Pharmacy 2.0
October 2024
The Skinny on Ozempic (and other injections like it)…
It’s all the rage…a relatively painless prick once a week and boom your A1C drops into range! But the best part about it is the “side effect”, which happens to be weight loss. Finally, a “good” side-effect!
People are lining up to get on the Ozempic train…they don’t care how much it costs because it’s so quick to tackle those weight goals we all battle. And since it helps lower your A1C (the lab value that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months), it must be OK, right?
Let’s talk about the pros and cons of this revolutionary class of drugs…
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide, a medication originally developed by Novo Nordisk to help manage type 2 diabetes, that hit the US market in 2017. It works by mimicking a hormone in your body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), which plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels and appetite. It wasn’t until 2021 that Ozempic received FDA approval to officially be used in adults with a body mass index of 27 or above with weight-related health conditions.
In a nutshell, here’s how the GLP-1 medications work and what makes them so popular beyond diabetes management:
- Increases Insulin Production – GLP-1 stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin in response to meals, helping to lower blood sugar levels
- Reduces Glucagon Production – GLP-1 reduces the amount of glucagon, a hormone produced by the liver that raises blood sugar
- Slows Gastric Emptying – GLP-1 slows down the emptying of the stomach, which helps to reduce appetite and can lead to weight loss
As humans, we are completely unaware of 1 and 2 as they are happening within our bodies, making number 3 the kicker…WE FEEL FULL LONGER! This is what makes Ozempic perfect for individuals who struggle with obesity or are just looking to lose weight as part of a broader health improvement plan. Everyone who battles the bulge knows that reducing portion size and making healthy choices is so much easier said than done.
Although the GLP-1 medications can be very effective, they don’t come without their own set of risks:
- Gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are common, especially when first starting the medication. So stay close to a potty until you know how your body will react.
- Hypoglycemia, the fancy name for “low blood sugar”, is an obvious issue, especially when taken with other diabetes medications like insulin.
- Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, as well as kidney problems have been reported and/or exacerbated, and can be serious.
- Thyroid tumors have been reported in animal studies, but it’s not clear if this risk applies to humans…just something to be aware of as long term use continues to be evaluated.
Fortunately, Ozempic is not the only GLP-1 medication on the market. There are several “me too” options that include, Wegovy (semaglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Saxenda (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Bydureon (exenatide extended-release).
Most commercial and government insurance plans will cover at least one of these medications with a prior authorization for diabetes management. This leaves those wishing to use these injections strictly for obesity out in the cold…so if you want your insurance to help with the cost, you will need to get your A1C up!
If insurance isn’t an option for you, there are weight loss clinics that are dispensing a compounded version of semaglutide that may be more affordable. That is a whole other topic of conversation you may want to have with your healthcare provider.
Bottomline, Ozempic and other similar medications, can be highly effective in managing Type 2 Diabetes and aiding in weight loss, but they do come with risks. It is important to use them under the guidance of a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner, who can help weigh the benefits against the potential side effects and monitor any issues that arise during treatment.
Simplifying your meds can truly simplify your life! Specialty Pharmacy Services at IV Stat, Inc. can review and discuss ALL of your pharmaceutical needs. Visit www.WeManageMeds.com for more information, or call 850.226.8162 to make an appointment with our professional team.
April 2023
Important Cholesterol Management Update
Written by Lee Davis, RPh
Important changes in blood cholesterol management have been put into place recently. Statin drug therapy is still the mainstay of treatment, however, the threshold at which to begin statin therapy has been lowered. Familiar medications such as Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Pravastatin (Pravachol), Simvastatin (Zocor), and other statins have been around for years. These medications have proven to have beneficial effects in reducing the bad cholesterol, known as LDL-C, and thus reducing the threat of cardiovascular disease including heart attack and stroke. The new change in the management of LDL-C is a lower threshold at which to begin statin therapy for certain patient groups.
In the past, the rule of thumb to begin statin therapy was an LDL-C greater than 100mg/dl. This is still the case when there are primary risk factors only, such as high blood pressure or a history of cardiovascular disease. However, according to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association when there are secondary risk factors involved as well, then a tighter LDL-C control is required. When secondary risk factors are present along with primary risk factors, the new threshold to begin statin therapy is an LDL-C of 70mg/dl and above. Secondary risk factors include age (40-75), diabetes, and nicotine status.
An ASCVD (AtheroSclerotic CardioVascular Disease) Risk Calculator is available online to predict the potential 10-year risk of a major ASCVD event. After entering the required information, If the ASCVD Risk Calculator gives a value between 7.5% to 20% then you fall into the new treatment category of LDL-C of 70mg/dl. The web address for the Risk Calculator is tools.acc.org/ASCVD-Risk-Estimator-Plus. Blood pressure and cholesterol measurements will be needed as part of the calculations.
Statin drugs have received a bad reputation over the years due to troublesome side effects, as well as perceived ineffectiveness. Research has shown that approximately 50% of statin prescriptions have either not been filled or were discontinued within the first six months of therapy. The staff at Specialty Pharmacy Services hope to reverse this trend. We want to bring the importance of statin therapy to the forefront in the fight against heart disease. Please reach out with questions using the Risk Calculator tool, minimizing statin drug side effects, or questions you should discuss with your physician.
Simplify your Meds. Simplify your Life. Make an appointment today and let us discuss your medication profile. Call us at (850)226-8162 or email rxstrip@ivstatinc.com. You can also visit us on the web at www.WeManageMeds.com for more information. Our office is conveniently located at 533 Eglin Parkway NE, Fort Walton Beach, in Paradise Plaza next to Denny’s.
References:
Khera,A., (2019), The New 2018 Cholesterol Guidelines, Circulation Journal.
Grundy,S.M., et al, (2019), 2018 AHA/ACC/MultiSociety Guideline on Management of Blood Cholesterol, Circulation Journal.