Clinics in the DMV prescribe Ozempic/wegovi

[Anonymous]

My BMI is about 31, but my insurance would doesn't cover any of the medications.

Any recommendations for clinics in the DMV that work with you and offer you those medications. I found one that it's about $400 month without insurance and gives you the generic version. Any other recs?

[Anonymous]

It’s not really the “generic” version. The medicines are still under patent. Because semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) is listed as in “shortage,” compounding pharmacies are allowed to make it - for now.

The compounding pharmacy system isn’t illegitimate but it’s hard to navigate for consumers imo, presumably because the big drug companies work hard to keep it that way.

So be aware that you probably need to do some homework to look up the compounding pharmacy your provider uses to make sure it’s legitimate, and that it might get cut off later or go into a much more black market situation.

[Anonymous]

any other recs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:any other recs?

Yep. Don’t do it. Here’s a good article on the issues with the cheaper compounded version, which may or may not contain the active ingredient in weight loss meds.

https://www.drugtopics.com/view/pharmacy-compounders-defend-semaglutide-compounding-amid-continued-shortages

As long as Wegovy is listed as having a shortage, compounding it may be legal (Norvo Nordisc says it is not and is suing compounding pharmacies for patent infringement). But, it’s hard to tell if you are getting the real active ingredient or the salts version and adverse events for compounded drugs have been reported. And Wegovy is scheduled to go off the shortage list in September and isn’t in shortage for the higher doses. So, the compounded version will probably only be legal for another couple of months or until you do the first three months of titration. After that no shortage, and anything you get from a compounding pharmacy was made illegally. Personally, I’m not injecting something into my body that may or may not be what I think it is, that a pharmacy handmade illegally.

I’d go to a reputable baritrican (think, associated with INOVA, Privia or another major network), get bloodwork and workup done and talk to their doc about your options. Certainly they are used to dealing Wegovy denials. Sometimes they can even do a successful appeal. There are also older drugs that can help you and a decent doctor should work with a dietician.

[Anonymous]

Have you questioned the insurance company? I'm sure you have. But if not, I'd call and see what can be done. My insurance covers and my BMI was 30, no secondary issue (like pre-diabetic or high blood pressure).