The Ozempic shortage in the UK: How to get Ozempic quickly

Last updated: 16 January 2024

Ozempic, first approved by the FDA in 2017, is a novel medicine helping people with Type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. And that's all there would have been to the story, if the global social media influencer tribe hadn't picked up on one of Ozempic's side effects - weight loss.

The demand for effective obesity management solutions is genuine; however, the rising popularity of Ozempic as a weight loss aid has overshadowed its primary function. Many individuals are viewing it as a means to lose weight quickly, which has led to a global shortage of Ozempic, affecting its availability for its intended users—those with diabetes.

The UK has not been spared. Diabetes patients in the UK are reportedly having to call up to 30 pharmacies to find someone who has the medicine in stock ¹.

In this article, we will share everything there is to know about Ozempic shortages in the UK. And, most importantly, how you can buy Ozempic right now.

Why is Ozempic out of stock in the UK?

In the UK, as in the rest of the world, there has been an increase in Ozempic “off-label” prescriptions for weight loss. "Off-label" is a prescription for an indication other than what a medicine has been approved for.

It's important to note that Ozempic is not intended or approved for weight loss anywhere, and may have long-term serious side effects ².

The unexpected spike in Ozempic demand, combined with the medicine's complex manufacturing process, have resulted in the current shortage.

When will the Ozempic shortage in the UK end?

According to Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, the Ozempic shortage in the UK is expected to continue until mid-2024 ³. This timeline is dynamic and may change based on a number of factors, including off-label demand drops.

With the market introduction of Wegovy in the UK as an obesity treatment, it’s possible that some of the off-label demand for Ozempic diminishes. Although there are no known supply issues with Wegovy at the moment, the medicine’s launch has been described as “controlled and limited” by Novo Nordisk ⁴. With that in mind, it might take a while before Wegovy can alleviate the Ozempic shortage in the UK.

In the meantime, to help solve the problem, the NHS has issued a National Patient Safety Alert, urging doctors not to prescribe Ozempic for off-label use in obesity management. The advice is to prioritize diabetes patients ⁵.

Can I get Ozempic in the UK despite the shortage?

If you're a patient with Type 2 diabetes and have a prescription for Ozempic, it can currently be very challenging to fill that prescription ¹. Pharmacists are advised to prioritize patients stabilized on Ozempic, in order to avoid treatment disruptions.

However, the good news is that you can still fill your Ozempic prescription by importing the medicine from another country, on the basis of the Named Patient Import regulation. Unfortunately, if sourced from abroad, Ozempic is not currently covered by the NHS.

Where can I safely buy Ozempic online?

There are many online stores claiming to offer Ozempic, but beware of the fact that not all of them are genuine. With falsified Ozempic pens recently being found on the market in the UK and the EU, it's especially important to check the credentials of anyone claiming to sell Ozempic online ⁶.

Everyone.org is a registered international pharmacy with a pharmaceutical wholesale distributor. As such, we follow strict procedures to ensure that the medicines we supply are genuine. Our focus is helping people access medicines that are unavailable to them. And we do that based on the Named Patient Import regulation. If you are struggling to find Ozempic in the UK, we can help.

If you have a valid Ozempic prescription for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, and would like us to help you get the medicine right now, contact us.

Please note: We are unable to service Ozempic prescriptions for off-label use, in line with the National Patient Safety Alert ⁵. Our priority is helping diabetes patients who are most in need to get through the medicine shortage.