What Is Semaglutide and Why Is it Problematic?

The FDA approved the drug semaglutide for those suffering from obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related illnesses. Since its approval, semaglutide has faced worldwide popularity — resulting in supply shortages. Read more for details about what semaglutide is, and why some semaglutide products are considered problematic.

What is Semaglutide?

In June 2021, the FDA approved semaglutide for weight management in overweight or obese adults with co-occurring health issues. Since then, this drug has risen in popularity across celebrity circles and on social media as an easy way to quickly lose weight. Due to its apparent effectiveness, semaglutide demand has rapidly outpaced supply, leading some unscrupulous e-commerce merchants to market products without prescription requirements and others to ensnare consumers through non-delivery scams.

Semaglutide (often sold under brand names such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus) was initially introduced in 2017 to manage type 2 diabetes. It works by imitating GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone, signaling the stomach to empty more slowly.

Semaglutide inhibits glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, two processes that increase blood sugar during digestion. As a side effect, semaglutide also decreases hunger and food cravings. Semaglutide medications are taken once daily (or via weekly subcutaneous injections). The most common side effects include but are not limited to digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.

In extreme cases, patients can become dehydrated, need prescription anti-nausea medication, or even need to be hospitalized. It’s essential that a doctor oversees the use of this medication in order to reduce the occurrence of more harmful side effects.

Semaglutide has become extremely popular for weight loss, and despite its high price tag (often fetching $890 to $1,300 for a monthly supply), it’s in short supply worldwide. Some US patients have resorted to ordering from international pharmacies to obtain the medication, most often buying from Canada or Mexico (see the image below).

LegitScript has observed a growing trend of merchants offering semaglutide to US consumers without requiring a prescription, which poses an elevated risk for regulatory and card brand scrutiny.