Cheap Ozympic knockoffs have risen in popularity – but are they safe?

As Ozympic prices have risen in recent months, many people may be looking for cheaper alternatives to manage diabetes or weight loss.

Some doctors, along with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), warn about the potential dangers of using “knock-off brands” of semaglutides, which belong to the GLP-1 class of drugs.

Dr. Brett Osborne, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity doctor who has been prescribing graded versions of the drug since 2019, said he is “concerned” by the trend.

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“Due to the cost of the Ozympic brand name, more and more people are turning to cheaper knock-off versions, often found online or through unregulated channels,” he told Fox News Digital.

“These knockoffs are synthesized in a non-medical environment without the necessary quality assurance or quality control, which is inherently risky.”

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Osborne warned that there is a potential for these drugs to be harmful when their sources or manufacturing quality are not monitored.

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“When they’re created in an unregulated environment, there’s no telling what you’re putting into your body.”

Dr. Sue Dekotis, MD, a weight loss physician in New York City, confirmed that some people are looking for low-cost alternatives, but noted that their potential risks are widely recognized.

“This happened to one of my patients before he came to me,” she shared with Fox News Digital.

“He got the medication from a pharmacy in Florida and then stopped using the medication. The pharmacy closed after a few weeks.”

Many illegal dispensaries that aren’t accredited by their state’s local board of pharmacy “just disappear,” Dekotis said.

The biggest risk is that the patient doesn’t know what’s in the medicine, she warned, because unscrupulous providers can add fillers to the products.

Drugs like Ozympic require “precision in manufacturing,” according to Osborne.

“You should only use pharmaceutical grade prescriptions prescribed by a licensed physician,” he said.

“The risk with these types is very high, and there are no regulations to ensure that they are built properly.”

People should use caution when ordering any medicine online, doctors agree.

“Unless you are buying the drug from a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription from a doctor, buying Ozympic or its equivalent online is dangerous,” Osborne warned. Osborne warned. “You cannot verify the product’s source, ingredients or safety.”

“I know a lot of nurse practitioners who stock Ozympic knockoffs and sell them on their Facebook pages,” he notes. “Basically, there’s a huge black market for it.”

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While some online platforms may be legal because a health care provider is writing a prescription, there may be other associated risks, Dekotis noted.

“It may be that there is no personal care or body composition to follow.”

Shortages of these irregular medications are also common.

“It’s already a post-payment problem, because many patients never get the medicine they thought they were going to get,” Dekotis said. “The buyer should be aware.”

One of the biggest red flags is if an online platform offers to ship drugs directly, Dekotis noted.

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“If you can buy it directly, it’s an illegal site,” she noted. “These sites are being shut down every day – who knows what they’re actually distributing.”

Legitimate compounding companies work only with doctors, and do not interact directly with patients, Dekotis said.

If cost is a concern, there are safer alternatives than buying knock-off brands, experts say.

“Many pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs — your doctor can direct you to those options,” Osborne said.

“There are other prescription drugs that may be more affordable, but are still safe and effective for lowering insulin levels and weight loss,” he added.

An example is metformin, another time-tested diabetes drug.

Osborne added, “Under no circumstances should you turn to unregulated alternatives to save money.”

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Decotiis acknowledged that it can be “very difficult” for many people to obtain Ozympic and similar drugs.

“These drugs are expensive, and it’s difficult for many people to get the care they need,” she said.

“For generic products, you pay by the ounce, whereas with big pharma, you pay for a monthly supply,” she went on.

“With a big pharma drug, you’re already paying more, but as it goes up in dosage, it’s actually cheaper.”

With compounded drugs, a licensed pharmacist or therapist combines, mixes or alters ingredients to create a customized drug to meet a patient’s individual needs, but it is not approved by the FDA, according to the agency.

“This means that the agency does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are put on the market,” the FDA says on its website.

Osborne stressed that drugs like Ozympic should only be prescribed by a doctor who is licensed to write a prescription — “not through a telemedicine visit to a nurse practitioner or a chiropractor.”

“When used properly, these drugs are powerful tools, but in the wrong hands they can be dangerous,” he said.

“Always consult a healthcare provider with appropriate training and experience in the use of this medication. Safety first.”

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Both the FDA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have investigated cases of counterfeit Ozympic products in recent months and years.

“FDA is aware that some patients and healthcare professionals may look to unapproved versions of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) drugs, including, as an option for weight loss, semaglutide and terzepatide,” The agency wrote in an article. Latest announcement on website.

“This can be dangerous for patients, because unapproved prescriptions do not undergo FDA review for safety, efficacy and quality before marketing.”

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The FDA recommends that retail pharmacies only purchase authorized Ozempic through authorized distributors of Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, and that patients obtain Ozempic with a valid prescription only through state-licensed pharmacies.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Novo Nordisk and the FDA for comment.

Original article source: Cheap Ozympic knockoffs have risen in popularity – but are they safe?