B.C. limits sale of 2 more diabetes drugs used for weight loss
Minister of Health points to drug shortages in other countries
British Columbia's Ministry of Health is limiting the sales of two more diabetes drugs in an attempt to curb their off-label use for weight loss and preserve supply for people who are diabetic.
The rule bans pharmacies from selling tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro) and dulaglutide (sold as Trulicity) to non-Canadians or non-permanent residents who don't go in person to pick up the medications.
The two drugs are being added to an existing regulation first announced in 2023, which limits sales of semaglutide, a medication sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
The medications are still available to non-Canadians with a valid prescription from a Canadian doctor or nurse practitioner as long as they go to pick up the medication in person, according to a statement from the ministry.
They are also still available from B.C. pharmacies, online or in person, to B.C. residents, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have a valid prescription.
Health Minister Josie Osborne says the drugs' use for weight loss is driving shortages in several countries, including the United States.
"Tirzepatide, dulaglutide and semaglutide are prescription drugs approved for the management of Type 2 diabetes, but their off-label use for weight loss is driving shortages of the drugs in several countries, including the United States," she said in a press release.
"Our government is continuing to take action to ensure that people living with diabetes have reliable access to these essential medications."
Despite Osborne's statement semaglutide, when sold under the brand name Wegovy, has been approved by Health Canada as a weight loss medication since 2021.
The ministry says the College of Pharmacists of B.C. is responsible for ensuring that college registrants comply with the regulation.
Benefits and side effects
Research shows there are a variety of health benefits to taking the medications but they can cause side-effects and complications.
According to a study published in January's edition of Nature Medicine, Ozempic and other similar drugs, known as GLP-1 drugs, lower the risk for heart disease, stroke, most kidney diseases and lower the incidence of schizophrenia and suicidal ideation.
Test subjects also showed lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and lower consumption of alcohol and cigarettes while using the medication.
The study notes that side effects can include an increase in nausea, vomiting, arthritis and low blood pressure that can lead to fainting. Pancreas and kidney inflammation, that can cause life-threatening complications, is another risk highlighted in the study because people tend to drink less water while on the medication.
Researchers in the study say that future studies should include data from diverse groups, as this study relied on data from two million veterans with disabilities in the United States, who were primarily older white men.
With files from The Canadian Press and Amina Zafar