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Key takeaways
Ozempic is not available over the counter, you need a prescription from a healthcare provider.
Alli is the only over-the-counter FDA-approved medication for weight loss.
There are prescription alternatives to Ozempic, such as Wegovy, and Zepbound.
Dubbed a weight-loss miracle drug, Ozempic’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent times. But it is not indicated for that purpose. Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, manufactured by Novo Nordisk and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for managing blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes.
However, healthcare professionals also prescribe it off-label for weight loss. For this reason, there’s been a surge in demand, and people are looking to purchase it over the counter. Unfortunately, you cannot obtain Ozempic over the counter without a prescription.
Related: Diabetes resources | Weight loss resources
Can you get Ozempic over the counter?
No, Ozempic is not available over the counter. This implies that you need to consult with your healthcare provider to prescribe it for your specific needs, including Type 2 diabetes or off-label weight loss.
This is because prescription medications like Ozempic need medical supervision to reduce the risk of abuse, habit forming, and harmful side effects.
Risks of using Ozempic without a prescription
Most Ozempic products obtained without a prescription are fake and contain unknown or harmful ingredients. Some contain 29% to 39% more semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) than indicated on the label.
“Getting Ozempic from a source other than a medical professional risks getting something other than Ozempic; this may lead to getting something ineffective or even dangerous. Additionally, using weight loss medications requires monitoring for side effects and adverse reactions,” says Mir Ali, MD, board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.
The World Health Organization warns that because Ozempic is administered via the subcutaneous route, injecting these fake products under your skin may trigger life-threatening side effects. Possible adverse effects include hypoglycemic shock, stroke, coma, and seizures.
To stay safe, obtain a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider and purchase Ozempic from a verified pharmacy. Always check the batch number provided with the medication. Products with the batch numbers LP6F832, MP5E511, and NAR0074, along with serial number 430834149057, are counterfeit and not from Novo Nordisk, per the World Health Organization.
Ozempic prescription alternatives
There are prescription alternatives to Ozempic to consider if you are looking for other options. These are GLP-1 medications that have undergone thorough evaluation in clinical trials and have been approved for weight loss by the FDA due to their efficacy and safety.
These Ozempic alternatives include:
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Ozempic OTC alternatives
Keep in mind that most weight loss medications marketed as Ozempic OTC alternatives are not approved by the FDA. “A lot of these products have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets,” says Rani Aravamudhan, MD, general medicine physician and senior medical director at Nomi Health. “The obvious question then is, do these GLP-1 alternatives actually work? Maybe … for some people, for some time, but I think it’s unlikely that these products by themselves can help a person with diabetes or obesity achieve normal blood sugar ranges or desired weight loss for sustained periods of time.”
Only one OTC medication is approved for weight loss, and it is known as Alli.
Alli
Orlistat is a prescription FDA-approved drug for obesity management. Alli is a lower-dose (60 mg) over-the-counter version of Orlistat, approved for weight loss in combination with a reduced-calorie and low-fat diet.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. It works by blocking the enzyme (lipase) from breaking down fat, reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs so that you can excrete the rest in your poop.
Other OTC options with possible benefits for weight reduction—though not approved by the FDA— are listed below. “If one wishes to try one or more of these alternatives, I advise them to talk to their healthcare provider first. Learn more about these products in the context of their current health, medications they may be on, lifestyle, and much more,” Dr. Aravamudhan says.
Psyllium husk
Psyllium husk is touted as “the poor man’s Ozempic.” Although it does not directly cause weight loss, it has some benefits that might support weight management. For example, it may improve blood glucose levels, and the high fiber content increases the feeling of fullness.
Berberine
Although it’s been suggested that Berberine may help with weight loss, the scientific evidence to support this notion is not conclusive.
Some studies suggest that people who took more than 1g of Berberine daily over eight weeks experienced weight reduction. However, the studies were poorly designed and have a high risk of bias, which can affect the results. Berberine is unsafe for infants, so it should not be used when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Natural alternatives
Here are tips to help you lose weight naturally:
- Follow a healthy, balanced diet
- Choose foods with a low to medium glycemic index
- Maintain a regular exercise routine
- Reduce stress levels
- Get enough sleep
“The basis for most effective weight loss strategies is reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake and emphasizing protein in the diet,” Dr. Ali says. “This is the advice I give my patients, whether they are taking medications, having weight loss surgery, or using another approach. Also, regular exercise helps preserve muscle and maintain metabolism. The goal with exercise is 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and it can be in smaller segments.”
With home remedies, it’s essential to note that achieving your body weight goals requires discipline and long-term commitment. It’s not a one-off project but a consistent effort to achieve your dream weight through a healthy lifestyle change.
- Overview of over-the-counter medications, MSD Manuals (2025)
- Safety and risk assessment of no-prescription online semaglutide purchases, Jama Network Open (2024)
- Medical product alert N°2/2024: falsified Ozempic (semaglutide), WHO (2024)
- Who deserves Ozempic? The ethical challenges of weight loss use, Indiana University School of Medicine (2024)
- Orlistat (marketed as Alli and Xenical) information, FDA (2015)
- Alli weight-loss pill: Does it work?, Mayo Clinic (2024)
- Psyllium husk and weight loss, American Pharmacists Association
- Berberine and weight loss: What you need to know, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2023)
- Mir Ali, MD, board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.
- Rani Aravamudhan, MD, general medicine physician and senior medical director at Nomi Health