‘Wonder drug’ Ozempic has swept the globe as the new quick fix for weight loss. Everybody and their auntie wants to get their hands on it. The problem is, that supply is struggling to keep up with demand. Solution? Just go to the black market.
Online pharmacy shopping for semaglutide injections is on the rise. But is purchasing bootleg versions of the Ozempic worth risking your health in the process?
Beware of online pharmacies
Not only are semaglutide injections harder to come by at your local pharmacy, but they are also very expensive. A monthly prescription of Ozempic costs about $1000 without insurance. Many turn to alternative means to find the drug because of this, and there are many alternatives from which to choose, including online pharmacies.
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Online pharmacies produce and sell compounded versions of Ozempic injections, marketed as compounded semaglutide. Priced nearly half as much as name-brand semaglutide, compounded versions of the drug are a viable option for the uninsured. But buyer beware – this cost-effective option has caveats one must consider.
1. “Compounded” doesn’t mean “generic”.
Compounded semaglutide is NOT a generic version of Ozempic that your physician would prescribe for you. In fact, a generic version of Ozempic does not currently exist.
Many compounded semaglutide injections are made with the salt forms of the drug, not the full drug itself. So while the online “Ozempic” may help you lose weight or control diabetes, you could be negatively affecting other body systems in the process.
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2. Some online pharmacies aren’t legit.
In fact, less than five percent of them are, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Not only are so few online pharmacies safe, the NABP can hardly keep up with reporting and removing the bad ones. Is your health really worth risking falling into the online pharmacy trap to save a few dollars?
3. The drug may not contain semaglutide at all.
Some online pharmacies use salt forms of semaglutide, and some use no semaglutide at all. Online pharmacies selling compounded semaglutide are not regulated by the FDA and fly under their radar when obtaining “semaglutide” for prescribed injections. How can you tell if your online semaglutide prescription actually contains semaglutide? Technically, you can’t.
4. It’s all about the money.
Making money is the bottom line for most businesses, and alternative semaglutide manufacturers and prescribers are no different. Numerous reports show patients with adverse reactions and life-threatening side effects of counterfeit semaglutide use, like gastrointestinal issues, seizures, and even death.
Pride and greed may come before a fall, but while these online pharmacies are still in business, do you really want to put your health in greed’s hands?
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Safety when buying semaglutide online
Be sure to do your due diligence if you decide to buy semaglutide injections online.
1. Check the pharmacy’s state license.
Test the pharmacy’s validity through online databases, such as the FDA and NABP. If you see something that doesn’t look kosher, report the pharmacy to the FDA.
2. Beware of “Compounded Ozempic” advertisements.
Remember, there’s no such thing as generic Ozempic on the market, and compound drug pharmacies are not allowed to use drug name brands for their products. So if you see a semaglutide drug online publicized as compounded Ozempic, don’t buy it!
3. Tell your doctor if you’re using compounded semaglutide.
While you may be tempted to keep your online prescription semaglutide use from your primary physician, DON’T! Inform your physician of your compound semaglutide use so that they know how to treat you should you have adverse reactions from the drug or its combination with any legitimate prescription you currently take.
4. Just don’t buy it!
If Ozempic or alternative name-brand semaglutide injections are too expensive, work with your primary physician for an alternative to the drug. What sounds too good to be true usually is, and this holds true with alternative prescriptions of semaglutide. Don’t be their guinea pig.
Medication expense is a valid issue in this economy, especially in our community. But honestly speaking, taking a monetarily-motivated, unregulated drug with largely unknown substances is a risk no one should take. “Bootleg” Ozempic may work for some, but how do you know you will escape unscathed?
