Since it’s launch, Novo Nordisk has repeatedly put up the price of its weight loss medication Wegovy. You can buy it online through telehealth providers such as Ro, Hims, and LifeMD. She made this announcement on the high-profile morning show “Good Morning America.” Wegovy is one of the few drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It focuses on people with obesity or who are overweight and have additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Wegovy active ingredient, semaglutide, is part of a family of medications called GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. These drugs are known as incretin mimetics, and they function by promoting the body’s production of insulin and lowering blood sugars. Semaglutide causes food to move more slowly through the stomach and reduces appetite, contributing to weight loss.
Wegovy has recently appeared on telehealth platforms for as low as $499 a month. This amount to pay is a huge decrease from the more than $1,000 monthly expense for individuals without coverage. Patients on Wegovy would get their medication in the same auto-injector pens that insurance-wielding patients get at the pharmacy counter via the same supply chain as Wegovy. Novo Nordisk is selling Wegovy at this inflated price through its own NovoCare Pharmacy.
Now, this new cash pay alternative will provide consumers with a prescription for Wegovy a more affordable option. One, it helps everyone without insurance coverage to fill the cost. Health professionals recommend that individuals consult with a healthcare provider to discuss the potential side effects and personalized risks associated with the medication before starting treatment.
Dr. Tara Narula, a well-known cardiologist, sounded the alarm on the lack of oversight that platforms like these telehealth Viagra factories offer patients.
“There are definitely risks and concerns with using the telehealth platform,” – Dr. Tara Narula
Telehealth services improve access to new medications such as Wegovy. They may not have the same access to support as seen in more traditional healthcare settings, particularly in managing side effects.
