Health
Cheap Ozempic knock-offs have risen in popularity — but are they safe?
As prices for Ozempic have risen in recent months, many people may be seeking cheaper alternatives for managing diabetes or weight loss.
Some doctors, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are warning of the potential risks of using “knock-off brands” of semaglutides, which belong to the GLP-1 class of medications.
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity doctor who has prescribed pharmaceutical-grade versions of these medications since 2019, said he is “concerned” by this trend.
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“Due to the cost of brand-name Ozempic, more and more people are turning to cheaper knock-off versions, often found online or through non-regulated channels,” he told Fox News Digital.
As prices for Ozempic have risen in recent months, many people may be seeking cheaper alternatives for managing diabetes or weight loss. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)
“These knock-offs are synthesized in non-medical environments without the necessary quality assurance or quality control, making them inherently risky.”
There is the potential for these medications to be harmful when there’s no oversight of their source or production quality, Osborn warned.
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“When they’re made in unregulated environments, there’s no telling what you’re putting into your body.”
Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed that some people are seeking low-cost alternatives, but noted that their potential dangers are becoming more widely known.
“This happened to one of my patients before he came to me,” she shared with Fox News Digital.
There is the potential for these medications to be harmful when there’s no oversight of their source or production quality, a doctor warned. (iStock)
“He got a medication from a pharmacy in Florida and then the drug just stopped working. Weeks later, the pharmacy shut down.”
Many of the illegitimate pharmacies that are not credited by their state’s local pharmacy board will “just disappear,” Decotiis said.
“You should only be using pharmaceutical-grade versions prescribed by a licensed doctor.”
The biggest risk is that the patient has no idea what’s in the medications, she warned, as disreputable providers could add fillers to the products.
Consider the source
Medications like Ozempic require “precision in manufacturing,” according to Osborn.
“You should only be using pharmaceutical-grade versions prescribed by a licensed doctor,” he said.
“The risk with these variants is too high, and there’s no regulation to ensure they are made properly.”
While some online platforms may be legal because a health care provider is writing the prescription, there could be other associated risks, a doctor warned. (iStock)
People should use caution when ordering any medication online, doctors agree.
“Unless you’re getting the medication from a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription from a doctor, purchasing Ozempic or its knockoffs online is dangerous,” Osborn warned. “You can’t verify the product’s source, ingredients or safety.”
“I know of several nurse practitioners who stockpile Ozempic knock-offs and sell them on their Facebook pages,” he noted. “In essence, there is a massive black market for it.”
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While some online platforms may be legal because a health care provider is writing the prescription, there could be other associated risks, Decotiis noted.
“It may be that there isn’t any personalized care or any body composition being followed.”
Shortages of these unregulated medications are also common.
“This is problematic after paying upfront, as many patients never get the medication they thought they would get,” Decotiis said. “The buyer must be aware.”
One of the biggest red flags is if an online platform offers to directly send a medication, Decotiis noted.
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“If you can buy it directly, it is an unlawful site,” she noted. “These sites get shut down daily — who knows what they are actually dispensing.”
Legitimate compound companies only work with physicians, Decotiis said, and do not communicate directly with patients.
Cost-saving options
If cost is a concern, there are safer alternatives than purchasing knock-off brands, experts say.
“Many pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs — your doctor can guide you to those options,” Osborn said.
“There are other prescription medications that may be more affordable, but still safe and effective for lowering insulin levels and driving weight loss,” he added, a doctor said. (iStock)
“There are other prescription medications that may be more affordable, but still safe and effective for lowering insulin levels and driving weight loss,” he added.
One example is metformin, another time-tested diabetes medication.
Added Osborn, “Under no circumstances should you turn to unregulated alternatives just to save money.”
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Decotiis acknowledged that it can be “very difficult” for many people to obtain Ozempic and similar medications.
“These drugs are expensive, and it’s hard for many people to get the care they need,” she said.
“Under no circumstances should you turn to unregulated alternatives just to save money.”
“For compounded products, you’re paying by ounce, while with big pharma, you’re paying for a monthly supply,” she went on.
“With the big pharma drugs, you’re paying more up front, but as it goes up in dose, it’s actually cheaper.”
Medications like Ozempic should only be prescribed by a physician licensed to write prescription, doctors advise. (iStock)
With compounded medications, a licensed pharmacist or physician combines, mixes or alters the ingredients to create a customized drug to meet a patient’s individual needs, but it is not FDA-approved, according to the agency.
“This means the agency does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed,” the FDA states on its website.
‘Safety first’
Osborn reiterated that medications like Ozempic should only be prescribed by a physician licensed to write prescriptions — “not a nurse practitioner via a telemedicine visit or a chiropractor.”
“When used correctly, these medications are powerful tools, but can be dangerous in the wrong hands,” he said.
“Always consult a health care provider with the proper training and experience in using these medications. Safety first.”
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The FDA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have both investigated cases of counterfeit Ozempic products in recent months and years.
The FDA recommends that retail pharmacies only purchase authentic Ozempic through authorized distributors of Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, and that patients only obtain Ozempic with a valid prescription through state-licensed pharmacies. (iStock)
“FDA is aware that some patients and health care professionals may look to unapproved versions of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, as an option for weight loss,” the agency wrote in a recent announcement on its website.
“This can be risky for patients, as unapproved versions do not undergo FDA’s review for safety, effectiveness and quality before they are marketed.”
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The FDA recommends that retail pharmacies only purchase authentic Ozempic through authorized distributors of Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, and that patients only obtain Ozempic with a valid prescription through state-licensed pharmacies.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk and the FDA for comment.
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A new report by the American Heart Association (AHA) included some troubling predictions for the future of women’s health.
The forecast, published in the journal Circulation on Wednesday, projected increases in various comorbidities in American females by 2050.
More than 59% of women were predicted to have high blood pressure, up from less than 49% currently.
The review also projected that more than 25% of women will have diabetes, compared to about 15% today, and more than 61% will have obesity, compared to 44% currently.
As a result of these risk factors, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7%.
The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in women is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7% by 2050. (iStock)
Not all trends were negative, as unhealthy cholesterol prevalence is expected to drop to about 22% from more than 42% today, the report stated.
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Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist and founder of Step One Foods in Minnesota, commented on these “jarring findings.”
“The fact that on our current trajectory, cardiometabolic disease is projected to explode in women within one generation should be a huge wake-up call,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Hypertension, diabetes, obesity — these are all major risk factors for heart disease, and we are already seeing what those risks are driving. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, eclipsing all other causes of death, including breast cancer.”
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and around the world. (iStock)
Klodas warned that heart disease starts early, progresses “stealthily,” and can present “out of the blue in devastating ways.”
The AHA published another study on Thursday revealing one million hospitalizations, showing that heart attack deaths are climbing among adults below the age of 55.
The more alarming finding, according to Klodas, is that young women were found more likely to die after their first heart attack than men of the same age.
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“This is all especially tragic since heart disease is almost entirely preventable,” she said. “The earlier you start, the better.”
Children can show early evidence of plaque deposition in their arteries, which can be reversed through lifestyle changes if “undertaken early enough and aggressively enough,” according to the expert.
Moving more is one part of protecting a healthy heart, according to experts. (iStock)
Klodas suggested that rising heart conditions are associated with traditional risk factors, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
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Doctors are also seeing higher rates of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, as well as gestational diabetes. Klodas noted that these are sex-specific risk factors that don’t typically contribute to complications until after menopause.
The best way to protect a healthy heart is to “do the basics,” Klodas recommended, including the following lifestyle habits.
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Klodas especially emphasized making improvements to diet, as the food people eat affects “every single risk factor that the AHA’s report highlights.”
“High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, excess weight – these are all conditions that are driven in part or in whole by food,” she said. “We eat multiple times every single day, which means what we eat has profound cumulative effects over time.”
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health.”
The doctor also recommends changing out a few snacks per day for healthier choices, which has been proven to “yield medication-level cholesterol reductions” in a month.
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“Keep up that small change and, over the course of a year, you could also lose 20 pounds and reduce your sodium intake enough to avoid blood pressure-lowering medications,” Klodas added.
“Women should not view the AHA report as inevitable. We have power over our health destinies. We just need to use it.”
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Nearsightedness (myopia) is skyrocketing globally, with nearly half of the world’s population expected to be myopic by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.
Heavy use of smartphones and other devices is associated with an 80% higher risk of myopia when combined with excessive computer use, but a new study suggests that dim indoor lighting could also be a factor.
For years, scientists have been puzzled by the different ways myopia is triggered. In lab settings, it can be induced by blurring vision or using different lenses. Conversely, it can be slowed by something as simple as spending time outdoors, research suggests.
Nearsightedness occurs when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). This physical elongation causes light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it, making distant objects appear blurry.
The study suggests that myopia isn’t caused by the digital devices themselves, but by the low-light environments where they are typically used. (iStock)
Researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry identified a potential specific trigger for this growth. When someone looks at a phone or a book up close, the pupil naturally constricts.
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“In bright outdoor light, the pupil constricts to protect the eye while still allowing ample light to reach the retina,” Urusha Maharjan, a SUNY Optometry doctoral student who conducted the study, said in a press release.
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“When people focus on close objects indoors, such as phones, tablets or books, the pupil can also constrict — not because of brightness, but to sharpen the image,” she went on. “In dim lighting, this combination may significantly reduce retinal illumination.”
High-intensity natural light prevents myopia because it provides enough retinal stimulation to override the “stop growing” signal, even when pupils are constricted. (iStock)
The hypothesis suggests that when the retina is deprived of light during extended close-up work, it sends a signal for the eye to grow.
In a dim environment, the narrowed pupil allows so little light through that the retinal activity isn’t strong enough to signal the eye to stop growing, the researchers found.
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In contrast, being outdoors provides light levels much brighter than indoors. This ensures that even when the pupil narrows to focus on a nearby object, the retina still receives a strong signal, maintaining healthy eye development.
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The team noted some limitations of the study, including the small subject group and the inability to directly measure internal lens changes, as the bright backgrounds used to mimic the outdoors made pupils too small for standard equipment.
Researchers believe that increasing indoor brightness during close-up work could be a simple, testable way to slow the global nearsightedness epidemic. (iStock)
“This is not a final answer,” Jose-Manuel Alonso, MD, PhD, SUNY distinguished professor and senior author of the study, said in the release.
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“But the study offers a testable hypothesis that reframes how visual habits, lighting and eye focusing interact.”
The study was published in the journal Cell Reports.
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