Will a doctor prescribe Ozempic for weight loss?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Ozempic is for those who are diabetics or pre-diabetics. It's only given to a certain dose, I think 1mg. Saxenda/Wegovy is the same medication, but is approved for weight loss, and given up to 2.4mg. Doctors are not going to prescribe Ozempic for weight loss, as that's not what it is approved for.

You are very wrong. I and many others without diabetes are prescribed Ozempic off label for weight loss. It is approved for up to 2.0 mg.

It is not approved for weight loss only in any dose. It's approved indication is only for management of Type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is approved for weight managment, but only for those that are clinically obese or for those struggling with weigh-related health conditions. It is not approved for vanity weight loss.

Am I an expert in drug policy? Yes. Is off-label prescribing legal? Yes. It is ethical for what amounts to cosmetic reasons when the drug is in shortage? No. Is it legal for a pharmacy to compound this? No. Compunding pharmacies by law cannot compound "copies" of FDA-approved medications. Is getting it from Canada legal? No, its not.

Not sure about the compounding pharmacies, but a lot of them are openly offering compounded semaglutide so I don’t think it’s illegal.

It’s definitely not illegal to use a Canadian pharmacy as an American. That’s where I’ve been getting my Ozempic for 8 months now.

I actually negotiated the legislation that made it illegal, so yes, I can assure you, its not legal to compound copies of FDA-approved drugs. I have no doubt that shady pharmacies are attempting to get around it given the demand, but its still not legal.

Here is some light reading on the topic: https://www.fda.gov/media/98964/download

Damn! I had read a lot of influential folks lurk here. You must be high up in the food chain. CDER, I presume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have it prescribed via Alpha Health (virtual doctor). I'm not diabetic (was borderline pre-diabetic) and had 20-25 lbs to lose to put me into a normal BMI range. My insurance also covers it (and covers Mounjaro and other weight loss meds) with a $30 monthly co-pay. It really depends on your specific insurance plan as to whether it will be covered or require pre-authorization.

Y'all need to chill with the "diabetics not having access to it" rhetoric - to be clear, Ozempic is NOT insulin. Diabetics do not need it to survive. It is one of many medical tools to be used to aid diabetics in losing weight and lower their a1c and blood sugars.

What insurance do you have and did you have to fill out pre authorization paperwork, demonstrate you had a combination of risk factors?

BCBS. But all of these plans are employer based, so it really depends on whatever your company has negotiated. And no, did not need pre authorization or demonstration that I had a combination of risk factors. I submitted a full panel of bloodwork I had done and Alpha put through a prescription based on my suspected insulin resistance (this is also a complicated diagnosis). But I was not pre diabetic or diabetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have it prescribed via Alpha Health (virtual doctor). I'm not diabetic (was borderline pre-diabetic) and had 20-25 lbs to lose to put me into a normal BMI range. My insurance also covers it (and covers Mounjaro and other weight loss meds) with a $30 monthly co-pay. It really depends on your specific insurance plan as to whether it will be covered or require pre-authorization.

Y'all need to chill with the "diabetics not having access to it" rhetoric - to be clear, Ozempic is NOT insulin. Diabetics do not need it to survive. It is one of many medical tools to be used to aid diabetics in losing weight and lower their a1c and blood sugars.

What insurance do you have and did you have to fill out pre authorization paperwork, demonstrate you had a combination of risk factors?

BCBS. But all of these plans are employer based, so it really depends on whatever your company has negotiated. And no, did not need pre authorization or demonstration that I had a combination of risk factors. I submitted a full panel of bloodwork I had done and Alpha put through a prescription based on my suspected insulin resistance (this is also a complicated diagnosis). But I was not pre diabetic or diabetic.

Thanks for the info. My employer offers BCBS. I will check into our plan.

[Anonymous]

I have BCBS and I just got Mounjaro for $25/month. It’s way better than ozempic! To get it, I had to first try metformin and ozempic, then the doctor did a pre authorization for Mounjaro but you have to be diabetic with BCBS or else it’s full pay.