Thousands of French people take it.
It is a drug that has been talking about him since he was authorized in France. It was already in the United States and its success continued to grow. And for good reason: one of its main effects is to make you lose weight. Suddenly, many seek to obtain it outside the compulsory care pathway. But its taking must remain supervised, hammer the French health authorities who want to avoid an increase in cases of serious undesirable effects. Health insurance has decided to restrict its conditions of delivery in pharmacy from February 1, 2025.
According to Dr. Isabelle Yoldjian, medical director of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), cited by our colleagues from Jim.fr“About 700,000 people in France take this type of treatment, we will arrive very quickly in the million and the use of these molecules will further increase in the coming years “. These drugs are called “GLP-1” analogues “. They control blood sugar by fixing themselves on the hormone GLP-1 receptors (glucagon-like peptide-1), hormone which regulates the level of blood glucose and appetite. They are indicated in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and in weight control in people with obesity. The problem is that they are “Sometimes diverted for weight loss for aesthetic purposes and not health” observed the ANSM in July 2024.
To prevent misuse linked to these antidiabetic treatments and supply tensions caused by their embezzlement, a new prescription system will be set up on 1er February, announced theHealth insurance. All the analogues of GLP-1 are not affected but only: the semaglutide (Ozempic®) which is one of the most prescribed and known; the Dulaglutide (Trulicity®); and Liraglutide (Victoza®).
Concretely, during the prescription, the doctor must fill out a digital or paper form to verify that the drug is well prescribed in his ITR (refundable therapeutic indications) and AMM (marketing authorization). The doctor must give the support to the patient “At the same time as the prescription so that the patient presents it to the pharmacist when dispensing the medication concerned. In the absence of a form, the pharmacist can provide the drug but the patient will not be reimbursed “. Same thing if the prescription is outside the ITR/AMM, there is no possible refund.