Susanne was forced to leave Ozempic: 'Had no energy for anything else but to sit still'

New rules for subsidies have made it harder to get treatment with the medication.

Susanne Brøndbjerg Højlund experienced that her asthma reacted strongly to alternatives to Ozempic. (Photo: © Rasmus Emil Bertelsen DR) 8 minutes ago

Night sickness, leg cramps, headaches and breathing problems.

These are some of the symptoms Susanne Brøndbjerg Højlund from Aalborg experienced, after she was taken off Ozempic and switched to another type of diabetes medication a month ago.

In addition to having type 2 diabetes, Susanne Brøndbjerg Højlund also has asthma, which was worsened when she switched medicines.

- There was nothing wrong with the half a year I had Ozempic. After it was taken away from me, I was tired, slept 14 hours a day and had all the other side effects, she says.

- I had no energy for anything but to sit still. I had to cancel all my volunteer work, walks and water gymnastics.

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Letters to the authorities

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Back in November, new rules were introduced for when one can receive subsidies for the popular medication.

The rules mean, among other things, that one must try a cheaper alternative before one can receive subsidies for Ozempic, even if one is already receiving treatment with it.

>

> It can be hard to explain to patients that we are forced to

> switch them to something that we are not sure works as well.

> Charlotte Lønskov, Practicing Doctor

This has so far saved the regions 10 million kroner, but causes concern among the Diabetes Association.

They have since the new rules were introduced received 300 inquiries from members, which is the highest number of inquiries about a single issue since Corona.

- They are both anxious, and some of them experience that they have become sicker, after they have switched, says Claus Richter, who is the managing director of the Diabetes Association.

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Stopped taking medication

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For Susanne Brøndbjerg Højlund, side effects became so severe that she is now no longer taking the medication she was given instead of Ozempic.

She no longer experiences side effects. On the contrary, she has to keep a close eye on her diabetes.

- Diabetes fills my whole time now. I have to figure out if I have enough to eat, if I have the right food and if my blood sugar has a normal level.

Susanne Brøndbjerg Højlund has also received a Libre, a device that keeps an eye on her blood sugar. In addition, she takes care of regulating her blood sugar through her diet - which is now vegetarian.

- But my asthma is doing well - that means I can be active again, but it was not a weighing I had to make when I was on Ozempic, she says.

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’Can be hard to explain’

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More practicing doctors also experience problems when diabetes patients switch Ozempic with other alternatives.

Charlotte Lønskov, who is a practicing doctor at Lægerne in Nibe, tells that medication switch can make blood sugar unstable. It can cause nausea, infections and she has experienced patients who have collapsed.

- It can be hard to explain to patients who have been very happy with Ozempic, that we are forced to switch them to something that we are not sure works as well, she says.

Ozempic is used both as a weight loss aid and to treat type 2 diabetes. (Photo: © TOM LITTLE, Ritzau Scanpix)

Even though the rules are strict, Charlotte Lønskov tells that there are possibilities for patients.

- One must try some other things, but if one cannot tolerate it, one should look at the possibility of starting on Ozempic again. It is the right treatment for some.

And Susanne Brøndbjerg Højlund hopes it will one day be her.

- This is not sustainable in the long term. I need some medication, but here and now I will not take it, under no circumstances.

The Diabetes Association has together with The Practicing Doctors' Organization, sent a concern letter to health authorities, where they want an investigation of the health consequences of switching medication.

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