Ozempic is available in Dubai on prescription. However, there is an issue with supply and many pharmacies do not have stock of it.
The price of Ozempic 1mg — enough for four weeks — is Dh1,200.
Majority of medicines which are used worldwide are available in community pharmacies and hospitals in the UAE. However, narcotic, psychotropic and other controlled drugs/medicines of class A or B are neither freely available in the UAE, nor can they be freely imported into the country.
The amount of medicine that you can bring into UAE:
For regular medicines which aren't on the controlled list, known as prescription-only medicines, you must carry your valid medical prescription and the amount of medicine you carry cannot exceed more than 3 months of treatment.
Ozempic is a prescription medication to treat diabetes. It contains Semaglutide and can also suppress appetite. Although Ozempic is an FDA-approved medication that can support weight loss by reducing hunger, there are good arguments for using over the counter alternatives instead.
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.
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 price of Ozempic 1mg — enough for four weeks — is Dh1,200. “There was a huge demand for the two injections. Mounjaro is out of stock while there are a few Ozempic injections,” Mr Hameed told The National.
The UAE embassy advice says: “Individuals may bring medicine into the country for their personal use. Up to three months' supply of a prescription item can be brought into the country by a visitor and 12 months' supply by a resident if they can produce a doctor's letter or a copy of the original prescription.”
Bringing medication into the UAE
You must also carry the prescription for the quantity (max 3 months' supply) of the medicine that you are bringing into the UAE. All other medication (prescription for uncontrolled medication and over the counter medication) does not need prior approval from MoH.
Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty. Possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs can lead to a minimum three-month prison term or a fine of between AED 20,000 and AED100,000. The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the blood stream as possession.
Ozempic Shortage in Australia
This off-label use of Ozempic and similar medications has led to an increase in demand for these drugs, which has caused a shortage in distribution in Australia and other parts of the world.
On the PBS, Ozempic costs Australians about $42 a month (four weekly injections). On a private prescription, the cost is about $132 a month. According to the medical news website WebMD, Ozempic can cost uninsured Americans more than a $US1000 a month and many flock to Canada to save $US700 a month.
In one particular trial, conducted over 2 years, using 1mg of Ozempic with lifestyle interventions — such as diet changes and exercise — was compared with patients who only had lifestyle interventions [7]. Patients lost an average of 4.9kg with Ozempic compared to losing only 0.5kg without the drug.
Travelling with a medical condition
Ask your doctor for a letter describing any medical conditions you have and the usual treatments, including specific medications and dosages. Make sure you have enough medication for your journey and carry it in your cabin baggage.
You may need to prove it's for you. Keep a copy of your script or a letter from your doctor with your medication, and if possible keep the medication in its original pharmacy packaging. Don't risk losing it all. If you keep all your medication together and your bag is lost or stolen, you could be stuck without any.
Paracetamol is not featured on the Ministry of Health's list of controlled drugs, so you would be able to take it to Dubai. You should always carry any medication in its original packaging so it is easily identifiable. Make sure to only take what is required for your trip.
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).
'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 …
Is there a cheaper substitute for Ozempic? Victoza (liraglutide) is another GLP-1 agonist that is similar to Ozempic but is less expensive. Other diabetes medications are also much less expensive, such as metformin, glipizide, or insulin.
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.
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).
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.