“Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have banned the sale of compounded weight loss drugs including Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound,” Katie Kerwin McCrimmon writes over at UCHealth. “And earlier this month, federal health authorities issued a warning about counterfeit versions of Ozempic that have been circulating throughout the U.S. A revolution in weight loss drugs began in recent years when doctors and researchers discovered that drugs created to help control diabetes also spark dramatic weight loss. … But the drugs are extremely expensive, and many insurance companies do not cover the medications when patients use them to lose weight rather than to control diabetes. … High costs and challenging side effects haven’t stopped many people from clamoring to get the drugs, which can help patients lose 20% or more of their body weight. The most famous of these drugs is Ozempic. … Ozempic is actually a diabetes medication, not a weight loss drug. But it has become an umbrella name of sorts for the new class of GLP-1 medications. The generic name for the drug in Ozempic is semaglutide, which patients inject once a week. … Fake versions of the drugs have prompted stern warnings from pharmacy experts and federal officials alike. Meanwhile, experts with the Food and Drug Administration now are prohibiting compounded versions of GLP-1s. Their key message is to be wary of all substitute weight loss medications from compounding pharmacies or medical spas. Patients should also be aware that some unscrupulous online sellers are marketing counterfeit weight loss drugs. Before taking any medication, always speak with your medical provider and obtain medications through trusted, licensed pharmacies.” Katie Kerwin McCrimmon “FDA officials warn of fake weight loss drugs and ban compounded versions of popular medications,” UC Health.
