ATLANTA – It’s a popular drug that millions of people take to lose weight, but the federal government and doctors are warning users about some versions of the drug Ozempic, according to our sister station WSB.
WATCH CHANNEL 9 NEWS EYEWITNESS
The FDA says that inappropriate versions of the drug can have serious consequences.
Channel 2 Action News went to several weight loss clinics throughout metro Atlanta that say they sell the compounded version of the drug.
I’m on semaglutide, Ozempic, said Ivanna Parra.
She said taking the compound version is a risk she’s willing to take to reach her goal weight.
Read: 2 girls, both 17, injured in shooting outside Sanford home
It’s been good. I was able to lose 15 pounds, Parra said.
She is like many others who have tried dieting and exercise. He said his next best option was to go to a weight loss clinic to get a combination form of Ozempic.
He wanted to lose weight, Parra said.
Pharmacies make compound Ozempic by combining two or more drugs.
The FDA allows it because Ozempic is in short supply, but does not approve the compounded version.
Read: This Central Florida airport is second-worst in the U.S. for flight delays, study finds
The problem with buying Ozempic from someone at random is that you don’t know the health conditions and you’re injecting it into your body, said Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the nonprofit Partnership for Safe Medicines.
He said there could be problems with the ingredients compounding pharmacies use.
The FDA has warned that several compounding pharmacies are actually compounding with starting ingredients that are not approved, Safdar said.
The FDA said it received reports that some compounds use salt forms of the drug that are different from the FDA-approved drug.
They were actually seeing Americans going into hypoglycemic shock in some cases, going into a coma, Safdar said.
Read: Orlando Magic return to Cleveland for pivotal Game 5
We sent a Channel 2 Action News producer to four different metro Atlanta weight loss clinics to see if they offered the combination drug.
So, do you really have Ozempic? the producer asked the woman at the front desk of a weight loss clinic in Douglasville.
Yes, it’s Ozempic, it’s just the compounded version, the worker said. We just put four in a Ziplock bag, write the lot number, your name, and send it your way.
OK, come on. Okay, so it doesn’t even say, like Ozempic, the producer said.
Our producer had a similar experience at a weight loss center in Fayetteville.
Is this what you have the Ozempic compound? our producer asked a worker.
The worker nodded yes.
Okay, so is this FDA approved and all? asked the producer.
The worker nodded yes.
Okay, said our producer.
Read: Orlando City soccer player, woman accused of refusing to leave downtown Orlando nightclub
Channel 2 Action News reached out to all four clinics for comment for this story, but only First Doctors
Weight Loss Answered:
All of our drug sources are fully licensed by the state of Georgia and comply with state pharmacy laws. In addition, First Doctors Weight Loss goes above and beyond our requirements because an independent third-party laboratory certifies the purity of each of our medications before any are dispensed.
Well, it can be done safely. It’s not the recommended route, Safdar said.
The FDA said that salt forms of the drug do not meet the composition criteria. If you use an online pharmacy, the FDA said you can verify that it is legitimate by CLICKING HERE.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here for live coverage of Channel 9 Eyewitness news.
2024 Cox Media Group
#FDA #doctors #warn #Ozempic #compound #metro #weight #loss #clinics
Image Source : www.wftv.com