There is a growing recognition of both the long-term financial and health/emotional issues associated with this whole class of GLP-1 analogs. An immediate problem is simply availability and many patients prescribed these drugs cannot get their RXs filled because of supply shortages. The drug companies and distributors are rationing distribution to existing patients. Also, the government has realized that more widespread use could literally bankrupt medicare/medicaid at current price levels.
Some patients are going off their meds when they reach desired weight levels only to put the weight back on creating a familiar cycle of loss/gain (wash/rinse/repeat).
The genie is out of the bottle and there is no way prescriptions can be narrowed to the truly obese or diabetics etc. Better guidance from doctors would help but there will always be a few on the margin who like other “miracle drugs” will be glad to provide an Rx without really determining the patient’s medical need.
Menu