DR. NICOLE SAPHIER: Prescription drugs are handed like candy causing Ozempic ... trends now
Nicole Saphier, MD is a physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and bestselling author of, 'Panic Attack.' Her opinions are her own and not reflective of her employers.
Not every problem can be fixed with a pill. Not every problem should be fixed with a pill.
But in an increasingly dangerous trend, America's medical industry is presenting drugs as a quick and easy solution for nearly everything that ails us – be it major, minor, or even non-existent.
Now, America is running out of the prescription medications that sick people need, because otherwise healthy people are gobbling them up.
If that sounds insane, that's because it is!
There is perhaps no better example of this than the skyrocketing demand for the drug Adderall, a commonly prescribed stimulant used to treat ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
In 2021 alone, 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were handed out to patients, an increase of more than 10% from the previous year.
The number of prescriptions exploded at such a rate that, according to the Federal Drug Administration, 'there is not sufficient supply to continue to meet U.S. market demand.'
As a result, some ADHD-sufferers can't find the appropriate drug to treat their condition.
And it doesn't stop there.
In recent months, demand for Ozempic, or semaglutide, has soared.
Ozempic is an injectable medication that helps people with type 2 Diabetes manage their blood sugar and prevent dangerous complications. But an unintended side-effect of the drug was that it's an effective appetite suppressant.
In 2021 alone, 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were handed out to patients, an increase of more than 10% from the previous year.
And presto, Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk started selling and doctors started prescribing a higher-dose version for weight loss under the brand name, Wegovy.
Demand for Wegovy surged straining the supply of semaglutide and now people with diabetes can't find the drug they need. The FDA has now designated the medication as 'Currently in Shortage.'
Something is seriously wrong when prescription drugs are being handed out like candy and life-saving medications are in short supply because doctors are catering to their patients' vanity.
ADDERALL RUSH
It is important to understand that ADHD is a real condition — a common neurodevelopmental disorder manifesting as inattentiveness, impulsive tendencies and hyperactivity severe enough to interfere with school, work and other everyday aspects of life — and one that impacts millions of Americans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, approximately 10% of U.S. children are diagnosed with ADHD, while the National Institute of Mental Health found 4.4% of adults aged 18 to 44 years old have the disorder.
Stimulants such as Adderall have proven effective when it comes to helping ADHD sufferers manage their symptoms by increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, thereby reducing the overloaded sensory inputs of the patient's brain to normal levels.
But ADHD medications, like Adderall, are powerful, potentially addictive drugs that are easily abused.
The DEA defines Schedule II controlled substances, like Adderall, as drugs with a 'high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.'
When someone without ADHD uses these stimulants, they can experience feelings of euphoria and increased energy levels.
Patients taking Adderall also are more likely to develop a physical dependence on the drug, which in turn leads to the development of a physical tolerance to the drug's effects, requiring higher and higher dosages to achieve the same effect.
Studies also indicate that those who misuse Adderall are more likely to abuse other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamines.
And abruptly withdrawing from the medication can lead to irritability, depression and extreme fatigue, with some patients experiencing headaches and even nightmares.
The DEA previously has also launched investigations into telehealth companies, such as Cerebral Inc. and Done Global Inc.
Given the ongoing shortage, a terrifying threat of withdrawal now looms over long-term Adderall users who no
