PHARMACY leaders are urging people not to buy fake weight-loss vaccines amid a shortage of prescription medicines.
The shortage of the diabetes drug Ozempic has been fueled by high demand, as well as doctors prescribing it off-label to obese people – who should be using Wegovy.
The National Pharmacy Association is encouraging patients to speak to their pharmacist or GP rather than buying medicines online from unregistered and unregulated sellers.
Chairman Nick Kaye said: “Wegovy shares are not that bad, it is Ozempic that is problematic.
““Ozempic is heavily depleted in UK community pharmacies and it is important that it continues to be prioritized for those with the greatest clinical need.
“Given the precarious state of supply of this and other vital medicines, there is a much greater risk that people will seek to order supplies from disreputable online suppliers.
“We have been informed that these actions will not return until December 27th, and it is more likely that this will happen later.”
“This is the current date projected by the manufacturers themselves.
“In all our experience, it is much less likely to be before that date and much more likely to be later.”
People usually start Ozempic at the lowest dose of 0.25 mg before increasing levels if necessary.
In January, the Department of Health and Social Care told healthcare providers not to prescribe off-label weight loss medicines, and said existing stock should be reserved for patients with type 2 diabetes.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story