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Ozempic (semaglutide) is available from several telemedicine companies that offer a convenient and fast experience. These services require an online consultation with a healthcare professional before prescribing the medication.
While there is not currently a shortage of Ozempic, previous difficulties in supplying this medication have led to some pharmacies offering compounded semaglutide.
The FDA has not approved a generic version of Ozempic. The agency has received reports of adverse reactions from people who have used compounded semaglutide and has noted that pharmacies may be using a different form of semaglutide that does not work in the same way as Ozempic.
To reduce the risk of unexpected side effects, it is important to purchase Ozempic rather than compounded semaglutide.
Buying Ozempic online can be more convenient and quicker than making an appointment at a doctor’s office. However, it is important to only use reputable telehealth services with qualified healthcare professionals on their platforms.
Safe practices: All companies in this article require at least one consultation with a healthcare professional to prescribe Ozempic, and many offer follow-up visits to monitor responses.
Membership options: All telemedicine companies offer membership options that may save people money over the long term.
Insurance coverage: All companies will work with insurance companies to receive as much coverage for the cost of Ozempic as possible.
Customer reviews: Although some services may have low customer review ratings, we may still feature them if they pass the above criteria and our strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more.
Buying any prescription medication online requires a person to exercise caution to avoid potentially significant health risks.
Factors to consider when purchasing Ozempic online include:
Reputable supplier: People should only use a telemedicine company that uses board certified healthcare professionals and requires consultations before filling prescriptions. They also need to avoid websites that promise cheap Ozempic without a prescription. Checking out the supplier carefully beforehand can prevent a person from getting involved in a financial scam or taking counterfeit medications. Additionally, reputable suppliers will correctly handle a person’s data, ensuring their privacy and security.
Insurance coverage: People with insurance may wish to consider using companies that accept coverage for the cost of the medication. Some telehealth services will have insurance concierges that work with insurance companies.
Appointment price: While telemedicine can be more convenient than in-person appointments, prices vary widely. It is important to check how much an initial consultation and follow-up visits will cost. Some companies will offer membership prices, which can bring down the price.
Questions to ask your Ozempic supplier
A person may want to check a provider’s guidelines against the following questions before buying Ozempic online. For instance:
Do the guidelines clearly specify the type and level of care a person will receive?
Some websites or pharmacies claiming to offer safe medication do not do so. The FDA warns that signs of a pharmacy or website to avoid include those that:
do not require a prescription to dispense medication
have no license in the United States and a person’s state of residence
do not have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer questions
send medication that looks different, is in an unfamiliar language, arrives in broken packaging, has no expiry date, or is expired
offer very cheap medication
charge for products or medication a person never received
do not have a clear and accessible privacy policy
sells personal data to other websites
How to spot counterfeit Ozempic pens
Some pharmacies and companies may try to sell counterfeit Ozempic pens. Warning signs to watch out for include:
the scale extends when setting the dose
a poor-quality label that does not adhere well to the pen
spelling mistakes
missing tamper-resistant perforation on the carton
a batch number on the box differing from the product strength on the pen
The FDA has only approved Ozempic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, healthcare professionals may prescribe it off-label for weight management.
Learn where to buy Wegovy, an FDA-approved version of semaglutide for weight loss, online here.
Ozempic’s active ingredient is semaglutide, which belongs to a group of medications called GLP-1 receptors. These medications:
slow the speed at which food moves through the gut
stop the body from producing too much glucagon if blood sugar levels are high
A 2023 analysis found that interest in Ozempic and similar medications has increased in recent years. This is due to increased social media and celebrity influencer coverage for weight loss.
However, Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor medications require continuous use for beneficial effects. A 2022 study concludes that those taking semaglutide-containing medications, such as Ozempic, regained two-thirds of body weight within 1 year after discontinuing use.
Ozempic features a black box warning from the FDA about its potential to cause thyroid C-cell tumors and thyroid cancer in animals. It is not clear if this effect can also occur in humans. People with a history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not use Ozempic.
Ozempic cost without insurance will vary depending on which pharmacy they use. Optum Perks, a website that compares the cost of medications at popular pharmacies, states that the price of a 1.5-millimeter single dose of Ozempic will cost:
Target (CVS)
$882
CVS Pharmacy
$982
Walmart
$954
Rite Aid
$943
Walgreens
$972
Costco
$992
People with private or commercial insurance that covers Ozempic may be able to get this medication for as little as $25 per 1-, 2-, or 3-month prescription.
Yes, Ozempic is available online legally through telehealth companies. However, just like in-person options, a person needs a valid prescription from a healthcare professional on an online platform to get the drug.
A person should always buy from a reputable source to avoid potentially significant health risks from counterfeit medications. Even in during drug shortages, it is important not to buy medication from less reputable sources.
The cheapest way to buy Ozempic is through insurance companies. People with commercial or private insurance can get Ozempic for as little as $25 with a Novo Nordisk savings card.
Those without insurance can expect to pay around $890–$1,000 per injection, depending on their pharmacy.
Several companies and pharmacies offer coupons or discount cards to save money on prescriptions. Some online pharmacies may offer cheaper forms of Ozempic. However, people need to avoid prices that seem too good to be true and avoid pharmacies offering compounded semaglutide.
There is no over-the-counter GLP-1 medication available.
However, Alli (orlistat) is an FDA-approved OTC medication that can help people lose weight. This medication works by stopping the body from absorbing free fatty acids.
A person with commercial or private insurance may get a 3-month supply of Ozempic for $25 for up to 24 months. They can visit the Novo Nordisk website to get the Ozempic Savings Offer. A person will need a prescription for a 3-month supply of Ozempic before getting the medication at this price.
It is possible to get an Ozempic prescription from telemedicine companies. Buying the drug online can be more convenient than using in-person clinics, though people need to ensure they buy it from reputable services.
Many services accept insurance and offer competitive membership plans.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Han SH, et al. (2023). Public interest in the off-label use of glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (Ozempic) for cosmetic weight loss: A Google trends analysis. https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/44/1/60/7218900
