Dr Nick Coatsworth: Compounded semaglutide ban is a mistake and will harm patients
Dr Coatsworth is on the clinical governance committee for telehealth company Eucalyptus.
Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says the Federal Government’s looming ban on compounded semaglutide fails to recognise the life-changing effect of the drug.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler announced last week that pharmacists would be prevented from compounding semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists from 1 October.
The government estimated that around 20,000 patients were currently using compounded semaglutide off-label for weight loss.
But with some patients reporting haematemesis, peripheral neuropathy and other side effects, Mr Butler said the safety risks were too high.
