Your Patients Are Struggling to Find Ozempic — Here's How You Can Help

If you prescribe Ozempic (Semaglutide), you've almost certainly fielded calls from frustrated patients who can't fill their prescriptions. The ongoing supply constraints have created a burden not just for patients, but for clinical staff who spend time fielding calls, processing prior authorizations for alternatives, and managing treatment gaps.

This guide provides a practical, step-by-step approach to helping your patients access Ozempic — or an appropriate alternative — with minimal disruption to their care.

Current Availability: What to Expect in 2026

The Ozempic supply situation has improved meaningfully since the peak shortage of 2023-2024, but providers should still expect variability:

• 1 mg and 2 mg pens: Generally available at most retail pharmacies nationwide
• 0.25 mg/0.5 mg starter pen: Intermittently constrained, especially in high-demand markets
• Regional variation: Urban areas with more pharmacy options tend to have better availability than rural areas
• Pharmacy type matters: Independent pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, and mail-order services often have better stock than large retail chains

For a detailed supply timeline, see our provider shortage briefing.

Why Your Patients Can't Find It

Understanding the root causes helps you have informed conversations with patients:

• Demand outpaces supply: GLP-1 prescriptions have grown exponentially, driven by both diabetes and weight management indications
• Manufacturing constraints: Biologic peptide manufacturing can't scale quickly. Novo Nordisk's expansion investments are yielding results but haven't fully closed the gap
• No generic competition: Patent protection through 2031-2032 means a single manufacturer controls the entire supply
• Starter dose bottleneck: Every new patient needs 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses first, creating disproportionate demand for these strengths

What Providers Can Do: 5 Practical Steps

Step 1: Check Availability Before You Prescribe

One of the most impactful things you can do is verify that the medication is actually available before sending the prescription. This prevents the frustrating cycle of the patient going to the pharmacy, being turned away, calling your office, and starting over.

Medfinder for Providers allows you to check real-time Ozempic stock at pharmacies near your patient's location. You can:

• Search by medication and zip code
• See which pharmacies currently have the prescribed dose in stock
• Send the prescription to a pharmacy that actually has it

Integrating a quick availability check into your prescribing workflow takes less than a minute and can save hours of follow-up.

Step 2: E-Prescribe to the Right Pharmacy

Once you've identified a pharmacy with stock, send the electronic prescription directly there. If your patient's usual pharmacy is out of stock, proactively routing to an alternative pharmacy avoids delays. Let the patient know you've sent it to a different location and why.

Step 3: Have the Alternative Conversation Early

Don't wait until a patient has been without medication for weeks to discuss alternatives. At the point of prescribing — or during routine visits — briefly cover what options exist if Ozempic isn't available:

• Mounjaro (Tirzepatide): Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist with strong efficacy data. Weekly injection. Requires separate prior authorization.
• Trulicity (Dulaglutide): GLP-1 agonist with a simpler auto-injector. Weekly injection. Widely available.
• Rybelsus (Oral Semaglutide): Same active ingredient in daily oral form. Avoids injection. Better supply.
• Victoza (Liraglutide): Daily GLP-1 injection. Oldest in class. Readily available with extensive long-term safety data.

Having this conversation upfront means that if the patient calls unable to fill, your staff can quickly pivot to a pre-discussed backup plan rather than scheduling another visit.

Step 4: Pre-Authorize Alternatives When Possible

If your practice has the capacity, consider submitting prior authorizations for a backup medication proactively. Some insurance plans allow you to have multiple GLP-1 authorizations on file. This way, if Ozempic is unavailable, the patient can fill an alternative without waiting days or weeks for PA approval.

Step 5: Educate Patients on Self-Advocacy

Empower your patients with practical tools and knowledge:

• Recommend Medfinder for checking pharmacy stock independently
• Advise them to try independent and specialty pharmacies, not just chains
• Encourage early refills within their insurance window
• Remind them about the Novo Nordisk Savings Card (as little as $25/fill for commercially insured patients) and the NovoCare Patient Assistance Program for uninsured patients

For a patient-facing resource you can share, see our guide on how to find Ozempic in stock near you.

Alternatives at a Glance

Here's a quick-reference comparison for clinical decision-making:

• Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) — Weekly injection. Dual GIP/GLP-1 mechanism. A1C reduction comparable or superior to Semaglutide in head-to-head trials. Significant weight loss. Good availability in 2026.
• Trulicity (Dulaglutide) — Weekly injection. GLP-1 only. Slightly less A1C reduction and weight loss than Semaglutide. Very reliable supply. Simple auto-injector well-liked by patients.
• Rybelsus (Oral Semaglutide) — Daily oral tablet. Same molecule as Ozempic. Lower bioavailability. Requires fasting. Good option for injection-averse patients. Better supply than injectable Semaglutide.
• Victoza (Liraglutide) — Daily injection. Proven CV benefit (LEADER trial). Most long-term safety data of any GLP-1. Readily available. Lower efficacy than Semaglutide for A1C and weight.

For detailed information on each alternative, see our alternatives to Ozempic guide.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Managing the Ozempic shortage efficiently requires some workflow adjustments:

Create a Shortage Protocol

Develop a written protocol for your clinical staff that outlines:

1. How to check medication availability (Medfinder or direct pharmacy contact)
2. Pre-approved alternative medications and dosing equivalencies
3. When to schedule a provider visit vs. when staff can facilitate a switch
4. Patient education materials to share (links to Medfinder, savings programs)

Use Standing Orders for Therapeutic Substitution

Some practices have implemented standing orders or protocols that allow clinical pharmacists or nursing staff to initiate a therapeutic switch to a pre-approved alternative when Ozempic is unavailable, reducing the need for a separate provider encounter.

Batch Prior Authorizations

If your practice submits PAs manually, consider batching GLP-1 authorizations for at-risk patients. Many electronic PA platforms allow you to submit proactively rather than waiting for a pharmacy rejection.

Track Patient Outcomes During Switches

When patients switch from Ozempic to an alternative, schedule a follow-up within 4-6 weeks to assess A1C trends, tolerability, and adherence. Document outcomes to inform future prescribing decisions during supply disruptions.

Final Thoughts

The Ozempic shortage has added complexity to an already challenging prescribing environment, but proactive management can significantly reduce the burden on both patients and your clinical team. By checking availability before prescribing, having early conversations about alternatives, and empowering patients with self-advocacy tools, you can maintain continuity of care even when supply is unpredictable.

Medfinder for Providers is designed to help practices like yours navigate exactly this kind of situation. Check it out, and consider making it part of your prescribing workflow.

For the latest supply update, see our Ozempic shortage briefing for providers.