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Canadian pharmacy Ozempic: Cost, availability & more

There are ways to get discounted Ozempic within the United States instead of Canada
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By | Mar. 21, 2024 Medically reviewed by Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG
Two pens of diabetes medication: Canadian pharmacy Ozempic: Cost, availability & more
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Over 38 million people in the United States have diabetes, and over 40% have obesity. Because Ozempic is approved for blood glucose control and has a ton of social media clout, it’s in pretty high demand—along with Wegovy, its weight-loss-specific sibling. However, it can also be expensive, which has sent many people on a mission to save money, particularly if they don’t have insurance coverage.

While there are several ways to save on Ozempic, U.S. adults have been turning to Canadian pharmacies for more affordable prices—but shortages and restrictions have made that option increasingly less feasible. In this article, we’ll cover how much some have saved, if this method is safe and legal, and the issues with U.S. citizens crossing the border for Ozempic. 

Ozempic dosage and administration

Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable medication from a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which tell the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar levels get too high. It comes in single-patient-use pens of various dosages, which patients inject once a week at home. 

An Ozempic pen can come in doses of 0.25 milligrams (mg), 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg, prescribed based on the stage of treatment and the patient’s needs. Typically, healthcare providers will prescribe the 0.25 mg dosage for the first four weeks to see how the patient’s body handles it and decrease the likelihood of digestive side effects. 

The patient will ideally inject one dose on the same day each week. If the patient hasn’t achieved sufficiently low blood sugar after four weeks of a 0.25 mg dose, the doctor may up the dosage to 0.5 mg for the next four weeks. Following that, they’ll reassess and potentially increase to 1 mg, then 2 mg if necessary. 

Ozempic can be effective across all dosages for weight loss, but higher doses saw better results. However, Ozempic is intended to be used to treat Type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Nonetheless, healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label for weight loss. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is FDA approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy, which has a dosing progression of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. 

RELATED: Wegovy vs. Ozempic: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you

Ozempic cost in the United States vs. Canada

The main reason Americans are trying to get Ozempic from Canada is because it’s often less expensive there. Without insurance, a 30-day supply of 1 mg doses costs $1,322.61 on average in the United States, while a 30-day supply of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg doses costs an average of $1,265.03. Of course, this price can vary based on different factors, like insurance coverage, pharmacy location, and medical condition it’s prescribed to treat.

By comparison, a month’s worth of Ozempic costs around $300 in Canada, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Much like in the United States, that price could be higher or lower, depending on the pharmacy, dosage, and location. “It is less expensive due to Canada’s ability to negotiate rates with big pharma companies,” says Jonathan Kaplan, MD, founder of Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery in San Francisco. “The United States has just started negotiating drug prices, but not Ozempic yet.”

Insurance can drastically reduce the cost of Ozempic (or potentially Wegovy), but the procedures surrounding these price changes are constantly in flux, according to Sulagna Misra, MD, founder of Misra Wellness. For example, she says many insurance plans will not cover Ozempic for weight loss, although some may cover Wegovy instead. Plus, prior authorization regulations are always changing, too, so insurance companies may require patients to try other weight-loss drugs or diets first. It’s important to speak with the insurance company to understand any requirements for coverage. 

Ozempic shortage in Canada

Ask any economist: As demand increases, supply drops. And that’s exactly what has happened in both the United States and Canada. Because of soaring demand, the Canadian government has reported a short supply of Ozempic, and Novo Nordisk Canada, Inc. has said they expect the shortage to last at least until March 2024. 

Per Dr. Kaplan, “Drug companies can restrict medications from being sent to another country, and Canada can restrict shipments for medications that are in short supply, which, of course, these medications are.” Health Canada has asked healthcare professionals to avoid prescribing Ozempic to new patients—unless there are no suitable substitutes—and to consider alternative diabetes medications when possible. 

British Columbia has already cracked down on the sale of Ozempic to Americans after discovering that around 15% of their supply was headed to the United States, according to the CBC. And the Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons suspended the license of a U.S.-based doctor who wrote around 7,500 Ozempic prescriptions for his patients, which were often filled in Canada. 

The problem with getting Ozempic from Canada

Importing prescription medications for personal use is sometimes illegal, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may allow it for people with prescriptions who are purchasing a drug that’s already approved in the United States. When it comes to Ozempic, though, it’s best for patients to stick to their respective countries. 

Ordering medications from other countries to save money is nothing new, but a confluence of issues has skyrocketed the demand for Canadian Ozempic—and a lot of it comes from the brand name. But getting Ozempic from Canada decreases the already short supply the country has for its own citizens who rely on the drug to manage Type 2 diabetes. That’s why legislators and pharmacies have started pushing back on U.S. orders. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: This situation is quickly and constantly changing and will likely continue to do so. Before taking any medication, consult a healthcare provider about the latest studies and developments.

How to save on Ozempic in the United States

Canadian shortages and efforts to restrict sales may leave many Americans looking for ways to get it for lower prices in the United States. The good news is that there are several ways to get discounted Ozempic without crossing the border. Here are a few of the most popular. 

Get a prescription discount card

SingleCare’s discounts can take up to 80% off the price of some medications and knock hundreds off the price of Ozempic. For example, you can get $500 or more off the price of a one-month supply of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg doses. Get your free SingleCare discount card here.

Get it from a licensed doctor

Dr. Misra says adult patients should only get prescriptions for Ozempic or similar drugs from an MD, DO, ND, or MBBS. “There are patients that go to ‘medispas’ that don’t even have doctors on staff or on-site. And then they are getting price gouged,” she says. The prices might seem good, but “anytime patients try to increase the dose, they increase the price. Or they’re going to places that are charging $800 a month for a compounded version, and they’re not even injecting it on a weekly schedule sometimes.”

Apply for manufacturer discounts

Novo Nordisk has also provided a pathway to affordable Ozempic treatment. Using the discount card on its website, people who have commercial insurance that covers Ozempic can get it for as low as $25. The savings max out at $150 for one month, $300 for two months, and $450 for three months. This offer is only good for two years, and eligibility requirements apply.

Look into Medicare Extra Help

Medicare Part D beneficiaries with limited incomes can get additional help paying for their prescription drugs, which may include Ozempic if prescribed for diabetes management. This program, called Medicare Extra Help, is open to people who have limited income. The limits for 2024 are $22,590 for individuals and $30,660 for married couples.

Consider a compounded version

For drugs on the FDA’s shortage list, compounding pharmacies can create and sell a copy of the brand-name drug, often at lower prices. “The compounded medications can cost $500 to $600 whereas the name brand medications can cost $1,000 to $1,300, and that’s assuming you can even find them or the dosage you need because of the backorder,” Dr. Kaplan says. 

These pharmacies mix the active ingredients in these substitute drugs themselves, and “by law, these have to be an exact duplicate of the name brand drug while the name brand drugs are on the FDA shortage list,” he explains. However, the FDA warns about counterfeit versions of semaglutide coming from dubious sources, so if you go this route, be sure you’re using a reputable, well-vetted source. 

Considerations when buying medication online

For anyone who wants to order Ozempic in the United States from an online platform, do some homework to determine if the source is truly reliable. The FDA has issued warnings about certain mail-order pharmacies, and in this 2022 article, it advises consumers to be extremely wary of sites that:

  • Do not require a prescription. Trustworthy sources will always request a prescription if the medication requires it.
  • Are unlicensed, whether in the United States, Canada, or any country.
  • Sends medications that look different than usual, have foreign text on the labels, have no expiration date, or come in broken packaging. 
  • Sell medicines at exceptionally deep discounts. 
  • Don’t have a licensed pharmacist on staff to offer medical advice. 
  • Do not explicitly say they’ll protect consumers’ personal and financial information.

If a site avoids those pitfalls, it’s typically safe to use. To be sure, though, check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to see if the online pharmacy is indeed licensed and in good standing. People who have insurance coverage for prescription drugs will also want to make sure any online pharmacy is in-network for their insurance company. 

RELATED: How long does Ozempic last? Shelf life and other considerations

Bottom line 

Ozempic is perhaps the most in-demand diabetes mellitus and weight-loss drug on the market today. But because of its high prices in the United States, many people have been searching for ways to make it more affordable—including ordering it from Canada. Unfortunately, that option is becoming increasingly inadvisable as the current supply dwindles and Canadian provinces look to discourage American buyers. Fortunately, there are several other ways to save on Ozempic, including a few that could drop the price even lower than some Canadian pharmacies. 

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