication woes for Geelong diabetics

A shortage of Ozempic, triggered by people pursuing the drug to weight loss, is causing Geelong diabetics grief. Here’s how they’re affected.

People looking to lose weight are turning to diabetes drug Ozempic. Picture: Getty Images via AFP)

Geelong diabetics say obtaining medication has become an unnecessarily stressful experience, as people turn to Ozempic in a bid to lose weight.

Ozempic is an antidiabetic medicine used to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but others have begun seeking the drug to slim down.

St Albans Park resident Jason, who did not wish to have his last name published, has type 2 diabetes and was prescribed Ozempic about two years ago.

But he’s struggled to be able to consistently take it due to supply issues, and has been going on and off the medication since.

He said other medications had availability issues due to the Ozempic shortage.

Jason said access problems has created an “unnecessarily stressful experience”.

“Ozempic is not a magic drug, it was designed for a purpose, to manage diabetes,” he said.

“I was flabbergasted originally about why it became unavailable, it had to do with this concept that there’s a side effect of weight loss.

“Obesity is a health issue, no doubt, but that’s not what the drug was designed for.”

He said he had experienced side effects from the inconsistencies from supply problems.

The worldwide shortage of semaglutide started to affect Australia last year when pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk couldn’t supply enough Ozempic to meet an unexpected increase in demand due to off-label prescribing for weight loss, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

While Ozempic is only approved by the TGA for lowering blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, the TGA is unable to prevent doctors from using their clinical judgement to prescribe it for other health conditions.

Dr Anne Stephenson. Picture: Ginger + Mint

A TGA spokesman said in response to the shortage of Ozempic, some patients had been prescribed alternative treatments.

“Some of these medicines have experienced supply constraints as a result,” he said.

“The TGA actively monitors the supply of important medicines in Australia, including Ozempic and other medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes.

“While we are not responsible for co-ordinating the supply of medicines, the TGA takes shortages very seriously and works with sponsors, health professionals, wholesale and retail suppliers and other stakeholders to minimise the effects on patients.

“We have strongly recommended that health professionals prioritise patients with type 2 diabetes when it comes to prescribing and supplying Ozempic.”

Local GP and Western Victoria Primary Health Network clinical spokeswoman Dr Anne Stephenson said GPs were asked by patients to prescribe Ozempic for weight loss regularly.

“Even though Ozempic is not registered for weight loss by the TGA, its effectiveness can lead GPs to prescribe it ‘off-label’ to manage serious weight issues,” she said.

“The TGA has approved Wegovy, another product containing semaglutide, for weight loss but it has not been released in Australia yet.

“Generally, managing your weight effectively will include a number of different methods in addition to medication, such as diet and exercise.”

Originally published as Ozempic shortage causes medication woes for Geelong diabetics