Demand for the blockbuster weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy is soaring as more individuals seek them to aid in their weight loss journey. However, what happens when people who don’t meet the drugs’ criteria – a body mass index greater than 30 or diabetes – search for a prescription but face rejection from their healthcare providers? This is where med spas and telehealth services come into play, offering individuals a way to obtain a prescription for semaglutide shots – the active ingredient in both drugs – without physically seeing a doctor.
Med spas operate as a hybrid between a day spa and an aesthetic medical center, providing a range of medical and aesthetic procedures such as hair restoration, Botox, micro-needling, and fillers. The laws governing med spas vary from state to state. Some require these establishments to be supervised by licensed physicians, while others can be run by non-physicians. However, the majority of med spa staff consist of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and aestheticians who offer various procedures.
Dr Jason Fung, the creator of the intermittent fasting diet, has expressed concerns about the ease with which med spas distribute semaglutide. According to him, individuals can obtain the drug from any medical spa without any proper assessment by a doctor. Med spas often offer special deals to entice patients to obtain the weight-loss drugs from their facilities. On the other hand, telehealth companies typically deliver semaglutide through mail to patients’ homes, while med spas administer the shots directly.
Ozempic is FDA-approved for treating type 2 diabetes but is prescribed off-label for weight loss. Similarly, Wegovy, originally approved for diabetes, has also received approval for weight loss. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of both weight-loss shots, denies selling semaglutide to med spas for distribution and has taken legal action against several weight loss and wellness clinics across the US for allegedly selling counterfeit versions of its medications. However, due to semaglutide’s current inclusion on the FDA’s drug shortage list, pharmacies associated with med spas are allowed to compound the drug. Compounding involves mixing and combining ingredients to create a specific drug that meets the individual’s needs.
In May, the FDA issued a warning regarding certain pharmacies using unapproved forms of semaglutide or improperly compounding it. Telehealth companies, which provide remote medical services, offer an alternative for customers to easily access the drugs. They deliver semaglutide via mail, allowing individuals to self-administer the medication. However, those who prefer not to inject themselves can obtain the treatment through a med spa, where a practitioner will administer the shots.
Dr Fung recounts an incident where his friend obtained Ozempic from a medical spa in Texas without any proper assessment or examination. He criticizes clinics that simply hand out medications without conducting thorough evaluations, emphasizing that such a system is ripe for abuse. Some med spas advertise semaglutide courses at relatively lower costs compared to going through a doctor’s office. For instance, one med spa in New Mexico offers a course of semaglutide for $350 for the first month and $500 for subsequent months. They also include a monthly fat-burning shot called Lipo-Mino Mix Injection to break down fat in the liver.
Despite the accessibility of these drugs, they come with a growing list of serious side effects, including depression, suicidal thoughts, nausea, and vomiting. Recent studies have found a higher risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstructions, and stomach paralysis among individuals using these drugs for weight loss. Individuals have also reported losing interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as drinking alcohol and gambling. Unsurprisingly, the long-term effects of these drugs are still being investigated.
In conclusion, the demand for weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy has led individuals who don’t meet the drug criteria to seek prescriptions from alternative sources like med spas and telehealth services. While these options offer convenient access to the medications, there are concerns about the lack of proper assessments and evaluations, leading to potential abuse. Individuals are urged to be cautious and consider the serious side effects associated with these drugs.
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