Ozempic (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor protein treatment that was developed roughly a decade ago as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. When blood sugar levels start to rise after someone eats, these drugs stimulate the body to produce more insulin, according to the Mayo Clinic, which then helps lower blood sugar levels. Weight loss was found to be a common effect of people taking GLP-1 due to its appetite-suppression effect. This can be a good thing for diabetics who, due to their complex endocrine system, sometimes don’t feel fullness when eating.
While the glycemic-control benefits can be great for some diabetics, the side effects can be major, and worth avoiding for others. Ozempic can cause pancreatitis, changes in vision, low blood sugar, kidney failure, serious allergic reaction, and gallbladder problems. The most common symptoms reported are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation. Mila Clarke, writer and creator of the diabetes food blog Hangry Woman, chronicled her experience trying Ozempic; she eventually stopped due to heart palpitations. But for those who don’t experience such extreme side effects, it can be a fantastic option for regulating blood sugar.
I help organize a volunteer mutual aid network, Mutual Aid Diabetes, that connects diabetics with insulin, medication, and supplies they need. We’ve heard from multiple sources that pharmacies are delaying refills for Ozempic prescriptions. Ozempic is already difficult to obtain, as there’s no generic version, and it’s outrageously expensive, with a list price of $892 per month, which compares to $20 per month for generic metformin, a different class of diabetes-treatment drug.
Ozempic is only FDA-approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type diagnosed in Americans, but it can be prescribed off-label (for uses not covered by its FDA approval) for those with other types of diabetes if they’re insulin resistant. Unfortunately, because each of the GLP-1 drugs have their own proprietary formulas, changing from Ozempic to other options—like Mounjaro, another GLP-1 injectable—might not work for everyone. Not to mention, insurance complications and prior-authorization issues may make switching medications impossible for some.
While the US Food and Drug Administration does not have information on its website about an Ozempic shortage, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a supply warning due to “extensive prescribing for obesity management, for which Ozempic is not indicated.” Ozempic’s manufacturer has advised that the shortage will continue until the end of December 2022. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the independent information website Drugs.com are also reporting an Ozempic shortage in the US due to increased demand.
On TikTok, #Ozempic has 163.4 million views, an increase of 107.8 million since the end of April. The hashtag #OzempicWeightLoss is second, with 60.4 million views—and terrifyingly, #OzempicChallenge, referring to a weight-loss challenge using the drug, is third, with 1.7 million.
