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.
The main active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, also the key ingredient in Novo's obesity drug Wegovy, which has been seeing supply shortage due to high demand.
All Wegovy solutions are available, and the drugmaker told the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists "is working to resolve the [Ozempic supply] issue by early 2023," according to a March 17 post.
Semaglutide supplies in Australia will be limited until at least June 2023. Patients whose diabetes is being managed with the support of semaglutide (sold as Ozempic) are likely to again encounter issues accessing the medication due to ongoing stock shortages.
A worldwide shortage of semaglutide began to affect Australia in early 2022 when Novo Nordisk couldn't supply enough Ozempic to meet an unexpected increase in demand due to both high use in type 2 diabetes and off-label prescribing for weight loss.
Possible Ozempic alternatives include Bydureon (exenatide), Victoza (liraglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Tanzeum (Albiglutide), and Trulicity (dulaglutide).
Liraglutide, sold as Saxenda, and semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy in Australia, are both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which means they act in the same way as a naturally occurring hormone that reduces appetite.
The current drug shortage has limited access for patients with diabetes who rely on it to control their blood sugar. Digital health companies make medications like Ozempic easier to get by providing prescriptions online.
Ozempic, which has been in short supply for some six months, is once again available in two common, lower doses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage database.
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.
It's been hailed as a “miracle” weight loss drug for people living with obesity. But, as with many medications, it only works for as long as it's used.
With the Ozempic® Savings Card, you may PAY AS LITTLE AS $25b for a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply for up to 24 months. To receive offer, prescription must be for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month supply.
If you take Wegovy or Ozempic to lose weight, will you need to keep taking the drugs indefinitely? Yes. As with many chronic conditions, most people who use the drugs for diabetes or weight loss will need to keep taking them to keep benefiting from them.
If you're having trouble accessing Ozempic, your healthcare provider may recommend an alternative that works in a similar way. For Type 2 diabetes, this may include Rybelsus, Trulicity, or Mounjaro. If you're taking Ozempic off-label for weight loss, Wegovy and Saxenda are two FDA-approved options.
Ozempic stimulates the release of insulin and lowers blood sugar. When you abruptly stop using it, the amount of glucose in your body can spike, especially if you have diabetes. Some may end up in the ER due to sheer exhaustion from the blood sugar spikes and crashes.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has advised that limited supplies of Ozempic have now arrived in Australia. It is expected that from late next week some pharmacies will have stock.
Mounjaro has been studied head-to-head against Ozempic. After 40 weeks, people taking it saw a better reduction in hemoglobin A1C levels (average blood sugar over 3 months) compared to Ozempic. And they lost more weight, too. Mounjaro is only approved to treat Type 2 diabetes for now.
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).
What is Berberine and why is it being called 'nature's Ozempic'? By Berkeley Lovelace Jr. A dietary supplement called berberine is gaining momentum on social media for its weight loss effects, even being referred to by some as “nature's Ozempic,” in reference to the popular drug that can help people shed pounds.
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.
Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, has a daily tablet version of the same drug, called semaglutide, approved for diabetes and is testing it in a higher dose for weight loss.
Ozempic® is more effective for weight loss and blood sugar improvements than Saxenda®. Studies have also shown that Ozempic® leads to fewer side effects and adverse events than Saxenda® with people tolerating Ozempic® better.
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.
Some individuals may actually gain more weight after stopping an obesity drug than they initially lost, Conde-Knape added. Studies have similarly shown weight rebound in people who stop taking Ozempic.