Starting the Body Program
📣 Medication Shortage Update
GLP-1 manufacturers for Wegovy and Zepbound are having difficulty keeping up with demand and filling prescriptions. We’ve seen patients on certain doses of both medications experiencing long waits at the pharmacy.
If you were prescribed one of these medications, there might be a delay in filling your prescription. This section includes the latest details about how Ro is responding to the medication shortages to best support our patients. We’ll continue to update it as new information becomes available.
If you've been waiting for medication, we want you to know that there are other options.
We’re offering compounded semaglutide, which uses the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy. If prescribed, it will be shipped to you within 1-4 days.
Another option is to pay cash for Ozempic, which has not been as impacted by the current medication shortage. Please note that it’s typically not covered by insurance without a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Common Questions
Wegovy and Zepbound drug manufacturers anticipate that patients will likely be impacted by supply shortages and experience difficulty filling their prescriptions.
For Wegovy patients, the starter and lower doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg are most impacted and experiencing fulfillment delays.
For Zepbound patients, we’re seeing that many can start treatment but then face trouble filling prescriptions for higher doses.
The drug manufacturer for Ozempic has not announced anticipated shortages, but our team will continue monitoring that medication supply.
Ro and Ro-affiliated providers are taking additional steps to support new and existing patients on their weight loss journeys.
Your provider may adjust your treatment plan if it's clinically appropriate. These adjustments may include:
prescribing alternate GLP-1 medications (if appropriate)
working with you to create a personalized treatment plan
or recommending adjustments to diet, lifestyle, and current fitness activities
If you’re prescribed a GLP-1 that’s in short supply, you may be able to join your pharmacy’s waitlist for when the medication is back in stock.
If you were prescribed Wegovy or Zepbound, there might be a delay in filling your prescription.
To help patients get medication faster, we've expanded our medication offerings in some states to include compounded semaglutide, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy. If prescribed, it will be shipped to you within 1-4 days.
If you’re interested in exploring other treatment options, send your provider a message in your Ro account chat. They’ll walk you through the next steps to see if another medication is right for you.
If you want to wait out the shortage for Wegovy or Zepbound, we’ll send your prescription to your pharmacy. If they don’t have supply, they may add you to a waitlist for when medication becomes available. We recommend calling your pharmacy to ask about their waitlist.
Reach out to your provider in your Ro account chat to find out about other options that may be a good fit for you.
To get medication in time for your next refill, we encourage you to complete your refill check-in before your second shot of Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, or compounded semaglutide, or as soon as you start your 1.8 mg dose of Saxenda. This will allow us to submit your information to your pharmacy sooner, giving them more time to fill the next prescription and increasing the likelihood of getting your medication when you need it.
If you’re on a dose of a branded GLP-1 impacted by medication shortages, you can consider switching to compounded semaglutide. This medication is in stock, and you’ll get it within 1-4 days. Reach out to your provider in your Ro account chat soon to see if compounded could be right for you.
Connect with your provider to discuss the options available to you if you’re experiencing delays in filling your prescription. In general, stopping your medication is not harmful to you. But if you stop taking your medication, you may begin to notice weight gain.
GLP-1 medications help decrease your appetite. When you start to have less medication in your system, your appetite may start to increase (which may lead to weight gain).
The amount of weight gain depends on how long you were on the medication, how much weight you lost, and how long you stopped medication.
You can reach out to your provider in your Ro account chat to see if compounded semaglutide could be a good fit for you. The compounded medication available through Ro is in stock. Once prescribed, you’ll get your medication within 1-4 days and can start or continue treatment sooner. Learn more about compounded semaglutide.
If you’re worried about a potential gap in your treatment, please reach out to your provider directly. They can work with you to understand whether it makes sense to change to your care plan and discuss the specific details of those shifts.
If clinically appropriate, your provider can help you switch back to Wegovy when supply is more available, but insurance coverage is not guaranteed, even if your Wegovy was previously covered. If you receive a prescription for Saxenda and want to switch back to Wegovy, our partner will have to run benefits verification again. When switching back to Wegovy, your insurer could deny coverage.