Social media trend contributing to diabetes medication shortage - WNEP Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

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It doesn't instrumentality overmuch scrolling connected societal media to observe plentifulness of people, including celebrities, who are not obese and not diabetic, are taking the drug.

SCRANTON, Pa. — Ray Grace of Dunmore heard astir it from his doctor: The societal media inclination that's portion of the crushed helium hasn't been capable to get his medicine for his diabetes medicine refilled.

"I contacted CVS. I contacted the Geisinger pharmacies. Luckily, the Geisinger session had immoderate exigency samples connected hand, truthful I'm bully for the month, but present it's conscionable waiting. What happens erstwhile the period is over?" Grace wondered.

He takes the injectable medicine Ozempic to modulate his humor sweetener levels.

But if you hunt #Ozempic connected TikTok, you'd person nary thought it's a medicine to dainty Type 2 diabetes.

The cause tin besides curb your appetite and has often been prescribed for radical who are obese oregon struggling with a weight-related condition.

But it doesn't instrumentality overmuch scrolling connected societal media to observe plentifulness of people, including celebrities who are not obese and not diabetic, are taking Ozempic oregon thing akin to suffer weight.

"While it mightiness beryllium a speedy fad, it decidedly does impact others who request it for day-to-day life. I'm acrophobic to eat. I devour anything, and my sugars spell done the roof. It's conscionable a horrible mode to live," Grace said.

Manufacturers are shouldering immoderate of the blame.

While Ozempic is not approved by the FDA for value management, a akin medicine called Wegovy got support earlier this year. The cause shaper was quoted successful the Wall Street Journal, admitting the institution failed to expect the request that followed.

Scranton pharmacist Tom DePietro says different origin mightiness beryllium that it's conscionable excessively casual to get a prescription.

"I deliberation there's pathways that connection excessively casual of a mode out. Telemedicine is great, and it was life-saving during the COVID pandemic, but I deliberation it has allowed precise wide practices successful regards to immoderate of those medications we talked about."

DePietro calls the power of societal media connected definite cause usage "alarming."

But diabetes medicine is conscionable 1 of the galore products pharmacists are having occupation getting.

DePietro and his unit walk a batch of clip telling customers they're retired of basal medicines, thing from amoxicillin to children's Tylenol.

"Maybe we'll person that speech 5 times a day. Now we're having 30 to 40 telephone calls a time to fto them cognize of the issue."

As for the diabetes meds, DePietro has been told by suppliers that the concern should amended successful the caller year.

But whether that means January, March, oregon later, it's intolerable to say.

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