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Central Alabama pharmacies seeing shortage of diabetes drugs after gaining popularity for weight loss online
Mattie Davis
Central Alabama pharmacies seeing shortage of diabetes drugs after gaining popularity for weight loss online
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, PATSY. YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW IS 637. A VIRAL WEIGHT LOSS TREND IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SHORTAGE OF DIABETES DRUGS HERE IN ALABAMA. PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM STRUGGLING TO FIND THEM IN THEIR LOCAL PHARMACIES. WVTM 13 MATTIE DAVIS IS JOINING US NOW FROM RICHES PHARMACY IN MOUNTAIN BROOK. MATTIE, WHAT’S BEHIND THIS SHORTAGE? WELL, CARLA, PHARMACISTS HERE TELL US PATIENTS USING THESE MEDICINES USUALLY LOSE ABOUT 10 TO 15% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT. THE DRUGS GETTING ENDORSEMENTS FROM CELEBRITIES ONLINE. THE DEMAND NOW TOO GREAT FOR THE SUPPLY. NOW A VIRAL TREND, TIK CONTRIBUTING TO A SHORTAGE OF GLP ONE INJECTABLES, INCLUDING A COMMONLY KNOWN DRUG, OZEMPIC, WHICH IS USED TO TREAT TYPE TWO DIABETES AND PREVENT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. ROB SEWELL WITH RICHARD’S PHARMACY SAYS AFTER THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE ARE USING TELE DOCTORS TO GET THIS PRESCRIBED SKEWING DISTRIBUTION. HE SAYS THE EFFECTS CAN BE LIFESAVING. HOWEVER, THOSE NOT AT RISK SHOULD BEWARE. IF YOU’RE TRULY OVERWEIGHT, IT’S A GREAT THING. IF YOU’RE, YOU KNOW, A GYM RAT TRYING TO DO SIX PACK ABS, ARE ALREADY TRYING TO GO DOWN ONE DRESS SIZE. THIS IS THIS IS NOT FOR YOU. RISK FACTORS OUTWEIGH THE BENEFIT. NOW, SARA SAYS THESE ARE NEW DRUGS AND THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL FOR SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING PANCREATITIS. HE SAYS WEIGHING THE BENEFITS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. LIVE IN MOUNTAIN BROOK. I’M MATT
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Central Alabama pharmacies seeing shortage of diabetes drugs after gaining popularity for weight loss online
Mattie Davis
A nationwide shortage of drugs that treat diabetes and prevent cardiovascular disease is hitting Alabama. Ralph Sorrell, a pharmacist at Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook, said patients using GLP-1 injectable medicines like Ozempic lose 10-15% of their body weight. The drugs have recently gained popularity on social media for their weight loss effects. Sorrell said the demand is too great for the supply. Many are turning to Teledocs to be prescribed, which Sorrell said skews distribution. "Now, people just don’t have the same relationship they used to with their primary care doctors and times have changed," Sorell said. "There's more interest in getting things from the internet than face-to-face for some people.” Sorrell said these medications can be extremely effective, but those who are not at risk for cardiovascular disease or who don't have diabetes should use discretion when seeking these medications for weight loss. “If you're truly overweight, it’s a great thing," Sorrell said. "If you're a gym rat trying to get six-pack abs or a lady trying to go down one dress size, this is not for you. The risk factors outweigh the benefit.” He said side effects could include thyroid problems or pancreatitis.
MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. —

A nationwide shortage of drugs that treat diabetes and prevent cardiovascular disease is hitting Alabama.

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Ralph Sorrell, a pharmacist at Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook, said patients using GLP-1 injectable medicines like Ozempic lose 10-15% of their body weight. The drugs have recently gained popularity on social media for their weight loss effects. Sorrell said the demand is too great for the supply. Many are turning to Teledocs to be prescribed, which Sorrell said skews distribution.

"Now, people just don’t have the same relationship they used to with their primary care doctors and times have changed," Sorell said. "There's more interest in getting things from the internet than face-to-face for some people.”

Sorrell said these medications can be extremely effective, but those who are not at risk for cardiovascular disease or who don't have diabetes should use discretion when seeking these medications for weight loss.

“If you're truly overweight, it’s a great thing," Sorrell said. "If you're a gym rat trying to get six-pack abs or a lady trying to go down one dress size, this is not for you. The risk factors outweigh the benefit.”

He said side effects could include thyroid problems or pancreatitis.