How to find Ozempic in stock near you

Whether you’ve seen the countless headlines or experienced the frustration firsthand, you’re likely well aware that an oft-asked question amongst patients is, “is Ozempic in stock?” 

While Ozempic (semaglutide) faces shortages from time to time, this issue is not unique to this medication in particular. Recently, drug shortages across the board have reached their highest point in the last ten years. But you’re here to find out whether Ozempic is in stock and how to be prepared if (or, dare we say, when) it experiences another shortage. 

Read on as we share the latest on Ozempic’s availability and offer tips for finding Ozempic in stock near you.

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At the time of publication, Ozempic is not experiencing a shortage, according to the FDA’s Drug Shortages database. However, some dosage strengths of Wegovy—which also contains semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic—are experiencing limited availability. And they’ll continue to be in short supply for the foreseeable future or until, per the FDA, “TBD.” 

Not only do they contain semaglutide, but both Wegovy and Ozempic are also made by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Where the two medications differ is in their dosage strengths and FDA-approved indications. 

• Ozempic is intended for people with type 2 diabetes and helps lower blood sugar levels when used in combination with diet and exercise. It can also be prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

• Wegovy is intended for people with obesity and overweight, and helps with weight loss and weight management. It also was recently FDA-approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in people who have both heart disease and obesity or overweight. 

Both drugs have experienced shortages since 2022. Because Ozempic can also produce weight loss—although to a lesser extent than Wegovy—it may be prescribed off-label for this purpose. Since both drugs contain the same active ingredient and can lead to weight loss, it is not uncommon for a Wegovy shortage to impact Ozempic’s availability and vice versa. Add to that the fact that Wegovy can now be prescribed for reducing heart attack and stroke, further increasing demand on an already strained supply.

Novo Nordisk has responded with a $6 billion plan to ramp up production, ABC News reports. The drug maker is in the process of acquiring three additional production facilities and has already increased production fourfold since last year. Even so, given the unabated demand for both medications, the company still expects the shortages to continue as demand outpaces supply.

As mentioned above, all dosage strengths of the medication are currently available at the time of publication. That being said, if you’re ever wondering whether Ozempic is in stock, you can search for “semaglutide” on the FDA’s Drug Shortages website. 

As for Wegovy, the two maintenance dosages of the drug—1.7 mg and 2.4 mg—are also currently in stock. However, the three starter dosage strengths of Wegovy—0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg—are experiencing limited availability without a target return date, per the FDA. 

Ozempic can be difficult to get for a few reasons. For one thing, Ozempic is expensive, and is listed at $935.77 for a monthly supply, though prices can vary. It also runs into supply issues fairly often, so it may be out of stock at pharmacies in your area. Plus, one strategy manufacturers may employ during times of a shortage is to prioritize use of the drug for certain patient populations. Novo Nordisk is currently taking this approach to combat the present Wegovy shortage, by limiting distribution of the lower dosage strengths (which are usually prescribed to new patients) in order to focus production on the higher strengths and ensure adequate supply for existing Wegovy patients.

If you are considering switching to Ozempic during a Wegovy shortage, know that it can be difficult to get insurance coverage if you don’t have diabetes or prediabetes. Your healthcare provider may still prescribe Ozempic off-label to you for weight loss, but since weight loss is not a FDA-approved indication, you may have to pay full price. If you are taking Ozempic off-label for weight loss, Wegovy may be an alternative option — and, depending on your insurance coverage, it may be more affordable. Wegovy is available in higher dosage strengths and has shown to lead to more weight loss than Ozempic. However, it does have a longer list of side effects, so you’ll want to talk to your healthcare provider about your options and the best treatment plan for you. 

If you’re having trouble filling your prescription for Ozempic, read on. Here are five tips for finding Ozempic in stock near you.

1. Call around to local pharmacies

Sometimes your pharmacy may be out of stock of Ozempic. When that happens, call around to other local pharmacies in your area. Make sure to have your prescription on hand so you can inquire about your exact dosage. 

Depending on the pharmacy, you may be able to get your prescription delivered to your home. If that’s the case, you may be able to expand your search radius even larger. 

2. Try online pharmacies and tools

Another option is to order your Ozempic prescription through an online pharmacy. Often, these pharmacies offer free shipping to your home. 

You can also try a weight loss program, such as Ro Body, which offers personalized coaching, a prescription for a GLP-1 medication (if appropriate), and a health insurance concierge that helps with securing coverage.

Ro’s GLP-1 Supply Tracker, which is free and accessible to all (read: not just Ro patients), can also be helpful if you're struggling to find Ozempic in stock. The tool helps patients find GLP-1 supply, report shortages to the FDA, and track which drugs are currently in stock or shortage—plus, it can also send you alerts when supply becomes available nearby. 

3. Order ahead

The best way to sidestep a medication shortage is to order as soon as you can—maybe even way ahead, when it comes to Ozempic. If you normally call to refill your prescription a week before it’s due, bump that up to two weeks before, or even three, so they can prepare in advance. 

4. Ask about three-month supplies

The default prescription for Ozempic is a one-month supply. But, two- and three-month supplies may also be available, depending on the pharmacy. Plus, if you’re already using the Ozempic Savings Card, we have good news: it applies to two- and three-month supplies as well.

5. Consider Ozempic alternatives

When all else fails, it may be time to talk to your health provider about Ozempic alternatives.  Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 medications. Some of these are FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes (and/or lower cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes), and some of them are FDA-approved for weight loss. During times of an Ozempic shortage, healthcare providers may recommend switching to another one of these medications. 

For type 2 diabetes, alternative FDA-approved GLP-1 medications include:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

• Trulicity (dulaglutide)

• Victoza (liraglutide)

For weight loss, other FDA-approved GLP-1 options include: 

• Wegovy (semaglutide)

• Zepbound (tirzepatide)

• Saxenda

Like Ozempic, these are also injectable medications. However, at the time of publication, all of these medications are experiencing shortages in one or more dosage strengths through May to June 2024, according to the FDA.

If you are taking Ozempic off-label for weight loss, prescription weight loss pills may be another suitable treatment option depending on conversation with your healthcare provider. These include Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate), Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion), and Xenical (orlistat). At the time of publication, all of these medications are currently available, according to the FDA Drug Shortages website.

Lastly, you may ask your health provider about compounded semaglutide or Rybelsus, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide), and is also approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Rybelsus is available in different dosage strengths than Ozempic and is taken orally once a day, before your first meal in the morning. Decreased appetite is a common side effect of Rybelsus and modest weight loss is typical on the medication. In clinical trials, people lost around 8 pounds in about six months. And, happily, Rybelsus is not currently in shortage.

Drug shortages can be frustrating to deal with, but there are steps you can take to get back control of your treatment plan. Plan ahead for refilling your Ozempic prescription, and talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

May 14, 2024

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Raagini Yedidi, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Raagini Yedidi, MD

Raagini Yedidi, MD, is an internal medicine resident and medical reviewer for Ro.