Struggle for Ozempic: Bowling Green woman shares her diabetic dilemma

Celebrities and TikTok fuel Ozempic/Wegovy frenzy... now some diabetics are going without

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – In a world where society is obsessed with losing weight, a new medication has taken the limelight. Ozempic, originally approved in 2017 to manage blood sugar in Type 2 diabetics, has become the latest in a long line of weight loss miracles.

Fast forward to 2023 and the drug has over 300 million views on TikTok.

University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy Associate Professor Clark Kebodeaux explained unfortunately, “Because of an increase in demand of these products. We’ve seen it more difficult for our patients to access.”

Bowling Green native Pam Lindsay is one of those many diabetic patients.

“The Ozempic is a new product that my doctor wants to try me, and I found out it’s going to be like $975 because I have no prescription insurance. The discount card that comes with it is still $600 – $700 a month. So, I start searching to see if there’s a co-pay card. There’s no copay card that’s going to be less than three $400 a month. I can’t afford that. It’s just ridiculous.”

But left with only one kidney after a long fight with kidney cancer, simply waiting for availability poses risks.

“It could kill me. I literally could die from it. So, you know, here I am. I’m on two oral medications and it’s still not bringing my sugars down. [My A1C is] 11.2%, which is dangerously high. There are a lot of issues where I could end up with kidney failure.”

Right now, the brand-name-only medication does not have a generic alternative.

Kebodeaux said, “A pharmaceutical company does sponsor access, but you have to have only certain insurances.”

Pam, like many others, has applied for financial assistance approval.

However, Pam explained, “Sometimes it can take two, maybe three months before we ever get a final decision if I’m going to be accepted, so now I just have to wait.”

But there might be some good news as more supply catches up with demand.

“They are continually getting more in stock as we go throughout the year,” said Kebodeaux. “So, I anticipate as we continue on through 2023, the amount of medication will continue to improve in terms of access both through the Ozempic brand name as well as the Wagovy brand name as well.”

Until then, diabetics like Pam might simply have to go without.