{"id":76339,"date":"2025-04-23T08:30:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T14:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=76339"},"modified":"2025-05-15T10:42:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:42:04","slug":"what-to-do-about-fake-weight-loss-drugs-and-ban-on-compounded-versions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/what-to-do-about-fake-weight-loss-drugs-and-ban-on-compounded-versions\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA officials warn of fake weight loss drugs and ban compounded versions of popular medications"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Federal
Federal officials have banned compounded versions of the popular weight loss drugs: Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound. Pharmacy experts warn people to beware of counterfeit GLP-1 medications. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have banned the sale of compounded weight loss drugs<\/a> including Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound.<\/p>\n

And earlier this month, federal health authorities issued a warning<\/a> about counterfeit versions of Ozempic that have been circulating throughout the U.S.<\/p>\n

A revolution in weight loss drugs began in recent years when doctors and researchers discovered that drugs created to help control diabetes also spark dramatic weight loss. The newest research has continued to show other benefits including improved cardiovascular outcomes<\/a> and better kidney health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the drugs are extremely expensive, and many insurance companies do not cover the medications when patients use them to lose weight rather than to control diabetes. Also known as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists or GLP-1s, the medications also can cause gastrointestinal side effects, and patients may need to take the drugs forever in order to keep the weight off.<\/p>\n

High costs and challenging side effects haven\u2019t stopped many people from clamoring to get the drugs, which can help patients lose 20% or more of their body weight.<\/p>\n

The most famous of these drugs is Ozempic. It has become a household name thanks to omnipresent advertising and the drug maker\u2019s \u201cO-O-O\u201d jingle that may ring in the heads of many Americans. Ozempic is actually a diabetes medication, not a weight loss drug. But it has become an umbrella name of sorts for the new class of GLP-1 medications. The generic name for the drug in Ozempic is semaglutide, which patients inject once a week. There is also a pill form of this drug that patients can take daily for diabetes; that\u2019s called Rybelsus. When prescribed for weight loss, semaglutide is called Wegovy.<\/p>\n

Weight loss drugs continue to surge in popularity as pharmacy experts warn patients to be wary of counterfeit GLP-1s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The newest weight loss drug is called Zepbound. That\u2019s the brand name for a drug called tirzepatide. The version of tirzepatide for diabetes patients is called Mounjaro.<\/p>\n

The manufacturer <\/span>of Zepbound and Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, recently announced a new pill form of the medications<\/a>, which currently only come as injections.<\/p>\n

The popularity of all of these drugs has continued to explode as celebrities from Oprah to<\/a>\u00a0Whoopi Goldberg<\/a> and Tracy Morgan<\/a> have spoken publicly about their success in losing weight with the medications.<\/p>\n

Millions of regular folks have followed suit. And many have hunted for cheaper options, buying compounded versions of the drugs or shopping online.<\/p>\n

Fake versions of the drugs have prompted stern warnings from pharmacy experts and federal officials alike. Meanwhile, experts with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now are prohibiting compounded versions of GLP-1s.<\/p>\n

To help patients stay safe if they are using Zepbound, Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, we consulted with experts.<\/p>\n

Their key message is to be wary of all substitute weight loss medications from compounding pharmacies or medical spas. Patients should also be aware that some unscrupulous online sellers are marketing counterfeit weight loss drugs. Before taking any medication, always speak with your medical provider and obtain medications through trusted, licensed pharmacies.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an unnecessary risk to use compounded versions of these medications. We strongly recommend against it,\u201d said Dr. Cecilia Low Wang<\/a>, a UCHealth expert on endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. \u201cWe can\u2019t guarantee their sterility and safety. And if a compounding pharmacy tells you that there\u2019s a certain amount of the active drug in an injection, that can\u2019t be verified independently,\u201d said Low Wang who is also a professor<\/a>\u00a0at the\u00a0University of Colorado School of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0on the\u00a0Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
Dr. Cecilia Low Wang is warning patients not to use compounded forms of popular weight loss and diabetes drugs including Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound. Photo by UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBe really careful about the potential for fraud,\u201d said Low Wang, who chairs the committee<\/a>\u00a0that advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drugs related to endocrinology and metabolism. (Low Wang does not receive funding from the drug companies. And her views do not represent those of the FDA or\u00a0the FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

FDA bans compounded versions of weight loss medications<\/strong><\/h2>\n

FDA officials banned the sale of compounded versions of the medications as of April 22 of this year.<\/a><\/p>\n

UCHealth pharmacy experts have been warning patients for well over a year not to use unsafe alternatives to legitimate FDA-approved medications.<\/p>\n

Avoiding less-expensive forms of the medications can be challenging for many people since the name-brand drugs are so expensive and few insurance companies cover the drugs when patients use them to lose weight.<\/p>\n

The sticker price for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound in the U.S. ranges from $1,200 to $1,400 per month. People who pay cash for the medications can get them directly from the manufacturers for between $400 and $650 per month. That\u2019s far higher than patients pay in Europe, where monthly doses cost about $100<\/a>. And recent research from experts at the Yale School of Medicine<\/a> estimated that pharmaceutical companies could produce the drugs for as little as 75 cents per person for four monthly doses.<\/p>\n

Dr. Annie Moore<\/a> is an internal medicine doctor who is board certified in obesity medicine and has extensive experience prescribing the newest weight loss medications to her patients.<\/p>\n

The real medications have been game changers for many patients, said Moore, who cares for patients at CU Internal Medicine \u2013 Cherry Creek.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re great for the right person,\u201d said Moore, who is also a professor of clinical practice, medicine and internal medicine<\/a> at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and researches best practices in patient care through the Brown Moore Endowed Chair for Excellence in Patient Experience.<\/p>\n

But due to high costs and medication shortages, she said some of her patients have turned to compounded medications or online versions, which she warns can be dangerous and ineffective.<\/p>\n

Why are GLP-1 weight loss drugs so popular?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The drugs are extremely popular because they often work. Clinical trials showed that the medications were both safe and effective and helped people lose significant percentages of their body weight. (Learn more about the pros and cons of Ozempic and Wegovy<\/a> and the basics about Zepbound<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

The drugs also have dramatically changed the way medical experts think about obesity. In the past, some doctors and researchers blamed the world\u2019s obesity epidemic on individuals and their diets and lifestyle choices.<\/p>\n

Now, while the prevalence of highly-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and sedentary lifestyles certainly contribute greatly to weight gain, research is showing that people with higher body mass indexes, or BMIs, are more likely to be predisposed to gain weight easily and keep on extra pounds.<\/p>\n

Medical experts now focus on brain chemistry in addition to stressing the importance of healthy behavior change. One of the reasons that the new weight loss drugs are effective is that food moves more slowly through the digestive system, making people feel satiated sooner. They also seem to help people who feel like they\u2019re addicted to unhealthy foods and thus, make it easier to stick with healthy lifestyle resolutions.<\/p>\n

How can patients stay safe? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Patients should only get prescriptions for weight loss medications through a trusted medical provider. If they qualify for GLP-1s, they should only get the drugs through real pharmacies.<\/p>\n

What should patients do if they’ve been using compounded medications or they can\u2019t get their next dose? Is it dangerous to stop taking weight loss drugs suddenly?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No. It\u2019s not dangerous to stop the medications suddenly because they are long-acting, meaning that the medication will stop working gradually over time.<\/p>\n

Evidence has shown, however, that most people who stop taking the drugs gain at least some of the weight back.<\/p>\n

Patients likely will find that their appetite increases.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, these medications don\u2019t change your brain permanently. They change your brain while you’re on the medication,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are people who sustain significant weight loss through huge amounts of effort and personal discipline. But that\u2019s the exception,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

Should patients consider spacing out doses of weight loss medications by more than a week to ration the drugs so they can save money and use fewer doses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The FDA approves medications to be used according to manufacturers\u2019 exact instructions. But Moore said that some of her patients who are worried about high costs have been trying to stretch to 10 to 12 days between doses rather than a week. She said it\u2019s not dangerous to stretch the doses, but it\u2019s unclear whether the drugs will be as effective.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no research yet on how effective it is to take doses less frequently. Diabetic patients or those who are taking medications to improve cardiovascular or kidney health should take medications as prescribed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people with diabetes are missing doses, that could cause concerning effects on blood sugar levels, and the benefits to reduce heart disease risk or kidney disease are likely to be less,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m thinking of starting on one of these medications. Since there are counterfeit versions out there and compounded versions will no longer be available, should I reconsider starting on drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Patients who are considering starting on one of the newest weight loss drugs will want to think carefully before starting on the medications, doctors said.<\/p>\n

That’s because they’re still very expensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first question I ask patients is, \u2018Does your insurance cover it?\u2019\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
Dr. Annie Moore said the newest weight loss drugs work well for the right patients, but high costs are a big challenge. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon, for the University of Colorado School of Medicine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For most people, the answer to that question is \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n

But a surprising number of people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket each month, Moore said.<\/p>\n

For highly motivated patients who have money to pay for prescriptions, Moore said patients are finding doses, and most love the results.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just takes so much work on the patient\u2019s part,\u201d she said. \u201cThe second question I ask is, \u2018Do you have the time to look for a needle in a haystack every month?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who can put at least an hour-and-a-half a month into researching where they can find it usually succeed, but finding doses really involves a lot of heavy lifting on the patient\u2019s side,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

She spends considerable time setting expectations with patients so they can make informed decisions about whether to try weight loss drugs.<\/p>\n

For people who are not at high risk of getting diabetes and have their blood pressure under control, it may be wise to wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe right answer may be to say, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m going to watch and wait until insurance coverage for these medications gets better.\u2019 We\u2019ll see when we get the first generic version of these drugs,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

She and other doctors say there are deep inequities related to who can access the drugs.<\/p>\n

People who can easily pay the high prices for the medications are getting them. Meanwhile, lower-income patients, people of color and those who are not tech-savvy may not be getting the help they need, Moore said.<\/p>\n

She conducts research on how patients access care, and those who are uncomfortable with digital tools like using apps and emailing their doctors are not receiving the same level of care and the same access to popular new weight loss drugs as those who are tech savvy and comfortable advocating for themselves.<\/p>\n

Are there ways to save money on these expensive drugs? Is insurance coverage improving?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many employers and insurance providers are not covering the weight loss drugs, and coverage doesn\u2019t seem to be improving for now, doctors say.<\/p>\n

The drug companies offer some coupons to help reduce the cost of the drugs for people without insurance coverage. Learn about coupons for Wegovy<\/a> and Zepbound.<\/a><\/p>\n

Are there other new medications on the horizon that might help with the shortages for Wegovy and Zepbound?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Yes. There are many new medications in development. And shortages should ease eventually.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of medications on the horizon,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach study seems to show that the next medication is at least as good as or better than the previous ones are. There\u2019s really, really amazing work that\u2019s being done.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are triple peptides and new combinations being studied intensively,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear, however, exactly when medications now being studied will win FDA approval.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re expecting to see many new medications over the next several years,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

Moore is very optimistic about the future of weight loss drugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are probably 100 medications in the pipeline. I can\u2019t tell you exactly when the next one is going to be released,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

When pill forms are available, she expects access to improve and prices to go down.<\/p>\n

Drug makers are highly motivated to find the next blockbuster weight loss drug since they are profiting greatly from these medications.<\/p>\n

Moore also said we\u2019ve experienced other eras in medicine in the U.S. when drug shortages and high prices have prevented patients from getting highly effective medications that would greatly benefit their health. Over time, markets, drug manufacturers and insurance coverage caught up, and the costs of beneficial drugs declined.<\/p>\n

She cites statins, for example. These cholesterol-reducing drugs came on the scene in the late 1980s. At first, they were extremely hard to get, and patients were having to pay at least $400 a month for prescriptions, a very high price at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pretty prohibitive. Now, we have many statins, and they are inexpensive and widely available for patients,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

Do people who take these drugs to lose weight need to keep taking them forever?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From all that doctors and researchers know so far, it\u2019s likely that patients will need to keep taking the medications in order to avoid gaining weight again.<\/p>\n

The newest medical term for obesity is \u201cexcess adiposity,\u201d meaning that people who are affected are more resistant to efforts to lose excess fat. Another term is \u201cadiposity-based chronic disease<\/a>,\u201d which focuses on adverse health outcomes that a person might be at risk for or develop from having excess weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a chronic condition, just like high blood pressure. And when you stop taking a blood pressure medication, you expect your blood pressure to go up again. The same is true for excess adiposity. If you stop taking a medication, then we expect the weight to be regained,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

Some emerging studies are showing that it may be possible for patients to taper off of weight loss drugs or take lower doses and maintain a lower BMI.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn important part of that involves making effective, sustainable lifestyle changes,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

What if people can\u2019t find the drugs and have to go off of them for a while? Since people gradually work up to higher doses, will they have to start over again with the lowest doses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Yes. That\u2019s possible, Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re off of the drugs for several weeks, then you may have lost the ability to tolerate the side effects and you might need to start at a lower dose,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

Patients and their doctors will want to make decisions about medications and specific doses together, she said.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

How are doctors and pharmacists dealing with such high demand for weight loss drugs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most health professionals go into the field because they love helping people. But the rush to get weight loss medications and constant questions about them are causing challenges.<\/p>\n

Medical providers and their assistants are having to deal with many, many emails, phone calls and visits from patients who either want to start weight loss drugs or have questions once they are using them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an entire team helping, but it\u2019s been pretty difficult,\u201d said Low Wang, who, like other health care professionals, doesn\u2019t like to complain.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe make every effort to go above and beyond for every patient,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The greatest frustrations stem from lack of insurance coverage for medications that clearly are working for many patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany times, we have to jump through a lot of hoops,\u201d Low Wang said.<\/p>\n

Moore said primary care doctors are trained these days to discuss obesity and potential treatments with patients who bring up the topic. That\u2019s a big change from an era when many people with higher BMIs felt stigmatized in doctors\u2019 offices and, as a result, some avoided medical care.<\/a><\/p>\n

The best practice now is to deliver \u201cpatient-driven care,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means that if a patient is relatively healthy \u2014 even with a high BMI \u2014 and they are not interested in weight loss medications, we support that decision,\u201d Moore said. \u201cIf patients want to start on these medications, we want to help them. It\u2019s up to the patient. The history of shaming makes this shared decision making especially important.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the only board-certified obesity specialist in her primary care clinic, Moore is doing all she can to educate her colleagues about the newest medications and the profound effects they can have for patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a chronic health condition, just like other things we treat, like hypertension,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s finding that a very high percentage of patients would qualify for the medications and want to talk about getting prescriptions. With new coverage for Medicare patients, Moore is receiving more requests for Wegovy than ever before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do at least one new prescription every day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s doing her best to keep up with constant queries about new prescriptions and shortages.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have banned the sale of compounded weight loss drugs including Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound. And earlier this month, federal health authorities issued a warning about counterfeit versions of Ozempic that have been circulating throughout the U.S. A revolution in weight loss drugs began in recent years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2123,"featured_media":76328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[63,551,212],"class_list":["post-76339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-pharmacy","tag-weight-and-metabolism","tag-womens-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFDA officials warn of fake weight loss drugs; 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