Semaglutide unavailable in Australia until April 2023.
Extra supplies of the diabetes drug Ozempic, which is highly sought after for weight loss, should arrive in Australia by July, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
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.
APRIL 2023: Important Ozempic® (semaglutide) availability update. Ozempic® (semaglutide) stocks are available in Australia however there will be limited and intermittent availability until June 2023.
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.
Possible Ozempic alternatives include Bydureon (exenatide), Victoza (liraglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Tanzeum (Albiglutide), and Trulicity (dulaglutide).
The shortage will officially turn one year old on April 15. Happy birthday, Ozempic shortage! It was initially meant to abate by December 2022, but towards the end of last year this estimate was readjusted to the end of March 2023.
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.
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.
Telehealth and social media are playing a significant role in driving demand for Ozempic, a prescription drug that treats Type 2 diabetes, experts told CNN. The current drug shortage has limited access for patients with diabetes who rely on it to control their blood sugar.
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.
Many people also experience weight loss, although these medications are not FDA-approved for weight loss. When it comes to choosing GLP-1 agonist medications, there are several available alternatives to Ozempic, including Bydureon (exenatide), Victoza (liraglutide), and Trulicity (dulaglutide).
As well as regulating medicines, the TGA also regulates the advertising of therapeutic goods to the public in Australia. Prescription-only medicines such as Ozempic can't be advertised to the public in Australia.
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.
Order online: Many online pharmacies offer Ozempic®. However, it is important to ensure that you are ordering from a reputable source. Look for online pharmacies that are licensed and have a physical address listed.
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).
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.
Now a supplement called berberine is trending as a “natural” version of Ozempic. Social media influencers claim that taking berberine can improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood glucose, and help you lose stubborn weight.
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.
Like many drugs, the effects of semaglutide stop when patients go off of it, so some people regain weight. Experts said they consider Ozempic and Wegovy to be lifelong medications.
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
Despite the prevalence of obesity among older adults, Medicare won't cover weight loss drugs, including Wegovy.