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As was recently announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK is experiencing a shortage of various drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. The list of drugs in short supply are many, including exenatide, liraglutide, and even Ozempic semaglutide. To make matters worse, there is no fixed date that supply can be expected to normalise, with the most recent estimate predicting the shortage will last until at least mid-2024. This shortage has been a serious problem both for people with type 2 diabetes, and people using semaglutides to assist with weight loss. But why is there an Ozempic shortage, amongst other important drugs? More importantly, what can you do about it?
Alevere has put together this article to answer these two important questions. We’ll shed some light on why these drugs are in short supply, and what options you have available if you’ve been taking Ozempic for weight loss.
What is Ozempic semaglutide?
Ozempic semaglutide, usually referred to simply as Ozempic, is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is administered via an injection pen, typically in the abdomen or thigh. While Ozempic is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, it has also been recently approved for use as a weight loss drug. This comes as a side effect of diabetes treatment; Ozempic decreases the amount of glucose produced by the liver, which helps to treat symptoms of diabetes. Equally, this reduction in glucose production also increases feelings of fullness, which in turn helps to stave off cravings. When it comes to weight loss, reducing feelings of hunger and keeping cravings at bay is very useful indeed.
What is behind the Ozempic shortages?
Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a variety of different answers to this question. Some will tout misuse and overuse of the medication as the primary cause, while others will point the finger at an explosion in popularity and an inability of supply to meet the rising demand. In truth, the answer is a mix of several contributing factors.
On the one hand, it is certainly true that the consumer base for Ozempic has deviated from what was initially intended. The drug was created with treating type 2 diabetes in mind; only after it was discovered to help reduce feelings of hunger was Ozempic applied to combat obesity. This secondary application, coupled with the large-scale increase in brand recognition, has led to a much larger audience than was initially intended.
Whether you can call this misuse, overuse, or anything of the sort is ultimately up to you. While it is true that treating obesity wasn’t Ozempic’s primary aim, the drug’s usage in this capacity is still treating health issues. Although some may claim Ozempic is being used for cosmetic reasons by people who aren’t obese, this is difficult to quantify. People aren’t likely to admit to this if polled, and part of the prescription criteria for Ozempic is that the patient is either a type 2 diabetic, or is obese.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t people using Ozempic just to get a little skinnier without having to change much of their lifestyle. This is most certainly the case for some, judging by the recent craze on social media platforms, such as TikTok. In fact, Ozempic was being used in this fashion so much on TikTok that the app began censoring content related to the medication. However, a recent flash in the pan online isn’t likely to be the leading cause of the Ozempic shortage, though it may well play a part in it.
The root of the Ozempic shortage is more likely to be a question of manufacturing. The makers of Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, stated in August 2022 that supply constraints were the reason why Wegovy, another of their weight-loss medications, was difficult to obtain. As a result, more people ended up turning to Ozempic as an alternative, contributing to more demand and more pressure on supply chains. This, coupled with the rapid increase in public attention and use of such weight loss drugs, is a core component of the Ozempic shortage.
Using Ozempic for weight loss
A big proponent of the increase in Ozempic’s popularity is its ability to help with weight loss. But how exactly does a drug made for the treatment of type 2 diabetes help with weight loss so much to warrant this massive boost in recognition?
As we mentioned briefly earlier, Ozempic assists with weight loss primarily by controlling blood glucose levels, which reduces feelings of hunger. This is accomplished by the injection of GLP-1 hormones into the blood. These hormones essentially mimic the hormones produced by the body when eating food, signalling that enough food has been eaten and no more is needed by the body. In other words, GLP-1 hormones make you feel full, and make food seem less appealing and not needed.
Due to reducing feelings of hunger and the desire to eat, Ozempic can be quite a useful treatment for people with obesity. It can be especially effective for people with particularly strong cravings, which can sabotage many attempts at losing weight using other methods. However, while Ozempic has proven to be a very effective means of losing weight, it doesn’t come without its downsides. In fact, these downsides can be quite severe, calling into question whether using Ozempic is worthwhile in the first place.
The downsides of using Ozempic for weight loss
While it is true that Ozempic is good as a weight loss medication, it doesn’t mean that anyone should jump to use it without a second thought. While the FDA has approved the drug, Ozempic has been acknowledged to potentially cause a variety of both short-term and long-term side effects.
Short-term side effects
Ozempic has been linked to a spate of different short-term side effects. Some of the most common include:
Diarrhea:
One of the most commonly reported side effects of Ozempic is diarrhea. This is a difficult side effect to mitigate, and is exceedingly disruptive to daily life. If you experience diarrhea as a result of taking Ozempic, your best option is to drink lots of water and ride it out. If you continue to experience this side effect for an extended period of time, you should contact your doctor for advice.
Nausea
Another of the more commonly reported side effects of taking Ozempic is nausea. It has been reported that it typically occurs shortly after starting treatment, then decreases in severity as time goes on. If you experience nausea, taking your dose of Ozempic before bed could be a good way to avoid experiencing this side effect.
Dizziness
Dizziness is a third side effect of Ozempic that is reportedly somewhat common. If you experience dizziness as a result of taking Ozempic, you may want to take your dose later on in the day. It is generally advisable not to take your dose of Ozempic before work, especially if experiencing dizziness could result in risking harm to yourself or others.
Long-term side effects
While the short-term side effects of Ozempic are certainly nothing pleasant, they aren’t overly intrusive, and most can be managed quite well. However, this is not necessarily true for the long-term side effects of Ozempic, which include:
Pancreatitis
Some people can develop pancreatitis as a result of taking Ozempic. This condition causes inflammation of the pancreas, which is very serious and potentially life-threatening. Pancreatitis must be treated immediately to ensure a safe and full recovery.
Hypoglycemia
As an uncommon side effect of Ozempic’s controlling of blood sugar levels, it is possible for some people to develop hypoglycemia. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, sweating, bouts of shakiness, disorientation, and confusion. If you notice any of these symptoms and suspect hypoglycemia to be the cause, you should consume sugar immediately and call an ambulance. Hypoglycemia can be lethal if left unchecked, so immediate medical attention is a must.
Thyroid cancer
Although a precise link has not yet been confirmed, some people have reported a thyroid tumor after taking Ozempic. This is certainly a rare side effect, but very much so one worth mentioning. Thyroid cancer can be a serious threat to your health, and you must seek medical attention if you notice swelling in your throat or a marked change in your voice after taking Ozempic.
Also Read: Discover The 9 Hidden Risks of Ozempic Semaglutide For Weight Loss
Alternatives to using Ozempic for weight loss
Although Ozempic does have its place as a medical treatment for obesity, the drug’s potential side effects do create some cause for concern. If you would prefer safer alternatives to losing weight, then you’re in luck! Alevere boasts a weight loss programme that holds safety and effectiveness as its core values. After all, there isn’t much point in losing weight for the benefit of your health, only to bring in another ailment.
At Alevere, we can provide two key weight loss treatments to help you achieve your weight loss goals. Our first port of call is our acclaimed weight loss programme, which combines specialised nutrition and dietary treatment with the latest in non-surgical body therapies.
Our treatment involves three key points; nutrition, ultrasound, and skin tightening. The first part of the trio is a dietary plan devised for you by our nutritional experts. It begins at a baseline level, including vegetables, meats, and other foods, then gradually increases to encompass a wider range of foods.
The second part of our treatment includes the latest in ultrasound technology. This innovative technology can target areas of the body where fat is notoriously difficult to get rid of through dieting, working similarly to how kidney stones are broken down. This phase of the treatment allows your body to reach its full potential.
The third and final phase of our treatment plan involves skin tightening techniques. This works by increasing the production of collagen and elastin in your body, helping you avoid developing loose skin that often comes as a result of weight loss.
At Alevere, we know how difficult it can be to stabilise after a period of weight loss, and keep those pounds off. We offer a post-therapy treatment, Alevere Balance, for this very reason. As part of this post-therapy treatment, you will consult one of our experts to review your weight loss journey and celebrate your success. We will work closely with you to ensure you continue to progress from this point, establish a healthier relationship with food and avoid slipping back into old habits.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, there are multiple reasons behind the Ozempic shortage, but we can only speculate as to the main cause. The only certainty is that this supply shortage is expected to persist for some time yet. However, while the Ozempic shortage poses its problems, it could also present an opportunity for healthier forms of weight loss that do not involve medications and come with fewer risks. Whether you choose a different path for your weight loss journey, or you plan to stick with Ozempic, make sure you consult a doctor for professional advice, and we wish you the best of luck!
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