Pharmacies in Central Alabama are seeing a shortage of diabetes medication after gaining popularity online for weight loss
Updated: 8:26 am CST January 31, 2023
WELL. THANKS PATSY. YOUR TIME IS 637 NOW. A VIRAL WEIGHT LOSS TREND IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE LACK OF DIABETES DRUGS HERE IN ALABAMA. PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM FIGHT TO FIND THEM IN THEIR LOCAL PHARMACIES. WVTM 13 MATTIE DAVIS NOW JOINS US FROM RICHES PHARMACY IN MOUNTAIN BROOK. Mattie, what’s behind this lack? Well, Carla, the pharmacists here tell us that patients using these drugs typically lose about 10-15% of their body weight. THE DRUGS ARE CONFIRMED ONLINE BY CELEBS. THE DEMAND NOW IS TOO GREAT FOR THE SUPPLY. NOW A VIRAL TREND, TIK CONTRIBUTES TO A LACK OF GLP ONE INJECTIONS, INCLUDING A WELL-KNOWN DRUG, OZEMPIC, USED TO TREAT TYPE 2 DIABETES AND PREVENT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. ROB SEWELL OF RICHARD’S PHARMACY SAYS POST PANDEMIC PEOPLE WILL USE TELEDOCTORS TO GET THAT MANDATORY SHIFT. HE SAYS THE EFFECTS CAN BE LIFE-SAVING. HOWEVER, NON-HAZARDOUS PERSONS SHOULD BE CAREFUL. IF YOU ARE REALLY OVERWEIGHT, IT’S A BIG DEAL. IF YOU, YOU KNOW, ARE A GYM RAT TRYING TO GET SIX PACK ABS, YOU’RE ALREADY TRYING TO GO DOWN ONE DRESS SIZE. THIS IS NOT FOR YOU. RISK FACTORS OUTLINE THE BENEFITS. NOW SARA SAYS THESE ARE NEW MEDICATIONS AND THERE COULD POSSIBLY EXIST FOR SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDING PANCREATITIS. HE SAYS WEALING THE BENEFIT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. HERE TO ENSURE THESE MEDICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. LIVE IN BERGBACH. I AM MATT
Pharmacies in Central Alabama are seeing a shortage of diabetes medication after gaining popularity online for weight loss
Updated: 8:26 am CST January 31, 2023
A statewide shortage of drugs to treat diabetes and prevent cardiovascular disease is hitting Alabama. Ralph Sorrell, pharmacist at Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook, said patients using GLP-1 injectable drugs like Ozempic lose 10-15% of their body weight. The drugs have recently gained popularity on social media for their weight loss effects. Sorrell said the demand was too great for the supply. Many are turning to teledocs for prescriptions, which Sorrell says skews the distribution. “Today, people just don’t have the same relationship with their GPs that they used to, and times have changed,” Sorell said. “Some people are more interested in getting things off the internet than they are face-to-face.” Sorrell said these drugs can be extremely effective, but for those who aren’t at risk of cardiovascular disease or don’t have diabetes sufferers should exercise caution when looking for these weight loss drugs.” “If you’re really overweight, that’s a great thing. ‘ Sorell said. “If you’re a gym rat trying to get a six pack or a woman trying to go down a dress size, this isn’t for you. The risk factors outweigh the benefits.” He said side effects could include thyroid problems or pancreatitis.
A statewide shortage of drugs to treat diabetes and prevent cardiovascular disease is hitting Alabama.
Ralph Sorrell, a pharmacist at Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook, said patients using GLP-1 injectable drugs like Ozempic lose 10-15 percent of their body weight. The drugs have recently gained popularity on social media for their weight loss effects. Sorrell said the demand was too great for the supply. Many are turning to teledocs for prescriptions, which Sorrell says skews the distribution.
“Today, people just don’t have the same relationship with their GPs that they used to, and times have changed,” Sorell said. “Some people are more interested in getting things off the internet than in person.”
Sorrell said these drugs can be extremely effective, but those who aren’t at risk for cardiovascular disease or don’t have diabetes should exercise discretion when looking for these weight-loss drugs.
“If you’re really overweight, that’s a great thing,” Sorrell said. “If you’re a gym rat trying to get six pack abs or a woman trying to go down a dress size, this isn’t for you. The risk factors outweigh the benefits.”
He said side effects could include thyroid problems or pancreatitis.