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.
To get prescribed Ozempic, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider. They will evaluate your medical history, weight loss goals, insurance coverage and other factors to determine if Ozempic is an appropriate treatment option for you.
Currently, Ozempic is only approved for use in people with type 2 diabetes. However, doctors may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss. For this purpose, they may prescribe the drug to someone who does not have type 2 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 …
There has been a global shortage of Ozempic since early 2022 because of an unexpected increase in consumer demand because of off-label use of the drug for weight loss.
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.
Following the DA communication, health professionals have now been asked to prescribe and dispense Ozempic for only those adults living with type 2 diabetes.
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.
Some patients who had been prescribed Ozempic for its registered use to treat type 2 diabetes were then prescribed alternate medicines, including Trulicity (dulaglutide).
Advertising prescription medicines such as Ozempic is prohibited. If you see any Ozempic products being advertised online this is a clear warning sign that the advertisement could be a scam. You can report illegal or questionable practices online to the TGA.
If you don't have diabetes, taking Ozempic for weight loss is considered an off-label use. Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, is approved to help people manage their weight. This includes adults and adolescents ages 12 and older who meet certain body mass index (BMI) criteria.
It's also approved for use in people with a BMI of 27 or greater, who have an accompanying overweight- or obesity-related condition, such as high blood pressure or sleep apnea,” Dr. Dominguez says. Ozempic is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss but is mostly used to treat people with diabetes, she says.
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.
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).
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. Interrupting their treatment with Ozempic creates serious health risks.
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.
Mounjaro is a more effective drug than Ozempic. As demonstrated above, tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) leads to more clinically significant weight loss and blood sugar reductions than semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic).
Australians with diabetes will continue to be able to access the drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the usual cost of a script. However, if used for obesity, it would be on a private prescription, so the cost is still unknown. Obesity is more common among people with lower incomes.
On the PBS, Ozempic costs Australians about $42 a month (four weekly injections). On a private prescription, the cost is about $132 a month.
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.
You need a prescription to buy Ozempic, which you can complete using a simple online form.
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.
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.