Doctors warn against self-medicating with Mounjaro and Ozempic without medical supervision. High demand for diabetes drugs that also help with weight loss has resulted in a shortage in the UAE. Over-the-counter medication Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic are taken to treat Type 2 diabetes but they can also work as appetite suppressants. Enthusiasm on social media, driven largely by celebrities and influencers, over their use for weight loss has led to a global shortage. Makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro said stocks were being replenished but many local pharmacies have said their supplies are low. Some in Dubai and Sharjah are completely out of one or both drugs. Roshan Abdul Hameed, head of retail at Burjeel Pharmacy, said they are out of stock of Mounjaro, which costs Dh1,734. The price of Ozempic 1mg — enough for four weeks — is Dh1,200.
“There was a huge demand for the two injections. Mounjaro is out of stock while there are a few Ozempic injections,” Mr Hameed told The National.
“We are in touch with suppliers to get the medication but it’s immediately sold.
“It is not a cheap price for the medications but people are ready to spend this amount of money for weight loss.
“Genuine diabetes patients can’t get the medication because it’s sold quickly.”
Farah Saad, an Iraqi housewife said that she lost 13kg of weight since January after her doctor advised her to use Mounjaro.
“It is like magic,” she told The National. “The doctor told me Mounjaro has the minimum side effect and I started at 84kg in January this year and so far I lost 13kg.
“It is an easy way to lose weight. I will use it for an extra month to reach a reasonable weight and after that will follow a diet and change my lifestyle by going to the gym.”
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