How to Get Prescribed Ozempic For Weight Loss

Like many others struggling to shed excess pounds, you might be wondering how to get an Ozempic® prescription for weight loss. The simple answer is: It’s not as easy when you don’t have diabetes. 

Ozempic (semaglutide) is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, not obesity. Doctors sometimes prescribe Ozempic off-label to support weight loss, but off-label drugs are rarely covered by insurance. 

Wegovy®, which also contains semaglutide, is FDA-approved to treat obesity. You may be able to get a Wegovy prescription from your primary care doctor or a telehealth platform. It’s important to understand, though, that most insurance plans consider weight loss injections “cosmetic” and don’t cover the costs.  

Some telehealth platforms, like Hers, provide access to compounded semaglutide (which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy). 

We’ve got you covered with info on how to get Ozempic or semaglutide prescribed for weight loss, where to get Ozempic, and the costs of Ozempic and other medications that may support weight loss.

Before we sort out how and where to get this buzzy drug, let’s cover the basics.

Ozempic is a brand name for a drug called semaglutide. It’s part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. For those who like to dive really deep into the science, GLP-1 (short for glucagon-like peptide-1) is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates insulin and promotes feelings of fullness.

Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs essentially mimic the GLP-1 hormone. They also help your stomach empty more slowly, keeping you feeling full longer.

GLP-1s also reduce cravings and increase insulin production, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels.

Yup! Like most scripts, you can’t just add the drug to your online cart or pluck it from a drugstore shelf — you’ll need an Ozempic prescription. You can get one in person from your doctor or a board-licensed telehealth provider.

Ozempic can be prescribed “off-label” for weight loss. Off-label use means a medication is prescribed by a healthcare provider for something other than what it’s FDA-approved for — in this case, type 2 diabetes.

But off-label prescriptions are rarely covered by insurance. This is a significant barrier for many people due to the high cost of brand-name weight loss injections. 

If you don’t have diabetes (but do have obesity or overweight and a weight-related condition like heart disease), you may be able to get a prescription for a different GLP-1 agonist. 

Weight loss injections that are prescribed for obesity include Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound® (tirzepatide).    

If you qualify, you can get a prescription for Ozempic for weight loss from a licensed healthcare provider, either online or in person. 

Where to Get Ozempic Online

Now that everything from dog food to donuts can be sent directly to your doorstep (homebodies, rejoice), getting prescribed Ozempic for weight loss online is likely simpler than you think. You’ll just need to choose a telehealth provider! 

Through the Hers telehealth platform, licensed healthcare providers prescribe GLP-1 agonists to those who qualify. After a free initial assessment, you’ll be connected with a provider who can help you find the best weight loss medication for your body and your goals.     

While the process of getting Ozempic online varies between platforms, you’ll typically be asked a few basic questions about your health and body weight. This will help determine your BMI (body mass index) to see if you’re eligible. Then you’ll be connected with a prescribing healthcare professional who’ll take it from there.

Some telehealth platforms, like Hers, also offer additional services like free, ongoing access to your healthcare team, behavioral change exercises, and healthy eating tips.

How to Get Ozempic in Person

Wondering who can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss? You don’t need to find a specialist, but the drug can only be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider (like your primary care physician, a physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner).

Getting Ozempic in person can be a good idea because your provider can perform a thorough physical health exam, discuss existing medical conditions, and order any necessary lab tests. 

If you want to get Ozempic in person, make an appointment to see your primary care physician or a general practitioner and let them know you’re interested in medications that may support weight loss.

To officially qualify for Ozempic (and get it covered by insurance), you’ll need to have a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Though some providers are willing to prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss. 

If you’re looking for Ozempic for weight loss, your provider may calculate your body mass index based on your current height and weight to get an idea of body composition.

While the BMI measurement is imperfect (it doesn’t consider things like age, ethnicity, or muscle mass), it can be a quick and inexpensive way to assess whether someone has overweight or obesity and qualifies for certain medications.

Wegovy® is another semaglutide drug that is approved for treating obesity and situations where excess weight is accompanied by weight-related medical problems.

More specifically, FDA guidelines state that to be appropriate for Wegovy, you must have a BMI of 30 or greater, or a BMI of at least 27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity (things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or sleep apnea). Some providers may use the Wegovy guidelines when prescribing Ozempic.

Ozempic Shortages

Eligibility requirements for Ozempic prescriptions vary, especially while the drug faces shortages.

Novo Nordisk®, the manufacterer of Ozempic, indicated that shortages of the medication (due to increased demand and the discontinuation of certain Ozempic pens) are improving, but they still exist.

Some providers may be choosier about who they prescribe to, and priority might go to those with diabetes.

Here’s the not-great news: your health insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of Ozempic if it’s used for weight management.

Weight loss drugs are rarely covered by insurance. This could change as the industry evolves, but for now, it’s an unfortunate aspect of Ozempic.

How Much Does Ozempic Cost?

To put it mildly, Ozempic isn’t cheap. The list price for one Ozempic pen (which contains two to four doses) is upwards of $950, generally. Wegovy is typically more expensive.

Also, don’t forget to factor in the cost of continued use when crunching numbers. Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists aren’t a one-and-done situation. You may need to take them indefinitely.  

A 2022 study sponsored by Novo Nordisk showed that after a year without semaglutide injections, participants had regained an average of two-thirds of their lost body weight. 

How Much Does Compounded Semaglutide Cost?

Compounded semaglutide, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, can be an affordable alternative. Although compounded medications are not FDA-approved, reputable companies like Hims & Hers go out of their way to ensure safety. 

Learn more about the steps Hers takes to ensure subscribers have access to safe and effective medication.

At Hers, compounded semaglutide starts at only $165 per month (with a 12-month plan, paid in full). You also get free, ongoing access to your healthcare team — just in case you have any questions as you move forward on your weight loss journey.   

How to Get Ozempic Without Insurance

The process of getting Ozempic is the same whether insurance covers it or not. If you’re paying out of pocket, you’ll still need to consult a healthcare professional in person or through a telehealth platform to get a prescription.

When filling that prescription, you’ll pay for it outright at the pharmacy instead of having them bill your insurance.

To get the best price, look into drug coupon codes and other cost savings options.

If you’re super by-the-book, off-label drug use may seem scary or like you’re breaking the rules — but the practice is legal and quite common. There’s no need to feel sheepish asking about a medication that may help you.

Tell your provider why you’re interested in Ozempic — a good doctor won’t judge you or your desire to use a weight loss medication.

They’ll likely ask about your medical history, go over your eligibility, and consider anything that might make you a bad candidate for Ozempic. From there, you can work together to develop a treatment plan.

Ozempic can be a helpful piece of the weight loss puzzle, but it’s not without its side effects.

Common side effects of Ozempic include:

• Stomach pain 

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Heartburn

• Low blood sugar (though it typically doesn’t cause hypoglycemia)

One study found that the GI (gastrointestinal) side effects of Ozempic are typically mild to moderate. Still, if you’re not sure the medication is right for you, it might be worth considering alternative weight loss medications and lifestyle tweaks — we’ll go over these below.

Who Shouldn’t Take Ozempic

According to Ozempic’s safety pamphlet, the medication could be unsafe for people with acute gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy, kidney problems, or a family history of thyroid cancer.

Also, be sure to let your provider know if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.

Many GLP-1 agonist medications that work similarly to Ozempic are now available. There are also other medications that can be used for weight management — both on-label and off-label. 

Compounded Semaglutide

Compounded semaglutide contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy. Although they are not FDA-approved, compounded medications are frequently prescribed for people who need specialized dosing or who are allergic to one of the inactive ingredients in a medication. 

Compounding pharmacies are legally allowed to produce semaglutide due to the current shortages in Ozempic and Wegovy.

Through the Hers weight management program, licensed medical professionals can prescribe compounded semaglutide to those who qualify. You’ll get your medication shipped to you fast, and you won't have to worry about losing access to it due to drug shortages.   

Wegovy

We already talked about Wegovy, so we’ll keep it brief. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, but unlike Ozempic, it’s FDA-approved for weight loss.

It’s also an injectable and is available in higher doses of semaglutide than Ozempic.

Saxenda®

Saxenda is an injectable GLP-1 agonist medication like Ozempic and Wegovy. You know the drill — these medications suppress appetite and reduce cravings for fatty foods.

The main difference is that Saxenda’s active ingredient is liraglutide, which works similarly to semaglutide but isn’t identical.

Zepbound and Mounjaro

Zepbound and Mounjaro are two other injectables used to treat obesity. They’re both brand names for tirzepatide — Mounjaro is approved for diabetes and Zepbound is approved for weight management.

Tirzepatide works similarly to semaglutide, except it’s a dual agonist. This means that in addition to activating GLP-1, it also activates glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

That’s a mouthful, but what you really need to know is that Zepbound may lead to even more weight loss than Ozempic or Wegovy.

Metformin

Metformin (generic for Glucophage®, Riomet® and Glumetza®) is a prescription medication that’s FDA-approved to treat diabetes, but sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.

It’s not totally understood how metformin helps with weight loss, but it appears to increase how much GLP-1 the body makes. By signaling a feeling of fullness to your body, you’ll likely eat less because you don’t feel as hungry.

Metformin typically comes in pill or liquid form — but never an injectable. For more info, check out our blog on Ozempic versus metformin for weight loss.

Naltrexone-Bupropion

Like a married couple with a hyphenated last name, naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave®) is simply a fusion of these two FDA-approved drugs.

Naltrexone is commonly used to treat alcohol and drug dependence, and it also reduces the reward effects of food. Bupropion is used for the treatment of depression or to help quit smoking. With their powers combined, this medication reduces appetite and helps control food cravings.

Topiramate

Topiramate (generic for Trokendi XR®, Qudexy XR® and Topamax®) is typically used for treating epilepsy and migraines, but it’s also approved for weight management in those with a BMI over thirty when combined with another medication, phentermine. This prescription drug suppresses appetite, often resulting in reduced calorie intake.

Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference when it comes to losing weight. And if you do opt to take weight loss medication, it’ll be more effective in addition to diet and exercise.

Here are a few ways to support your weight loss goals — with or without medication.

Eat a Nutritious Diet

Adjusting your diet in an attempt to lose weight isn’t groundbreaking — not like some of the innovative drugs now on the market. But the tried-and-true method can be effective.

Small tweaks like adding more lean protein to your diet or rethinking your snack game (yes, healthy snacks are definitely encouraged when losing weight) can have a big effect.

Get Regular Exercise

No one says you need to train for a marathon or go anywhere near a spin class (unless you want to) to meet your weight loss goals and feel your best, but moving your body more can definitely help.

You have to burn about 3,500 calories to lose one pound of fat mass, so any amount of moving and calorie-burning you can do will help you get to your goal.

Limit Alcohol

As anyone who’s ever gotten late-night pizza knows, alcohol doesn’t make you feel full. So, you get extra calories from the booze itself, plus the additional snack foods you might indulge in after the fact. 

A 2018 study found that heavy alcohol drinkers may be “at risk for suboptimal long-term weight loss.”

This study was done specifically on people with diabetes. However, you don’t need to be a medical researcher to know it’s much easier to hit snooze than to hit the gym after a night of drinking — another way alcohol can mess with your weight loss goals.

Can Ozempic be prescribed for weight loss? Yes, it can be prescribed off-label for weight loss. 

Here’s what to remember about how and where to get Ozempic for weight loss:

• There aren’t specific Ozempic qualifications when it’s prescribed for weight loss, but many prescribers will use the same BMI guidelines that Wegovy has. The general guidelines are that you either need to have a BMI of 30 or more or a BMI of 27 or more with a comorbidity (another weight-related medical condition).

• Since it’s so popular, there are currently shortages of Ozempic and Wegovy. This means it may be difficult to fill your prescription quickly.

• Alternatives to Ozempic include more affordable options like compounded semaglutide, metformin, and other oral weight loss medications. 

• Weight loss medications can definitely help make the road smoother, but they work best when combined with healthy lifestyle choices.

• Weight loss is a very personal journey, and in the end, the choice to seek out a medication like semaglutide is entirely yours.

Want to learn more? Start a free online assessment to discover what options may be right for you.