FDA, doctors warn about compounded Ozempic being used for weight loss

DAYTON — It’s a popular drug that millions are taking to quickly lose weight.

However, the FDA warns improperly compounded versions of Ozempic can have serious consequences.

As reported Monday on News Center 7′s Daybreak, Letitia Perry reported that doctors say it is critical to know what to look out for.

“I am on the semaglutide the Ozempic,” said Ivanna Parra.

Ivanna Parra says it is a risk she is willing to take to get her to goal weight.

“It’s been good,” she said. “I’ve been able to lose 15 pounds.

Perry reports that Parra is like countless others who have tried dieting and exercising.

Parra said her next best option was to come to weight loss clinic and get a compounded form of Ozempic.

“I wanted to lose weight,” she said.

Our sister station WSB in Atlanta checked out four different weight loss clinics.

“So, you guys actually have Ozempic?” a producer asked a woman at the front desk.

“Yeah, it’s Ozempic. It’s just the compounded version,” one worker answered. “And we do injections here.”

An employee at another location says they use a compounded version.

“We just put four of these in a Ziplock baggie, write the lot number on it, your name, and send you on your way.”

“Okay, oh, wow. Okay. So, like, it doesn’t even say, like Ozempic,” the producer said.

The producer had a similar experience at third weight loss clinic.

“Is that what you have, the compound of Ozempic?” the producer asked the worker.

The worked nodded yes.

“Okay. And then is that FDA approved and everything?” the producer asked.

The worker also nodded yes.

“Okay, it is,” he producer said.

WSB contact all four clinics but only First Doctors Wright Loss responded:

“Every source for our medication is fully licensed by the state of Georgia and complies with the state pharmacy laws. And further First Doctors Weight Loss goes beyond our requirements by having an outside independent lab certify the purity of every one of our medications before any are dispensed.”

Pharmacies make compounded Ozempic by combining two or more drugs.

The FDA allows this because Ozempic is in short supply but does not approve the compounded version.

“Well, it can be done safely. It is not the recommended route,” said Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the nonprofit the Partnership for Safe Medicines.

He said there could also issues with the ingredients the compounding pharmacies use.

“FDA has warned a number of compounding pharmacies are actually doing compounding with starting ingredients that are not approved,” Safdar said.

The FDA said it received reports some compounders are using salt forms of the drug which are different from the FDA-approved drug.

“We’re actually seeing Americans going into hypoglycemic shock in some cases, going into comas,” Safdar said.

The FDA says salt forms of the drug don’t meet the criteria of compounding.

The reason so many people are going to these weight loss centers for compounded Ozempic is because it is cheaper than the brand name drug.

If you use an online pharmacy the FDA said you can verify that it is legitimate by CLICKING HERE.

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