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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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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