this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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38
Ozempic shortage expected in Canada: manufacturer (www.ctvnews.ca)
submitted 2 years ago by Grappling7155@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca
27 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

By Nicole Ireland / The Canadian Press

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[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 7 points 2 years ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

"We are experiencing a temporary supply disruption with the Ozempic 1 mg (injection) pen due to the combination of overall global supply constraints coupled with increased demand," said Novo Nordisk spokesperson Kate Hanna in an emailed statement.

On its website, Health Canada said "intermittent shortages" are expected from late August to early October.

The lower-dose pens "may be an option for some patients to mitigate the impacts" of the supply disruption, Health Canada's web page said.

Health Canada and Novo Nordisk are "closely monitoring" the supply of Rybelsus, which is the pill form of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, the web page said.

But some doctors and ethics experts have criticized Novo Nordisk for aggressively marketing both Ozempic and Rybelsus in Canada in recent months, citing concerns that people will seek prescriptions for cosmetic weight loss.

Another semaglutide drug manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy, has been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of obesity, but it is not yet available in this country.

The original article contains 355 words, the summary contains 165 words. Saved 54%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Ozempic sucks. It's not a magic bullet that makes you lose weight. It slows the emptying of your stomach which makes you feel full. If you eat a big meal at dinner it stays with you well into the next morning. If you eat something spicy or acidic for dinner you're going to have a bad time. You're always thinking about what you can eat that isn't going to cause you to have terrible heartburn at night or that will sit in your stomach and ferment and make you burp constantly. And since your digestion is slowed it's a challenge to keep things moving.

[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Gotta love people taking drugs from others that actually need them. The off label use here should be seriously looked into.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Then why isn't production increased?

It's not like the hype is new, manufacturers just didn't keep up. Whether stupidity or intent, I don't know.

[–] MacroCyclo@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The drug was only approved last December. Everyone needs a bit more patience.

[–] vaccinationviablowdart@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

there are drug shortages all the time even with drugs that have been on market for decades. it is a bigger problem.

[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world -3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You are correct that it's the drug company at fault here too, not just the public. It's also the fault of doctors that are continuing to prescribe it off-label for weight loss.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why are the doctors at fault? There's a drug that helps patients achieve their weight loss goals. As long as it's prescribed to overweight people, that's perfectly fine.

[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world -5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Because not every doctor tells their patients the risks, including that you must continue taking it or risk gaining more weight back if you stop. It's making more people overweight in the long run because they stop due to serious headaches (the most common side-effect).

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You don't know that. That's simply pulling "facts" out of your ass.

It's way too little time on the market to judge the long term effects.

[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Of course it's early, but Ozempic rebound is a real thing that you can easily search to study. Here's an example for you: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/29/people-taking-obesity-drugs-ozempic-and-wegovy-gain-weight-once-they-stop-medication.html

Maybe you were the one pulling "facts out of your ass"?

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de -3 points 2 years ago

Just like with any other diet. That's null news.

[–] mancy@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Most health care providers go over risks and benefits prior to initiating any kind of treatment. What the hell are you on about?

If I have an overweight patient who has tried for years to lose weight but can’t sustain it (which is the case for most overweight people) and are at risk for metabolic diseases and cardiovascular complications, and I have something that evidence tells me can help with weight management, you bet your ass I’m going to talk about it as an option.

Or would you prefer that fat people remain fat until they develop diabetes (and its various associated complications) before I’m even allowed to discuss semaglutide?

Patients are oftentimes aware of the potential side effects and the rebound weight gain. People don’t jump straight to an expensive injectable drug as the first option for weight management. It’s something that they try after a string of failed attempts by other means.

[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world -5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Most health care providers go over risks and benefits prior to initiating any kind of treatment.

Sure, most do. I'm talking about those that do not.

and are at risk for metabolic diseases and cardiovascular complications

Seems pretty close the intended use in this case? Not sure this would qualify as the off-label use I'm talking about.

Or would you prefer that fat people remain fat until they develop diabetes (and its various associated complications) before I’m even allowed to discuss semaglutide?

When did I say that? I said nothing of the sort. I'm specifically talking about those that aren't even overweight using it, or those without risk factors for diabetes. Because that's happening, and it's happening a lot.

People don’t jump straight to an expensive injectable drug as the first option for weight management.

This is not true for everyone. Many see Ozempic as a "magic bullet" for weight loss when that is not what it is.

[–] mancy@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I don't see many providers in my life that prescribe semaglutide to non-diabetic people who aren't considered overweight. Social media isn't real life. Most providers won't prescribe medications for weight loss unless the BMI supports it. The fact of the matter is that A LOT of people in Canada and US are overweight and with that comes with a slew of health complications that frankly I'd like to mitigate for my patients.

[–] MrFlagg@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

fwiw my cardiologist suggested i get my GP to prescribe it. I'm going to pass tho as I'm not diabetic.

[–] GameGod@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 years ago

The drug company knows exactly what it's doing here - I came out Barbie the other day and there's a fucking Ozempic ad besides the theatre inside the Famous Players.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

What are the leading causes of type 2 diabetes?

[–] GrindingGears@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

It's pretty complex. Diet, and exercise levels are all thought to be contributors. But so are other factors, including genetics and certain populations that have higher statistical chances of acquiring the condition. Heck some people that are 100% healthy still come down with it. Diabetes as a whole is complicated and not completely understood.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago

Simple question answered by a simple Google search for "leading causes of type 2 diabetes" results in being overweight or obese.

So...maybe you're just hating on fat people?

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

I said, "leading". It's a pretty simple question with a pretty simple answer.

It's ok, you can say it.

[–] vaccinationviablowdart@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

being marginalized

[–] MacroCyclo@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago

Looks like Ozempic is already having a huge positive impact on its patient population.