Another easy way to obtain Ozempic is by talking with a reputable telehealth service, such as Calibrate or Ro Body. A licensed healthcare professional (such as a doctor) will evaluate your health. If they determine that Ozempic may be right for you, they'll provide an electronic prescription.
Talk to your physician regarding an Ozempic prescription.
Often, lab work is required, and they'll send an order to your preferred lab. Once your results are available, your doctor will review them with you and discuss treatment options.
Finding a doctor who will write you a prescription for Ozempic if you do not have diabetes can be difficult. Many people have been able to do this recently, but it is causing an Ozempic shortage for people who have diabetes and take the drug regularly.
Ozempic is approved for diabetes management, but some doctors prescribe it to be used off-label (which is when a medication is used to treat a condition other than its FDA-approved criteria) for weight loss, too.
How to Get Ozempic in Australia. Ozempic is a highly sought after drug for managing diabetes and weight management, but it is important to know that it is prescription only. In Australia, this means you will need to speak with your doctor and have a prescription written up before you can start taking Ozempic.
It's one of the prescription drugs on which Medicare, the federal health care program for people age 65 and older and for younger people with certain disabilities, spends the most money each year. But Medicare doesn't cover Ozempic for weight loss — only for diabetes.
'Ozempic stocks are available in Australia; however, there will be limited and intermittent availability until June 2023,' the statement reads. 'Novo Nordisk continues to build stable stock supplies over coming weeks and months …
Following the DA communication, health professionals have now been asked to prescribe and dispense Ozempic for only those adults living with type 2 diabetes.
Medicare doesn't cover Ozempic (or Wegovy) for weight loss
That means unless you have another source of coverage, you'd need to pay out of pocket for a semaglutide prescription for weight loss, whether it's branded Ozempic or Wegovy.
Medicare doesn't cover Ozempic (or Wegovy) for weight loss
Over 40% of U.S. adults age 60 and older are considered obese, according to 2017-2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the prevalence of obesity among older adults, Medicare won't cover weight loss drugs, including Wegovy.
Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes medication which is prescribed to manage blood glucose levels. It is not a medication for people who do not have diabetes or are at risk of type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic is only intended and approved for people with type 2 diabetes. You should not take it solely for weight loss. Doing so may prevent patients who require the medication for blood sugar management from getting it.
How Long Can You Stay on Ozempic (semaglutide)? A person can stay on Ozempic® so long as they are tolerating the medication and it is deemed appropriate by their treating provider. There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
So, on average, with the recommended starting Ozempic dose of 0.25 mg, a 500 to 1000 calorie reduced diet, and exercise 3 times a week, you can expect to lose 3-5 pounds in the first month of treatment, which works out to about 3% of body weight for most overweight or obese individuals.
Providers (doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) can prescribe either Ozempic ("off label") or Wegovy for weight loss, but insurance companies will usually only cover these medications for their FDA-approved uses (Ozempic for only diabetes and Wegovy for only medical obesity treatment).
Saxenda is an approved weight loss medication, and is readily available in Australia. Cost is approximately $387 a month. The knock on effect from the Ozempic shortage, is that Trulicity which is manufactured by Ely-Lilly is now in short supply.
As well as regulating medicines, the TGA also regulates the advertising of therapeutic goods to the public in Australia. Prescription-only medicines such as Ozempic can't be advertised to the public in Australia.
From 1 July the medicine Ozempic® (semaglutide) will be listed on the PBS as a new treatment option for type 2 diabetes. Ozempic® is a new once-weekly blood sugar (glucose) lowering treatment for the treatment of patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
On the PBS, Ozempic costs Australians about $42 a month (four weekly injections). On a private prescription, the cost is about $132 a month.
If you have private or commercial insurance, such as insurance you receive through an employer, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month prescription (maximum savings of $150 per 1-month prescription, $300 per 2-month prescription, or $450 per 3-month prescription).
Metformin
Metformin is a widely used first-line medication for treating type 2 diabetes and can also be considered a lower-cost alternative to semaglutide (Ozempic).
If you qualify for insurance coverage, Ozempic can cost as little as $25 for a monthly supply. However, without insurance, Ozempic costs around $892.06 per month, on average (NovoCare-a, 2022).
For urgent or expedited requests please call 1-855-297-2870. This form may be used for non-urgent requests and faxed to 1-844-403-1029.
Wegovy is an injectable weight loss medication that is being prescribed by Australian health professionals and doctors. Such is the popularity that the main component - Semaglutide - ran out of stock in pharmacies in Australia and worldwide in early 2023.