Dr. Sarah Molasky

That's the trendy one that you've been hearing about with Hollywood stars injecting Ozempic to lose their seven extra pounds or whatever. And that has really been a trip in retail pharmacy because my patients who are diabetic need that medication. And there were months where I could not get that medication in the correct dose to my patients.

That's the trendy one that you've been hearing about with Hollywood stars injecting Ozempic to lose their seven extra pounds or whatever. And that has really been a trip in retail pharmacy because my patients who are diabetic need that medication. And there were months where I could not get that medication in the correct dose to my patients.

There is first a period of time where the fancy special needle they used for that one, because Ozempic uses a different needle than the typical diabetes pens do, they couldn't get that needle in. So the medication was in stock, but they couldn't get the medication out to patients because they didn't have enough of the needle because of shortages.

There is first a period of time where the fancy special needle they used for that one, because Ozempic uses a different needle than the typical diabetes pens do, they couldn't get that needle in. So the medication was in stock, but they couldn't get the medication out to patients because they didn't have enough of the needle because of shortages.

So I already got to see that shortage impact my diabetic patients. But then we got Hollywood stars starting to talk about how they're using Ozempic to lose weight. And I do have friends who live in the L.A. area who said everyone's talking about Ozempic. This is whether they're in health care or not, they're talking about it. So it really has become a trend.

So I already got to see that shortage impact my diabetic patients. But then we got Hollywood stars starting to talk about how they're using Ozempic to lose weight. And I do have friends who live in the L.A. area who said everyone's talking about Ozempic. This is whether they're in health care or not, they're talking about it. So it really has become a trend.

And I think part of it is social media, which is a double edged sword. Right. People can become aware of really important things like some people may find out, oh, you know, that health problem I've been having that sounds exactly what this like what this person is describing. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it. That's great.

And I think part of it is social media, which is a double edged sword. Right. People can become aware of really important things like some people may find out, oh, you know, that health problem I've been having that sounds exactly what this like what this person is describing. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it. That's great.

But when it comes to, oh, this person has lost weight using this drug, I want to lose weight using this drug. That's where we get a really big problem. And Ozempic technically is not meant to be used for weight loss. It is meant to be used for diabetes.

But when it comes to, oh, this person has lost weight using this drug, I want to lose weight using this drug. That's where we get a really big problem. And Ozempic technically is not meant to be used for weight loss. It is meant to be used for diabetes.

But of course, when the drug manufacturer realized there was a larger weight loss component than many other medications in that same class, they applied for a patent to have it approved for weight loss specifically and created a separate product called Wagovi, which is literally the same thing, but in a slightly different dose. Eventually.

But of course, when the drug manufacturer realized there was a larger weight loss component than many other medications in that same class, they applied for a patent to have it approved for weight loss specifically and created a separate product called Wagovi, which is literally the same thing, but in a slightly different dose. Eventually.

Three of the doses are actually the same between Ozempic and Wegovy. And so those have really taken flight. But Wegovy is on constant shortage. And in case anyone's wondering, no, my pharmacy does not have it in stock. Please don't call. We literally field 10 plus calls a day just of people asking if we have certain types of Wegovy in stock. We don't. This is a nationwide shortage.

Three of the doses are actually the same between Ozempic and Wegovy. And so those have really taken flight. But Wegovy is on constant shortage. And in case anyone's wondering, no, my pharmacy does not have it in stock. Please don't call. We literally field 10 plus calls a day just of people asking if we have certain types of Wegovy in stock. We don't. This is a nationwide shortage.

And then there's one other injectable that came out more recently that people were really excited about both for the weight loss aspect, but also for the glucose control aspect. And that was Terzepatide or Munjaro. And Mujaro is a dual action medication. It is a GLP-1, just like Ozempic or Victoza or Biada, but it also contains GIP, which has like seven different technical names.

And then there's one other injectable that came out more recently that people were really excited about both for the weight loss aspect, but also for the glucose control aspect. And that was Terzepatide or Munjaro. And Mujaro is a dual action medication. It is a GLP-1, just like Ozempic or Victoza or Biada, but it also contains GIP, which has like seven different technical names.

But essentially what it does is when the blood sugar is getting too low, it taps on the liver and says, hey, can you just produce a little bit more sugar just so we can stay balanced? And so it's cool because it responds to what's actually going on in the body and tries to prevent really, really low blood sugar, which in diabetics can be very dangerous. It's called hypoglycemia.

But essentially what it does is when the blood sugar is getting too low, it taps on the liver and says, hey, can you just produce a little bit more sugar just so we can stay balanced? And so it's cool because it responds to what's actually going on in the body and tries to prevent really, really low blood sugar, which in diabetics can be very dangerous. It's called hypoglycemia.

And if your blood sugar gets too low and your liver is not being responsive and pumping out more sugar, you can pass out or have other health issues. So manjaro is really interesting, but also has much higher weight loss than sugar. you know, Ozempic did. And so that's now like the, the star when it comes to weight loss meds.

And if your blood sugar gets too low and your liver is not being responsive and pumping out more sugar, you can pass out or have other health issues. So manjaro is really interesting, but also has much higher weight loss than sugar. you know, Ozempic did. And so that's now like the, the star when it comes to weight loss meds.