Consumers use tricks to receive Wegovy prescriptions

From seeking non-face-to-face treatment venues to dividing high-doses

“Not eligible”… Doctors, influencers busily receive Wegovy prescriptions

Online channels are ridden with Information and tips for prescriptions, including “Raise the weight when asked,” “Getting Wegovy for half the price”

Gwangju Pharmacy has the lowest price at KRW 419,000

With heating interest in the obesity drug Wegovy, the way-around measures the consumers are taking to receive prescriptions are causing controversy.

 

From how to receive Wegovy through non-face-to-face treatment venues without the legwork to how to split the high-dose formulations being shared online, concerns are growing over the drug’s misuse.

 

The first issue is non-qualified prescriptions.

 

Prescriptions that ignore the prescribing criteria, such as obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more, are becoming widespread, and one of the outlets for such is the non-face-to-face treatment platforms.

 

As influencers with tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of followers are revealing the fact that they have been prescribed Wegovy, non-face-to-face treatment platforms such as ‘Dr Now’ and ‘My Doctor’ are being mentioned as venues for such prescriptions.

 

You can receive a prescription for up to 5 pens of Wegovy through non-face-to-face treatment, and can also compare drug prices at pharmacies.

The reason for choosing non-face-to-face treatment is that it is easier to receive prescriptions and dispense compared to face-to-face treatment.

 

Although some prescribing medical institutions have been promoting Wegovy prescription through press releases, blogs, and social media including Instagram, hospitals and pharmacies have not yet been able to secure enough supplies, which is why patients are turning their attention to non-face-to-face treatment, which is relatively easier to receive prescriptions and dispensing.

 

These platforms allow users to check the information, contact details, and prices of Wegovy in pharmacies with stock at a glance, making it easy to receive Wegovy without having to make many phone calls.

 

Looking at the non-face-to-face treatment platforms, the price of Wegovy prescriptions by pen ranges from KRW 5,000 for 1 pen, KRW 7500 for 2 pens, KRW 10,000 for 3 pens, and KRW 10,000 to KRW 15,000 for 4 pens.

 

For dispensing, a pharmacy in Gwangju had the lowest price in the country at KRW 419,000.

 

In addition, some blogs and other websites have been sharing advice on how to get prescriptions easily, with tips such as ‘raising your weight.’ Another problem is the indiscriminate spread of information on its off-label use, such as ‘how to use Wegovy at half the price’.

 

The correct way to start from the 0.25mg dose, then increase to 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg over a four-week titration period, but many people have been prescribed 2.4mg and have been sharing tips such as splitting the dose into multiple doses.

 

In fact, one doctor described it as ‘using the same drug at half the price’ and said, ‘I just use a 2.4mg syringe from the start.

 

Then you can use a single syringe for four 0.25mg doses = 1/4 syringe, and four 0.5mg doses = 1/2 syringe, and so on.’ The argument is that since the price per dose is the same, it's more cost-effective to take one pen of 0.25mg over 4 doses than one pen of 0.5mg over 8 doses.

 

It's also easier to stock the higher doses than the starter doses of 0.25mg and 0.5mg.

 

Pharmacists are wary that their fears are being realized.

 

Pharmacist A pointed out that “non-face-to-face treatment is promoting medical shopping in conjunction with the Wegovy craze.

 

Shouldn't there be sanctions against random prescriptions and off-label use that are being conducted with non-face-to-face treatment?” Pharmacist B also said, “I am concerned that the Wegovy craze is spreading like a fad on social media without any warnings or side effects.” In particular, regarding dividing the high-dose formulation, B added, “Wegovy can be stored for up to 6 weeks after opening.

 

If you split the dose, you'll be forced to take it beyond that period.

 

I don't think I can give such advice from a professional perspective.” ‘The role of the government, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare professionals will be crucial in tackling this Wegovy craze,’ he added.

 

The Korea Pharmaceutical Association also said it plans to respond strongly to concerns such as the abuse of non-face-to-face Wegovy prescriptions and the delivery by documenting cases.

 

Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk has warned patients in its patient instructions not to use Wegovy Prefilled Pen if they are hypersensitive (allergic) to semaglutide or any of the drug's excipients, or if they are pregnant, nursing mothers, etc., and emphasized patients to refrain from using the drug unless indicated.