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What states use Ozempic the most?

Find out if you live in one of the top areas for this diabetes-turned-weight-loss drug
Ben Michalak
By | Dec. 5, 2023 Medically reviewed by Gerardo Sison, Pharm.D.
A map with an Ozempic pen | Ozempic use

Key takeaways

  • The type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic gained massive popularity as an off-label weight-loss drug in 2023 thanks to celebrities and social media.

  • The top states for Ozempic prescriptions in 2023 include California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Illinois, with cities like Los Angeles and Cleveland experiencing significant increases in usage.

  • Despite its off-label use for weight loss, Ozempic is expensive and typically not covered by insurance for this purpose. SingleCare offers coupons to help reduce costs.

  • Alternatives to Ozempic for weight loss and diabetes management include Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Wegovy (also semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide).

In this article:

Ozempic became one of the most talked about drugs in 2023. Popular media outlets like Variety and Fortune caught onto this secret to celebrity weight loss and made this medication a viral sensation. The #ozempic tag on TikTok has amassed over 1 billion views to date. Elon Musk posted his endorsement of Ozempic on X. Jimmy Kimmel joked about it in his monologue at the 2023 Oscars. The Type 2 diabetes medication was everywhere.

And while many were taking this opportunity to speak out about people abusing these medications who don’t meet the criteria for obesity, the popularity continued to surge. 

Prescriptions for Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications—like Mounjaro, Trulicity, and Rybelsus—skyrocketed at the end of 2022 and into 2023. This past year, statistics suggest that in certain cities of the United States, Ozempic patient volumes have increased by nearly 200%.

Using SingleCare data, we have found the states where Ozempic is most popular. The following list ranks the states that had the most Ozempic prescription fills at the pharmacy in 2023. 

  1. California 
  2. Florida
  3. New York 
  4. Texas
  5. Illinois 
  6. New Jersey 
  7. Colorado
  8. North Carolina
  9. Ohio
  10. Washington

Additionally, a separate study by Trilliant found that cities in the states mentioned above had the highest percentage change in Ozempic use from 2021 to 2022. For example, Los Angeles, California saw a 162% increase in Ozempic prescriptions, while Cleveland, Ohio had a 481% increase. In addition, the same study found that over half the patients taking Ozempic or a similar GLP-1 have a history of diabetes. 

When prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic is typically covered by insurance providers. If the injectable medication is prescribed for weight loss, many insurance providers won’t cover it (or its weight-loss counterpart Wegovy)—which is where SingleCare comes in and why people are filling the medication with our coupons. 

Ozempic is not cheap. The typical price may run as high as $1,200, but a SingleCare coupon can decrease that price drastically. Saving on this medication is important because research shows that spending on Ozempic has increased by 90% since 2020. 

What does Ozempic do? 

Ozempic (semaglutide) is commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that mimics the function of the hormone GLP-1, which is naturally produced in the body. 

In the form of a once-weekly injection, this medication helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas produce more insulin. It also inhibits glucagon, which is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. In addition, Ozempic slows digestion (which is partly what contributes to the side effect of weight loss) and can help reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack in those with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

Although weight loss is a side effect of Ozempic, it isn’t approved as a weight loss drug. The manufacturer Novo Nordisk makes Wegovy for that purpose. Wegovy—which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide)—is prescribed to people who are obese or overweight and have other health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. More than 50% of study participants taking Wegovy reported a 15% reduction in their overall weight and more than 75% of them lost at least 10% of their body weight. 

Most healthcare providers will prescribe Ozempic off-label or Wegovy only if weight loss can reduce the risk of a more serious health condition. It should not be prescribed to patients who want to lose just a few pounds. 

Ozempic alternatives

In addition to Ozempic and Wegovy, there are a few additional medications that can be prescribed to help with weight loss and diabetes management. 

Mounjaro or Zepbound (tirzepatide): Although some studies have shown that semaglutide is effective in reducing weight in obese patients, others show that tirzepatide may be a superior option for both diabetes and weight-loss treatment. Unlike semaglutide, tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 agonist, meaning that it mimics the GIP and GLP-1 hormones to stimulate insulin production. It can help trigger a feeling of fullness after a meal and slow the digestion process. Tirzepatide is manufactured under the brand name Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes treatment. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Zepbound, a new version of Mounjaro, for weight loss. A more recent study found that Zepbound was effective in weight loss management, with participants reporting losing a quarter of their total weight. 

Saxenda (liraglutide): Another GLP-1 weight management drug, Saxenda is a medication that many use as an alternative to Ozempic or Wegovy. It comes in the form of an injection, but unlike Ozempic and Wegovy, it’s a once-daily injection. Studies have shown that Saxenda is less effective than Wegovy for weight loss. 

Xenical or Alli (orlistat): Orlistat is another form of weight loss drug taken orally. It inhibits gastric and pancreatic lipases, which prevents triglycerides from breaking down into fatty acids. Orlistat is most effective in preventing the absorption of dietary fat, which can help manage weight gain over time. It’s also a much cheaper alternative to Ozempic or Mounjaro. 

Qsymia: This medication combines phentermine with the anti-seizure and migraine medication topiramate. Studies show it can help you lose up to 10% of your body weight, depending on the dosage prescribed.

Contrave (naltrexone-bupropion): Contrave is a combination of a substance abuse medication and an antidepressant that’s thought to regulate appetite in the brain. One study found it helped participants lose 5% of their body weight, which was greater than the weight loss seen in people who took a placebo (less than 1%).

READ MORE: Could one of these 7 prescription weight-loss pills be right for you?

If you’re interested in weight management, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. If they recommend a medication that your insurance doesn’t cover, be sure to check the SingleCare price. Your provider and pharmacist should be able to help you find a prescription that works for you—and your wallet.