Canadian pharmacy Ozempic: Cost, availability & more

In this article:

• Ozempic dosage and administration
• Ozempic cost in the United States vs. Canada
• The problem with getting Ozempic from Canada
• Legal and regulatory considerations
• Tariffs and import fees
• How to save on Ozempic in the United States
• Consider a compounded version
• Considerations when buying medication online

In this article

• Ozempic dosage and administration
• Ozempic cost in the United States vs. Canada
• The problem with getting Ozempic from Canada
• Legal and regulatory considerations
• Tariffs and import fees
• How to save on Ozempic in the United States
• Consider a compounded version
• Considerations when buying medication online

Over 38 million people in the United States have diabetes, and over 40% have obesity. Because Ozempic (semaglutide) 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, some 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 inject one dose on the same day each week. After four weeks of taking the 0.25 mg dose, the healthcare provider will likely increase the dose to 0.5 mg weekly. Then, after the second month, they’ll reassess and potentially increase to 1 mg, then 2 mg after another month if necessary. Some patients may require a higher dose for blood sugar control, while others may stay on a lower dose if blood sugar is controlled and to minimize side effects.

Ozempic can be effective at doses of 0.5 mg and above 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 $1,351 on average in the United States, depending on the location and pharmacy. 

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. 

The problem with getting Ozempic from Canada

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 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. 

Legal and regulatory considerations

Importing prescription medications for personal use is sometimes illegal, but the 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. 

Tariffs and import fees

It’s hard to predict how the tariffs will affect the prices of Ozempic when imported to the U.S. from a Canadian pharmacy. There are a lot of moving pieces. In March 2025, Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen told Bloomberg that he expected to see some “short-term impact” from the tariffs. Novo Nordisk also plans to increase production of medicine in the U.S., with plans to build a $4 billion factory in North Carolina. Currently, the company is headquartered in Denmark and procures supplies from other countries, including China.

On April 2, 2025, the White House issued a statement about the tariffs. The existing emergency orders related to fentanyl and migration—issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—are still in effect and are not impacted by this new order. This means that goods from Canada (and Mexico) that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will continue to enter the U.S. without any additional tariffs. However, other increasing costs could still affect the price of the drug, even if there are no direct tariffs on Ozempic. The full picture is yet to be seen.

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 efforts to restrict sales may leave many Americans looking for ways to get it at 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—saving you $6,000 or more per year. Get your free SingleCare discount card here.

Get it from a licensed healthcare provider

Dr. Misra says adult patients should only get prescriptions for Ozempic or similar drugs from a licensed healthcare provider such as an MD or DO. “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.” Compounded semaglutide is not FDA approved. And since the semaglutide shortage is over, compounding pharmacies may no longer be able to sell compounded semaglutide for much longer. 

RELATED: Is compounded semaglutide safe?

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 $100 for one month, $200 for two months, and $300 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 2025 are $23,475 for individuals and $31,725 for married couples.

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 incorrect spelling or 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. 

The FDA has also reported concerns about unapproved and compounded versions of semaglutide from online pharmacies.

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, and Canadian provinces are looking 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.