CLEVELAND — One of the biggest medical stories of 2023 was the surge in prescription medication for weight loss. Type 2 diabetes drugs were already being used off label for weight loss, but with the FDA's approval to use these medications to treat obesity, the demand skyrocketed.
Two big studies came out of Case Western Reserve University on the wildly popular weight loss drugs with glucagon-like peptide-1 (glp-1) receptor agonists.
The first found the drugs may reduce risk of colorectal cancer, in both people with diabetes and obesity.
The second, found semaglutide, that’s in Wegovy and Ozempic, had a significantly lower risk of suicidal thoughts compared to others.
Previously a Cleveland Clinic study found semaglutide, found in Wegovy and Ozemic, cut the risk of severe heart problems.
However, the FDA is looking into reports of adverse side effects that were self-reported. Some users claim some of these new drugs caused suicidal thoughts, hair loss and airway obstruction.
The most common side effects are nausea, constipation and pacreatitis.
Demand for these medications that average about $1,000 a month surged more than 4000% in the last couple of years.
Now Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro, is making it easier for people to get access. Last week, they launched a website where patients can find a doctor, in person or via teleheath, who can, if appropriate, prescribe them and then ship directly to the patient.
At the same time, Lilly is advising people not to take their drugs for cosmetic reasons. In an open letter, the company said it’s drugs are “indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for- and should not be used for- cosmetic weight loss.”
Direct access isn’t a new idea. Weight Watchers acquired a telehealth company so customers can more easily get prescriptions.
And Novo Nordisk also offers a savings program for Ozempic and Wegovy.
Scammers are trying to cash in as well. The Better Business Bureau is warning of websites claiming to sell the drugs at lower prices without a prescription, not to mention all the other fraudulent weight loss scams the FDA is looking for.
With a third of the country fighting obesity, it’s no wonder people are desperate. And most insurance companies, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, don’t cover weight loss medications.
Lilly's Zepbound was the latest approved for weight loss this past november. Zepbound and Wegovy are the only two of this class of drugs FDA approved for weight loss, the others are mainly being used off label. But they won't be the last.
It's estimated the FDA will soon be looking over 70 new obesity treatments currently in development and six are awaiting regulatory review.
Also, expect to see these weight loss drugs offered in pill versions instead of shots. Will that lower the price? We'll have to wait and see.