Teens use diabetes drug for weight loss

By Adam Sadik

Doctors have begun prescribing Ozempic, a drug for Type 2 diabetics, off label to adolescents for weight loss.

“Off-label” refers to the use of a medication for a purpose that lacks approval from regulatory agencies, like the Food and Drug Administration.

The off-label use of Ozempic to treat weight loss has seen a surge since last year, when the American Academy of Pediatrics published a guide on managing pediatric obesity. The AAP recommends aggressive treatment of the condition, including the use of weight-loss medications such as semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic.

Robert Speth, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is concerned about potential consequences for teens using the drug with off-label prescriptions.

“While the off-label prescribing of Ozempic in adolescents may seem tempting for weight loss, it poses potential dangers as the potential risks and long-term effects on this age group remain uncertain,” Speth said.

Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Wegovy, a drug meant for chronic weight management.

Novo Nordisk, a massive Danish pharmaceutical company, faced challenges with Wegovy shortages, which subsequently led to Ozempic shortages due to patients subbing out Wegovy with the diabetes drug, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Haley Florez, sophomore biology major, is frustrated with the ongoing off-label use of Ozempic. Her grandmother has Type 2 diabetes.

“My grandma had issues with trying to find Ozempic. We had to travel a little farther to find a pharmacy that had it supplied,” Florez said. “I did not even know that Ozempic was in shortage for that reason.”

Samantha Martinez, fourth-year student at the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, is a pharmacy technician at the NSU Clinic Pharmacy. Martinez said using Ozempic for reasons other than diabetes is risky.

“[Ozempic] works by satiating appetite and allowing patients to break down glucose,” Martinez said. “The box itself warns against use due to an increased risk of pancreatitis and slowdown in metabolism. Patients that already have a slow metabolism will then not be able to digest properly. Additionally, anyone with a familial history of [medullary] thyroid cancer can have that cancer reappear.”

Side effects of Ozempic if taken by people without Type 2 diabetes can include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), shakiness, sweating and loss of consciousness, according to WebMD.

Speth is also concerned about the supply of Ozempic for Type 2 diabetics.

“Since it is in short supply, the people who need it are not able to get it,” Speth said. “I am big on social justice issues and very concerned that the people who need it most are the ones that [Ozempic] is least accessible to.”

Martinez can testify to the impact of the Ozempic shortage.

“The pharmacy completely ran out of Ozempic around nine months ago, but now it comes and goes, especially the extra strength ones,” she said.

Alternative weight loss medications, such as diuretics, diet pills and laxatives, are also garnering attention with adolescent teens, especially in popular media. Healthline published “The Risks and Effectiveness of 5 Popular ‘Budget Ozempic’ Alternatives for Weight Loss” on Jan. 17.

These medications do not require a prescription.

Speth calls for regulation of these alternative weight loss products for minors, similar to the U.K. banning the sale of stimulant laxatives to minors in retail settings in 2020.

“These drugs are available to anyone,” he said. “Tighter regulation of these should be put in place to protect our youth.”