Ozempic, Wegovy, and the Wild West of Weight Loss Drugs

So, I'm not prescribing Ozempic or Wegovy myself, but tons of my patients are using them. It's got me thinking about where they're getting these meds from, and honestly, it's a little shady.

GLP-1s: A Double-Edged Sword?

Originally for diabetes, these GLP-1 meds are now HUGE for weight loss. Cool, right? When you get them from a legit doc and pharmacy, they can be safe and effective. But the demand's exploded so fast, the safeguards haven't kept up!

Fake Ozempic Alert!

The FDA's already warned about counterfeit Ozempic floating around the US. These aren't just duds; they could be contaminated, wrongly dosed, or missing the magic ingredient completely! And they're being pushed hard with slick ads online.

The Real Danger

People aren't actively hunting for dangerous stuff, they're being tricked! Companies are touting "cheap" injections without being upfront about them being unapproved, unregulated, and possibly smuggled in. A prescription after a quick online quiz isn’t real healthcare. A clinic without a licensed pharmacist mixing those injections isn’t a real pharmacy.

Compounding Pharmacies: Not Always the Good Guys

Compounding has its place, but some operations are pumping out GLP-1 drugs on a massive scale using sketchy ingredients and ignoring safety rules. That's not personalized care; it's a shortcut around regulations that puts you at risk.

Safe Access is Key

Making sure folks can get these meds is important, but injectable drugs that mess with your blood sugar and metabolism are no joke. They need to be made right, prescribed right, and dispensed right.

Your Best Defense

If you're thinking about these meds, talk to your regular doctor! Get the lowdown on the risks and benefits. And if you do get a prescription, ditch the random website from that Facebook ad and hit up your local pharmacy!

Dr. Adam Lukachevitz is a board-certified foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon from St. Vincent’s Orthopedics.