Who can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat low blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s also used off-label for weight loss. 

If you’re wondering who can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss, in this article, we discuss Ozempic, how it works, who can prescribe it, who can take it, and what to try if it’s not right for you.

If you’re struggling with your weight, find a weight loss provider on Klarity today and have an appointment in as little as 24 hours. 

What doctors can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss?

Several different licensed healthcare providers can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss. The list includes: 

• Primary care physicians (PCPs)
• General practitioners (GPs)
• Endocrinologists (specialists in hormonal and metabolic disorders)
• Bariatric physicians (specialists in obesity treatment)
• Nurse practitioners (NPs)
• Physician assistants/associates (PAs)

It’s important to make sure your healthcare provider is licensed in your state and has a clean disciplinary record. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) maintains a database of board-certified healthcare providers in the U.S. They also sponsor the Certification Matters website. You can use the site to search licensing and credential information for more than 985,000 providers. 

To verify your provider has a clean disciplinary record, also search the Federation of State Medical Board’s (FSMB) DocInfo website. Look for the Actions section on the provider’s profile. This section shows “No Actions Found” if the provider has a clean record.

Who can use Ozempic for weight loss?

Ozempic is approved to help people with type 2 diabetes control blood sugar. It can also lower A1C levels and help with weight loss. In clinical trials, people with type 2 diabetes taking Ozempic for blood sugar control lost at least 5% of their body weight, and sometimes more than 10%. Taking Ozempic for weight loss alone is an off-label use, meaning using it for a purpose it’s not FDA-approved for.

If your main goal is to lose weight, your provider may have you take Wegovy (semaglutide) instead. Wegovy is FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management and weight loss. Both Ozempic and Wegovy should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

How Ozempic compares to Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy are both injectable medications made with the same active ingredient, semaglutide. Ozempic was approved by the FDA first in 2017. When users found they lost weight, Novo Nordisk got Wegovy FDA-approved for weight loss in 2021. The table below compares Ozempic vs Wegovy to give you an idea of their differences. 

*Prices according to drugs.com at the time of publication

Is there compounded Ozempic and who can prescribe it?

It’s possible to get a compounded form of Ozempic, which is compounded semaglutide. Compounded medications are custom-made by pharmacists using pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and can be tailored to meet individual patient needs. 

You might choose compounded semaglutide over Ozempic for a variety of reasons, including cost, supply shortages, personal preference, and allergies to inactive ingredients in Ozempic.

Any licensed healthcare provider can prescribe compounded semaglutide if you meet the criteria and they feel you’ll benefit from the medication. 

Once you have a prescription, you can fill it anywhere compounded medications are available. This includes compounding pharmacies, standard pharmacies with compounding capabilities, and hospitals or doctors’ offices that maintain a supply of compounded medications. 

How do I find a provider for an Ozempic prescription?

Following are some ideas to find a provider to assess whether Ozempic is right for you and, if it is, give you a prescription.

Healthcare provider marketplaces 

Healthcare provider marketplaces, like Klarity, make it easy to find a provider for a possible Ozempic prescription. These services are designed to connect you with online weight loss providers licensed in your state. You can even schedule in-person appointments if offered by the provider you choose.

Insurance plan network

Insurance companies maintain databases of in-network (covered) providers. If you have health insurance, search your plan’s list of in-network providers to find a licensed provider who can give you a prescription for Ozempic. Or call your plan’s customer service number and ask for a covered provider.

References from friends and family

People you know and trust can be great resources when searching for a licensed healthcare provider. Talk to friends and family about their experiences with the providers they see and ask if they have any recommendations for you.

Key takeaway

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription drug that’s FDA-approved to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. It’s also approved to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in type 2 diabetics with existing heart disease. 

Ozempic has helped people lose weight and has been used off-label as a weight-loss medication. 

Any licensed healthcare provider can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss if you meet the criteria and they feel you’ll benefit from the medication. You can use Ozempic for weight loss if your provider prescribes it for you and you’re willing to pay the retail price, or if you have type 2 diabetes and need help improving blood sugar control (this is the on-label use).

If your primary goal is to lose weight, the weight loss injection Wegovy, might be a better option for you. Both Ozempic and Wegovy should be used as part of a medical weight loss program that includes a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise.

Compounded semaglutide might be a preferable alternative to Ozempic or Wegovy if you want to save money on your prescription, among other reasons. Licensed healthcare providers can prescribe compounded semaglutide if you meet the approved criteria and think you’ll benefit from the drug. 

To find a provider for an Ozempic prescription, search marketplace services like Klarity or your insurance plan’s list of in-network providers. You can also reach out to friends and family for recommendations.

Get a prescription for Ozempic in as little as 24 hours

If you’re considering Ozempic for weight loss, find a licensed weight-loss provider on Klarity. Your provider will assess your health and, if it’s right for you, give you a prescription for Ozempic or another medication. Find a provider on Klarity today to get started. 

FAQs about Ozempic for weight loss

How do I get a doctor to prescribe Ozempic for weight loss?

Asking your doctor for weight loss medication, like Ozempic, doesn’t have to be intimidating. Before your appointment, make a list of your concerns, weight loss goals, and treatments you’ve already tried. Ease into the conversation by asking what target weight range is healthy for you. If you weigh outside of this range and have type 2 diabetes, it’s appropriate to ask whether you’d benefit from Ozempic or another weight loss medication. 

Who can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss near me?

Any licensed healthcare professional can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss if you have type 2 diabetes and need to lose weight, or they feel you’d benefit from Ozempic. These include primary care physicians (PCPs), general practitioners (GPs), endocrinologists (specialists in hormonal and metabolic disorders), bariatric physicians (specialists in obesity treatment), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants/associates (PAs). To find a provider who can help you with medically-supervised weight loss, search a healthcare provider marketplace services like Klarity.  

Does insurance cover Ozempic for weight loss?

Most health insurance companies don’t cover Ozempic for weight loss unless you have type 2 diabetes. Even if you meet the approved criteria for prescribing, you likely need to meet certain Ozempic prior authorization criteria to get insurance coverage. 

To find out how much Ozempic costs with insurance, verify your insurance coverage and drug copay details. Call the customer service number on the back of your insurance ID card and ask whether Ozempic is covered by your plan. 

What does taking Ozempic cost?

Ozempic’s retail price is $1,029 for a 1-month supply. If you have health insurance that covers Ozempic, you’ll likely pay less. And you may be eligible to get Ozempic for $25 with the Ozempic Savings Card. Prescription drug discount websites, like GoodRx, SingleCareRx, Optum Perks, and drugs.com offer coupons that can save you anywhere from 3% to 80% off the retail price. Your pharmacy may also have access to coupons.

Where can you find Ozempic?

You can find Ozempic at any pharmacy that has it in stock. That may be difficult at times due to supply shortages. At the time of publication, the FDA’s drug shortages database doesn’t report a shortage of Ozempic, but similar medications like Wegovy have been limited in availability. To find Ozempic in stock, check with local pharmacies or try an online pharmacy. 

Sources

Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, Find a Compounder, https://a4pc.org/find-a-compounder/

American Board of Medical Specialties, Certification Matters, https://www.certificationmatters.org/

American Board of Medical Specialties, Verify Certification, https://www.abms.org/board-certification/verify-certification/

Drugs.com, Ozempic Prices, Coupons, and Patient Assistance Programs, https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/ozempic

Drugs.com, Wegovy Prices, Coupons, and Patient Assistance Programs, https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/wegovy

Federation of State Medical Boards, DocInfo, https://www.docinfo.org/?_ga=2.125552394.1265046147.1714146472-234767467.1714146472#!/search/query

HealthCare.gov, Getting regular medical care, https://www.healthcare.gov/using-marketplace-coverage/getting-medical-care/

Novo Nordisk, Ozempic Prescribing Information, https://www.ozempic.com/prescribing-information.html

Novo Nordisk, Wegovy Prescribing Information, https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf

ProPublica, Your Doctor Might Have A Disciplinary Record. Here’s How to Find Out, Charles Ornstein, Annie Waldman, and Princess Ojiaku, Dec. 2019, https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/investigating-doctors

The New England Journal of Medicine, Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide Once Weekly in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Aug. 2021, https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2107519

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Drug Shortages, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/default.cfm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Medications Containing Semaglutide Marketed for Type 2 Diabetes or Weight Loss, Jan. 2024, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/medications-containing-semaglutide-marketed-type-2-diabetes-or-weight-loss

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

How we reviewed this article: This article goes through rigorous fact-checking by a team of medical reviewers. Reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the author.