How to buy Ozempic online: Is it safe?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a weekly injectable drug that lowers blood sugar levels. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 for treating Type 2 diabetes. It’s a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, a glucose-lowering medicine. Because it also decreases appetite, it’s sometimes prescribed off-label as part of a weight management program. 

Whatever your reason for using Ozempic, it needs to be prescribed by a healthcare provider. With long delays in getting appointments and access to Ozempic sometimes limited by shortages, many people look into getting Ozempic online, obtaining prescriptions via telehealth appointments, and buying it from internet pharmacies. 

But how do you actually get weight loss medication online, and—more importantly—is it safe? We asked experts about the steps involved, from weighing the pros and cons of telehealth prescribing to vetting online pharmacies for legitimacy. Here’s what you need to know about the safety of buying Ozempic online.

Ozempic dosage and administration

“Ozempic is a weekly subcutaneous injection sold as a multidose pen,” says Chhaya Makhija, MD, endocrinologist and lifestyle medicine specialist, and founder of Unified Endocrine and Diabetes Care in California. After a brief training session with your clinician, you should be ready to inject yourself with your weekly dose.

The right dose is determined over time. Patients typically start on a low dose of 0.25 milligrams (mg) and gradually increase to a higher dose if it’s well-tolerated. You may need up to 2 mg of Ozempic per week, depending on your diabetes management plan. Slowly increasing the dose over time can help you manage common side effects of Ozempic, such as gastrointestinal upset.

Ozempic cost

Unfortunately, like many new drugs, Ozempic comes with a hefty price tag. It’s not always covered by insurance, and out-of-pocket costs can get as high as $1,000 per month. “Even if you have some coverage with a copay,” says Dr. Makhija, “copay costs can vary between plans.”

Your dosage can also affect how expensive your medication is. For example, an Ozempic pen designed to deliver 0.25 milligrams per week for four weeks is cheaper than a 1 mg or 2 mg dosing pen. 

Ozempic price comparison: Online vs. offline

Buying Ozempic online won’t necessarily save you a lot of money; it’s more about finding the best deal at the right time. In fact, many credible online platforms selling Ozempic only do so as part of a membership package, which actually increases your overall costs. These membership packages often include an online visit with a healthcare provider who may prescribe the drug for you.

How to find the best deal on Ozempic

There are ways to find Ozempic for less than $1,000 per month, although it’s important to know that finding a deal that seems too good to be true should be a red flag. (We cover how to spot illegitimate pharmacies and counterfeit medications in more detail below.) 

“But some variation in pricing from retailer to retailer is normal,” says Danielle Kelvas, MD, a primary care physician with The HCG Institute in Tennessee.

“Especially for new drugs like Ozempic, prices can change all the time because companies compete to sell the drugs,” Dr. Kelvas explains. “I check prices across pharmacies every single time I write [a prescription] for a drug because that’s how frequently they change.”

Here are a few other ways to save money on Ozempic, particularly if you don’t have insurance coverage:

• Check the manufacturer’s website. Dr. Makhija says Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, may offer coupons or rebates as well as patient resources and support for finding a lower cost of the medication. 
• Ask your provider or pharmacist. Many healthcare professionals are savvy when it comes to finding creative ways to help patients save money on prescriptions, so don’t be shy about asking if they can advise you on where to get Ozempic or how to reduce the cost.
• Get the SingleCare prescription discount card. It can be used at dozens of pharmacy chains around the country and can save you up to 80% on some medications, including Ozempic.

Why buy Ozempic online

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic made telemedicine a legitimate option for receiving care, more people have been using it to treat acute and chronic health conditions. According to Dr. Kelvas, it can take months to get an in-person appointment with a medical provider, and that’s assuming you have the means to actually travel to a provider’s office in the first place.

“Many people don’t have access to transportation or live in such remote areas that a nearby medical office could be one or more hours away,” Dr. Kelvas explains. “If someone is disabled or needs a family member or friend to help them get to appointments, telemedicine is a much more convenient option.”

Convenient access is also a primary reason why some people choose to fill their Ozempic prescriptions through online pharmacies. If you don’t have a local pharmacy (or the closest one doesn’t carry Ozempic), it can be easier to have your prescription mailed to you instead. This is especially true for Ozempic, which Dr. Kelvas says frequently goes through shortages because it’s a new drug that’s high in demand. 

Despite what some may think about cost savings, buying Ozempic online doesn’t automatically save you money if you’re getting it from a legitimate source. Accredited online pharmacies charge around the same price for Ozempic as local pharmacies unless you’re using insurance. The cost of Ozempic with insurance varies by plan.  

Step-by-step guide to buying Ozempic online

Thinking of filling an Ozempic prescription through an online pharmacy? Here’s how to get started (and what to keep in mind along the way). 

1. Make a list of reputable online pharmacies

There are a lot of online pharmacies to choose from, so it helps to do a quick internet search and make a list of your options. Something to consider here is whether you need to obtain a prescription online from a telehealth provider or not. Some online pharmacies require you to have an online visit with one of their providers as part of the prescription process, whereas others will fill any prescribed medication from any provider with or without an appointment. 

2. Vet each pharmacy carefully

This is arguably the most important step. Dr. Kelvas says you should always research any online pharmacy you’re considering using to be sure they’re legitimate. Here’s how:

• Check their accreditation. “Look for a seal from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), for example,” Dr. Kelvas says, “and make sure they have a valid physical address in the country where they operate and have options for you to speak with a medical provider or pharmacist if needed.” 
• Evaluate their credibility. During the onboarding process, Dr. Kelvas says you should be asked questions about your medical history, health conditions, current prescriptions, and allergies. This shows that the company cares about you as an individual patient.

You may also want to check customer reviews online for common, recurring problems. 

• Learn about follow-up appointment options. Make sure you have a way to check in with a healthcare provider while you’re taking Ozempic. If your regular provider has prescribed it to you, they will reach out to schedule follow-up appointments, but if you’re using a telemedicine company to be prescribed Ozempic for the first time, look for one that offers to connect you with a provider for ongoing monitoring of your treatment plan. 

3. Figure out how you will pay for your prescription—and compare prices

Many telemedicine companies will help you submit a claim to your insurance company for Ozempic coverage, but sometimes, it’s up to you to do that. If health insurance is covering your prescription, you may still have a copay or deductible to meet; make sure you know what you will be financially responsible for before filling your prescription.

If your insurance won’t cover Ozempic, you’ll need to make sure the full cost is in your budget. 

Things to consider when buying medication online

Buying any medication online comes with a set of potential pros and cons, and Ozempic is no different. 

You need a prescription

First and foremost, you absolutely do need a valid prescription in order to access any prescription drug in the United States. “This is for your own protection,” says Dr. Kelvas. Drugs that require a prescription can potentially be dangerous if taken outside of a healthcare provider’s recommendation.

You need a healthcare provider

You need to have access to a provider while taking any drug, including Ozempic, so you can receive medication counseling, alert them to unwanted side effects, and discuss any changes needed to dosing. While many telemedicine companies offer follow-up appointments, pay attention to whether your appointments will be with the same provider each time. 

Dr. Makhija strongly advises against receiving a prescription from any telehealth companies that switch providers frequently or are telemedicine-only, with no option for in-person appointments to monitor your blood pressure, blood glucose levels, or other basic health parameters.

 “The ideal environment would be to have your primary care physician, or endocrinologist, discuss the pros and cons of this medication and then proceed with treatment,” she explains. “[Ozempic is a medication that] affects stomach motility [and] in case of emergencies…your prescribing physician or medical care team should be available to assist you with appropriate precautions, recommendations, and instructions.”

Watch for red flags

Remember that Ozempic is a prescription drug that isn’t safe for everyone. Dr. Kelvas says it’s important not to skip these safety steps—and that any online company that allows you to skip them should send up a red flag.

Another red flag? Offering Ozempic at extreme discounts. While it’s common for exact pricing to change—and for one pharmacy to offer it cheaper than its competitors at times—unusually low prices on Ozempic (especially when combined with aggressive marketing tactics) is a warning sign, says Dr. Kelvas. 

Think about shipping

“Consider how an online pharmacy will get your medication to you,” says Dr. Kelvas. “Some send orders to local pharmacies for pickup, but that could pose a problem if your transportation options are limited.” 

It will also take longer to order your prescription and have it shipped to you than it would to fill it through your local pharmacy. While many telemedicine companies offer easy ordering and reasonably short shipping times, it’s still something to keep in mind—especially since frequent shortages of drugs can make shipping take even longer. 

Is it safe to buy Ozempic online?

It can be safe to buy Ozempic online, but you need to make sure you’re performing your due diligence before you order your prescription from an online pharmacy or telemedicine company. Follow the steps we’ve outlined to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable online pharmacy that provides opportunities for you to check in regularly with a provider knowledgeable about your medical history.

You should also make sure the pharmacy will be shipping your prescription to you in a way that ensures its quality. Dr. Kelvas says Ozempic should be stored unopened at refrigerator temperature (between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit). Once you’ve started using your pen, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 56 days, but it should never be frozen.

“I tell patients, as a general rule, to just keep it in the fridge,” Dr. Kelvas says. “Accidently leaving the pen in the car or on the counter, maybe near the stove, can raise the temperature of the drug and render it unusable.”

“One other important point to keep in mind is that generic semaglutide is not the same as brand-name Ozempic,” Dr. Makhija says, “so you should be careful not to order or use the generic version of this drug.”

“The human clinical trials were for Ozempic, and the doses are studied with that particular drug and brand,” Dr. Makhija explains, as the generic version is not FDA approved. 

Lastly, you should familiarize yourself with the differences between authentic, FDA-approved Ozempic pens and counterfeit ones by reviewing information published by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer. The company has an extensive guide to spotting counterfeit pens, including what the pen and packaging should look like and what should be included in the packaging.