Your Patients Are Asking — Here's How to Help

Even though the Ozempic shortage officially ended in February 2025, many providers still field calls from patients who can't find their medication. Whether it's a localized stocking issue, a specific dose that's temporarily unavailable, or a patient who doesn't know where to look, there are concrete steps you and your clinical team can take to improve fill rates and reduce treatment interruptions.

This guide outlines a practical approach to helping your patients get their Ozempic prescriptions filled in 2026.

Current Availability Landscape

As of early 2026, Ozempic supply is generally stable across the United States. Novo Nordisk has significantly expanded manufacturing capacity, and the FDA confirmed that demand is being met. However, providers should be aware of these nuances:

• The 2 mg pen may still experience intermittent availability issues in some regions
• High-demand urban areas may see faster turnover, leading to temporary stock-outs at individual pharmacies
• Insurance-related fill failures (prior authorization delays, step therapy requirements) can mimic availability issues from the patient's perspective
• End of compounded semaglutide shifted patient volume back to branded products, temporarily increasing demand at some pharmacies

Why Patients Can't Find Ozempic

When a patient reports they can't find Ozempic, the cause usually falls into one of these categories:

1. Pharmacy-specific stock issue: Their pharmacy is temporarily out but others nearby have stock
2. Dose-specific shortage: The specific pen strength isn't available, though other strengths are
3. Insurance or PA barrier: The prescription was rejected and the patient interprets this as "unavailable"
4. Timing: Patient is trying to fill at end-of-month when pharmacy stock is depleted
5. Patient doesn't know how to look: They tried one pharmacy, got told no, and assumed it's unavailable everywhere

Understanding the root cause helps you provide the right solution.

5 Steps to Help Patients Find Ozempic

Step 1: Direct Patients to Medfinder

The most efficient way to solve pharmacy-level stock issues is to use a real-time availability tool. Medfinder for Providers allows your clinical team to check which pharmacies near the patient have Ozempic in stock right now.

Consider adding Medfinder to your prescribing workflow:

• Check availability before sending the prescription to reduce first-fill failures
• Provide the patient with 2-3 pharmacy options that have confirmed stock
• Recommend patients bookmark medfinder.com for future refills

Step 2: Send Prescriptions to Multiple Pharmacies When Appropriate

If one pharmacy doesn't have stock, having a backup prescription at an alternative pharmacy saves time. In many states, you can e-prescribe to a second pharmacy if the first can't fill. Check your state's regulations on duplicate prescriptions for non-controlled substances (Ozempic is not a controlled substance).

Step 3: Proactively Address Insurance Barriers

Many fill failures are actually insurance rejections disguised as availability problems. Get ahead of this by:

• Submitting prior authorization at the time of prescribing, not after the patient arrives at the pharmacy
• Documenting medical necessity thoroughly: diagnosis, A1C levels, previous therapies tried
• Using electronic PA services when available to speed approval
• Having a staff member dedicated to PA follow-up for GLP-1 medications

Step 4: Consider Dose Flexibility

If a specific Ozempic pen isn't available, discuss dose alternatives with the patient:

• The 1 mg pen is generally the most widely stocked
• If the 2 mg pen is unavailable, discuss whether 1 mg provides adequate glycemic control while waiting for 2 mg stock
• For dose initiation, the 0.25 mg/0.5 mg pen is typically available but may occasionally stock out

Never instruct patients to adjust doses without explicit guidance, but having a flexible approach to pen selection can prevent treatment gaps.

Step 5: Have an Alternative Therapy Plan Ready

For patients who face persistent access issues, having a predetermined backup plan reduces delays:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide): Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist — often the preferred switch for patients who need both A1C reduction and weight management
• Trulicity (dulaglutide): Well-established GLP-1 agonist with broad insurance coverage and reliable supply
• Rybelsus (oral semaglutide): Same molecule in oral form — good for patients who prefer pills over injections

Document the alternative plan in the patient's chart so that if Ozempic becomes unavailable, the switch can happen quickly without requiring an additional visit. For more details, see Alternatives to Ozempic.

Workflow Tips for Clinical Teams

Build Availability Checks Into Your Prescribing Process

Adding a 30-second availability check using Medfinder before sending a prescription can significantly reduce callback volume and patient frustration. Train MAs and nurses to incorporate this step.

Educate Patients on Refill Timing

Encourage patients to:

• Refill 2-3 days before their current supply runs out
• Not wait for their last dose to call the pharmacy
• Set a recurring reminder on their phone for refill day

Create a GLP-1 Quick Reference

Keep a reference card at prescribing stations with:

• Current Ozempic pen availability trends
• Insurance PA requirements for your most common payers
• NovoCare Savings Card details ($25/month for insured, $349/month self-pay)
• Patient Assistance Program eligibility (uninsured, ≤400% FPL)
• Alternative GLP-1 options with dosing equivalents

Connect Patients With Cost Resources

Cost is often the hidden reason patients don't fill prescriptions. Proactively share information about savings programs. See our provider cost guide: How to Help Patients Save Money on Ozempic.

Final Thoughts

Helping patients access their Ozempic prescription is now less about navigating a shortage and more about optimizing the prescribing and fill process. By integrating availability tools like Medfinder, proactively managing insurance barriers, and maintaining flexible alternative therapy plans, providers can ensure their patients with type 2 diabetes stay on track with minimal disruption.

For the latest on the Ozempic supply landscape, see our provider shortage briefing.