Health Canada has approved Ozempic (semaglutide) to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, and most provincial drug plans will cover its costs if your physician prescribes it to you for your treatment-resistant type of diabetes.
Ozempic is also used to manage obesity when combined with diet and exercise; however, its risks include hypoglycemia and pancreatitis.
How Much Does Ozempic Cost without Insurance?
Ozempic is making waves when it comes to managing type 2 diabetes, offering great options for lowering blood sugar and weight loss in people living with this condition.
However, one issue many Americans are grappling with is cost; many report that cannabis-derived medications are costly in America, and many are seeking cheaper options elsewhere, such as Canada.
Canadian pharmacies sell diabetes medication at much more reasonable rates than what’s available in the United States, drawing thousands of Americans over to Canada each year for treatment.
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection used to help manage blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes in conjunction with diet and exercise. Available from your doctor, it should be subcutaneously (just below the skin) injected subcutaneously (subdermally) in either your abdomen, thigh, or arm and works by blocking certain chemicals within your body from absorbing glucose. The active ingredient used is semaglutide; this drug works by blocking specific chemicals that absorb it.
How do I get an Ozempic Prescription?
Before Ozempic can be prescribed and disbursed in Canada, a healthcare practitioner must sign an order form for it. This may be done by family doctors or licensed healthcare practitioners such as pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and registered dietitians. Before prescribing Ozempic, healthcare practitioners will assess a patient’s medical history, and any possible side effects, including hypoglycemia, injection site reactions, weight gain, or rarer risks such as thyroid tumors or pancreatitis, should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Some Canadians have begun purchasing Ozempic from pharmacies in the US. Over 15% of all Ozempic pens dispensed in British Columbia were sold to Americans in just the first two months of 2019, prompting British Columbia to limit sales so as to prevent an Ozempic shortage. If you are a Type 2 diabetic, speak with your pharmacy to find out whether they carry Ozempic. If they do, inquire if a discount card such as GoodRx could get it cheaper.
How do I Switch to Ozempic?
Ozempic should be administered subcutaneously via an injection pen in the abdomen, thigh, or arm once every week using an injection pen and can be adjusted as necessary by your physician.
If you are considering switching to Ozempic, be sure to talk with a healthcare practitioner first. It is essential to weigh the benefits against potential risks such as hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, and weight gain. Individuals taking Ozempic should also try not to indulge in excessive drinking as this may increase their chances of hypoglycemia or pancreatitis.
Shopping around and searching for discounts are surefire ways to reduce prescription costs while checking if you qualify for Novo Nordisk’s patient assistance program might also help save on medications such as Ozempic. Even if you are not eligible, however, there may still be ways to cut your costs; Canadian online pharmacies tend to offer much lower prices than US ones, and this could save up to 70% off your prescriptions!
Where can I Buy Ozempic?
Ozempic is administered subcutaneously using an injection pen in the abdomen, thigh, or arm and should be taken on the same day each week at approximately the same time. Excessive alcohol intake could significantly lower blood sugar levels and cause hypoglycemia.
As part of your efforts to reduce the cost of Ozempic, shopping around and comparing prices online may prove effective in saving money. Coupons or prescription cards may further lower costs. It may also be worth investigating whether you qualify for any Novo Nordisk patient assistance programs.
Ozempic can only be purchased with a valid prescription from an appropriately licensed healthcare practitioner in Canada, such as your family doctor or Felix’s healthcare practitioner. They will assess your health information to decide if Ozempic is appropriate for you based on factors like diagnosis or failure of other treatments to work.