DR ELLIE: Here's how to get an Ozempic from your GP By Dr Ellie Cannon Published: 02:15, 22 September 2024 | Updated: 02:35, 22 September 2024 e-mail View comments I am 68, overweight and my blood pressure is alarmingly high. Since the menopause , I've been constantly exhausted. I've read so much about the benefits of Ozempic, and wonder if it might work for me.
Should I ask my GP for a prescription? Ozempic – or semaglutide – is a diabetes drug which leads to weight loss . This is because the injection suppresses the appetite, meaning patients eat less. The manufacturer has begun selling it specifically as an anti-obesity drug, under the brand name Wegovy.
This year, the NHS announced it would offer Wegovy to some obese patients. Theoretically, patients can get an NHS prescription if their BMI is over 35 and have a weight-related disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. But the drug's supply is limited – mainly due to huge worldwide demand – so few patients have been able to get it.
Also, it must be prescribed by a weight-management specialist – not a GP – meaning patients must also wait for a referral, which can take some time. Ozempic - or semaglutide - is a diabetes drug which leads to weight loss through suppressing the appetite, meaning patients eat less This is frustrating as many Britons could benefit from semaglutide, but – due to the vanity of well-off people who want it to get a bit slimmer –those less financially fortunate are forced to wa.