The Ozempic shortage in Australia: How to get Ozempic quickly
Last updated: 16 January 2024
You can legally access new medicines, even if they are not approved in your country.
Learn howOzempic, 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.
Australia is also facing a shortage problem. Filling an Ozempic prescription for diabetes in Australia is becoming a sort of "hunger games'' exercise 1.
In this article, we will share everything there is to know about Ozempic shortages in Australia. And, most importantly, how you can buy Ozempic right now.
Why is Ozempic out of stock in Australia?
In Australia, 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. In Australia, the Ozempic shortage has been in place since early 2022 3.
When will the Ozempic shortage in Australia end?
According to the TGA, the Ozempic shortage is expected to continue for the rest of 2023 and into 2024 3, 4. These timelines are dynamic and may change based on a number of factors, including off-label demand drops.
For the latest information on the Ozempic shortage, you can refer to the TGA's website and the Medicine Shortage Reports Database.
In the meantime, to help solve the problem, the TGA has issued additional restrictions. For example, it's no longer allowed to advertise Ozempic as a weight loss tool 5. Prescribing Ozempic is also currently restricted.
What does that mean for diabetic patients in Australia?
Can I get a prescription for Ozempic in Australia?
Due to the Ozempic shortage, the TGA recommends doctors not to prescribe it to new patients with Type 2 diabetes unless there's no other option. The goal is to prevent treatment disruptions for new patients until a consistent supply of the medication can be guaranteed.
Priority in prescribing and filling prescriptions is given to patients who are already stabilized on Ozempic and have no other treatment options.
Can my doctor prescribe semaglutide for weight loss?
The advice of the TGA is not to prescribe Ozempic for off-label use (i.e. weight loss). Unfortunately, the TGA does not have the authority to regulate doctors' decisions and it cannot prevent off-label use completely 3. Therefore, it is up to your doctor to decide whether or not to prescribe Ozempic for weight loss.
How do I get Ozempic in Australia?
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.
Ozempic registered overseas
Due to the Ozempic shortage, the TGA has temporarily approved the supply of Ozempic registered overseas. This does not solve the Ozempic shortage problem, but may alleviate it.
Unfortunately, if sourced from overseas, Ozempic is not currently subsidised 3.
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 Europe, 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 Australia, 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. Our priority is helping the diabetes patients most in need get through the medicine shortage.
References:
- Ozempic shortage forces diabetes patients to search pharmacies in hope of filling scripts. ABC, 7 February 2023.
- Ozempic PI, Accessed 30 October 2023.
- About the Ozempic (semaglutide) shortage 2022 and 2023. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), 21 September 2023.
- Ozempic shortage here to stay. Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 11 October 2023.
- A warning that advertising Ozempic (semaglutide) is prohibited. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), 30 November 2022.
- Schimelpfening, Nancy. Fake Ozempic Is Being Sold Online and Sending People to the Hospital. Healthline, 27 October 2023.
