Ozempic in Australia
Ozempic is a once-weekly semaglutide injection made by Novo Nordisk. The TGA has registered it for adults with type 2 diabetes, including type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease, and not for weight management. The PBS subsidises it for type 2 diabetes only, under authority criteria.
At a glance
- Generic
- Semaglutide 0.25-2mg
- Maker
- Novo Nordisk
- Type
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Form
- Weekly subcutaneous injection
- Weight change in trials
- 4.5 to 6.9 kg at 1 to 2 mg (type 2 diabetes)
Short answer
Ozempic (semaglutide) is registered in Australia for type 2 diabetes, not weight management; Wegovy is the semaglutide brand registered for that. The PBS subsidises Ozempic for type 2 diabetes only, under authority criteria, at $25.00 a script ($7.70 concession). Without the PBS, a pen of four weekly doses cost $144.99 at Chemist Warehouse, $145.00 at Your Discount Chemist and $150.00 at Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026.
- Last updated:
- 9 November 2026
- Prices, PBS and supply checked:
- 9 November 2026
Prices at three retailers, the PBS Schedule of 1 November 2026, the TGA shortage database and the Australian Product Information (revised 25 September 2026) were rechecked on 9 November 2026.
Ozempic Key Facts
Yes, but only for type 2 diabetes
TGA registered 2019 for type 2 diabetes (and, since Aug 2025, type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease). It is not registered for weight management; a script for any other use is off-label, private and at the prescriber's discretion.
Side effects mostly gastrointestinal
Registered in Australia since 2019. The Australian Product Information (Sep 2026) lists nausea in 17 to 20% of people (6% on comparator treatments), diarrhoea 12 to 13% and vomiting 6 to 8%. Pregnancy category D. A TGA review in July 2026 added a warning on a rare optic nerve condition (NAION) for semaglutide.
Registered in Australia since 2019
TGA first approval 28 Aug 2019. Chronic kidney disease indication added 18 Aug 2025. PBS listed for type 2 diabetes.
$25 PBS (diabetes) / $145 private
PBS: $25.00 a script ($7.70 concession) for type 2 diabetes meeting the authority criteria. Private prescription: $144.99 a pen at Chemist Warehouse, $145.00 at Your Discount Chemist and $150.00 at Chemist Outlet on 9 Nov 2026. One pen is four weekly doses.
Prescription required. GP can prescribe.
PBS subsidised only with an authority prescription for type 2 diabetes used with metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, after an SGLT2 inhibitor has not worked, is contraindicated or was not tolerated. Any other use is a private script at full price. The TGA shortage that began in Apr 2022 was removed on 18 Jul 2025.
Who Ozempic Is For
The Australian Product Information registers Ozempic for "the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise: as monotherapy when metformin is not tolerated or contraindicated; in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of type 2 diabetes."
Since 18 August 2025 it has also been registered, alongside standard care, to reduce the risk of sustained kidney function decline and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Weight management is not an indication in the Product Information, the Consumer Medicine Information or the ARTG. Nor is peripheral arterial disease: the September 2026 revision added STRIDE trial data only. Use under 18 has not been studied.
Wegovy, the same molecule from the same company, is registered for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition, at up to 2.4 mg a week (7.2 mg in some adults). The Wegovy Product Information says using it with other semaglutide products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist is not recommended. Ozempic vs Wegovy compares the two.
Who should not use it, according to the Product Information:
Anyone allergic to semaglutide or any ingredient. This is the only contraindication.
People with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Ozempic is not a substitute for insulin.
Anyone who is pregnant, planning a pregnancy within two months, or breastfeeding.
Ozempic Cost in Australia
Prices checked 9 November 2026.
On a private script, Ozempic cost $144.99 to $150.00 a pen at three retailers on 9 November 2026. A pen lasts four weeks on a maintenance dose. The 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens cost the same.
On the PBS, for type 2 diabetes meeting the authority criteria, a script has cost $25.00, or $7.70 with a concession card, since 1 January 2026. Any script outside the criteria, including one for weight loss, is private at the full price.
| Strength | Used as | Chemist Warehouse | Your Discount Chemist | Chemist Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic 0.25/0.5 mg pen (3 mL) | 0.25 mg for weeks 1 to 4, then 0.5 mg maintenance | $144.99 (listed as the old 1.5 mL pen) | $145.00 | $150.00 |
| Ozempic 1 mg pen | Maintenance after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg | $144.99 | $145.00 | $150.00 |
| Ozempic 2 mg pen | Maintenance after at least 4 weeks on 1 mg (type 2 diabetes only, not the kidney disease schedule) | not listed | not listed | not listed |
Private prescription price per pen, 9 November 2026. For PBS scripts, Chemist Warehouse and Your Discount Chemist showed $25.00 general and $7.10 concession (the PBS concessional co-payment is $7.70). Chemist Warehouse sells Ozempic in store only; its 0.25/0.5 mg page is for the 1.5 mL pen deleted from the market on 31 December 2025.
What the first year costs
| Path | Cost |
|---|---|
| PBS script, general patient, 13 pens on one-pen scripts | $325.00 |
| PBS script, concession card, 13 pens on one-pen scripts | $100.10 |
| Private script at Chemist Warehouse prices, 13 pens | $1,884.87 |
| Private script at Chemist Outlet prices, 13 pens | $1,950.00 |
Illustrative, at four doses a pen and no price changes. The first pen gives more doses at 0.25 mg, so the count can be slightly lower. PBS streamlined items allow up to two pens a script once the condition is stable.
Costs on top of the medicine
- Pen needles. The Product Information registers packs with needles (six for the 0.25/0.5 mg pen, four for the 1 mg and 2 mg pens) and, for the 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens, packs without; not all pack sizes may be marketed. On 9 November 2026 a 100-pack of NovoFine 32G 4 mm needles was $19.95 at Your Discount Chemist and Novofine Plus 32G 4 mm was $24.99 at Chemist Outlet. Chemist Warehouse did not list pen needles online.
- Consultations. The average out-of-pocket cost of a standard GP consultation at clinics that do not bulk bill was almost $50 in January 2026 (Cleanbill).
How these prices were checked
Private script prices were read from each retailer's Ozempic pages on 9 November 2026 and were unchanged from 6 October 2026. Chemist Outlet pages showed "In Stock" and an out-of-stock notice together.
Is Ozempic on the PBS?
PBS status verified 9 November 2026
- Ozempic for type 2 diabetes
- Listed.
- Six items cover the 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens (12075M, 14163K, 15322K, 14844G, 14846J, 15311W). The first PBS script needs a telephone or online authority. Ozempic must be used with at least one of metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin; the diabetes must not have responded adequately to one of those; and an SGLT2 inhibitor must have failed to give a clinically meaningful glycaemic response, or be contraindicated or not tolerated. It cannot be used with a PBS-subsidised SGLT2 inhibitor, DPP4 inhibitor or another GLP-1 receptor agonist. Later scripts are streamlined. These rules have applied since 1 June 2024.
- Ozempic for weight loss
- Not listed.
- In March 2025 the Department of Health and Aged Care sent more than 1,000 letters to doctors who had prescribed PBS Ozempic to patients with no history of type 2 diabetes, reminding them that off-label prescribing must be private. In July 2022 the PBAC declined to broaden the GLP-1 restrictions for type 2 diabetes.
- Ozempic 2 mg pen
- Not listed.
- The November 2026 Schedule has no item for the 2 mg pen, which is registered for type 2 diabetes.
- TGA registration
- Type 2 diabetes, with or without chronic kidney disease, not weight management. The TGA says advertising it for weight loss is illegal, even to health professionals.
- PBS listing
- The government subsidises Ozempic only for type 2 diabetes meeting the authority criteria. Wegovy is not on the PBS; a revised proposal for a narrow listing was on the November 2026 PBAC agenda.
- Private prescription
- Any script outside the PBS criteria. The patient pays the full pharmacy price.
- Private health extras
- Some funds pay a benefit on non-PBS prescription medicines. HCF excludes weight-loss medicines, Teachers Health pays its $60 medication benefit (within an $800 yearly limit) on Top Extras, and Bupa pays on "select" weight-loss medicines with limits.
Ozempic Supply in Australia
Supply status verified 9 November 2026
- Ozempic 0.25/0.5 mg (3 mL) and 1 mg pens
- No shortage notice.
- The TGA recorded a semaglutide shortage from 15 April 2022, linked to off-label demand for weight loss, and removed Ozempic from its shortage list on 18 July 2025.
- Ozempic 0.25/0.5 mg 1.5 mL pen
- Discontinued.
- Deleted from the market on 31 December 2025 for commercial reasons and replaced by the 3 mL pen (ARTG 446290). The PBS supply-only listing for the 1.5 mL pen ran to 1 June 2026. Both pens deliver the same doses; the 3 mL pen is half the concentration (0.68 mg/mL against 1.34 mg/mL), so each dose is a larger volume.
The database is the authority for shortages; this block is rechecked each quarter.
Ozempic Australian Regulatory Status
- TGA Status
- Registered for type 2 diabetes (2019) and type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease (Aug 2025). Not registered for weight management.
- Off-label Use
- A script for weight loss is private and at the prescriber's discretion. The TGA says advertising Ozempic for weight loss is illegal, and in Mar 2025 the Department of Health and Aged Care wrote to more than 1,000 doctors who had prescribed PBS Ozempic to patients with no history of type 2 diabetes, reminding them off-label prescribing must be private.
- Compounding
- Compounded versions banned from 1 October 2024
How Ozempic Works
Mimics the natural hormone GLP-1. Slows gastric emptying, increases insulin production, reduces glucagon, and acts on appetite centres in the brain to reduce hunger. Once-weekly injection in abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
Ozempic Dosing Schedule
| Dose | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25mg | Weeks 1-4 | Starting dose |
| 0.5mg | Week 5 onwards | Maintenance dose |
| 1mg | After at least 4 weeks on 0.5mg, if needed | Maintenance dose; highest dose for type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease |
| 2mg | After at least 4 weeks on 1mg, if needed | Maximum dose, type 2 diabetes only (2mg pen registered; not on the PBS) |
How Ozempic Is Taken
Ozempic is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm once a week on the same day, at any time, with or without food. The day can change if doses are at least three days apart.
The 0.25/0.5 mg pen (3 mL) gives eight 0.25 mg doses or four 0.5 mg doses. The 1 mg and 2 mg pens give four doses each, at that strength only.
0.25 mg is a starting dose only. The steps to 1 mg and 2 mg are optional, "to further improve glycaemic control". The Product Information has no weight-based stopping rule.
When Ozempic is added to a sulfonylurea or insulin, the Product Information says to consider lowering those doses to reduce the risk of low blood sugar. Metformin and thiazolidinedione doses stay the same.
A missed dose should be taken within five days. After five days, skip it and take the next dose on the usual day.
Storage: before first use, keep the pen in the fridge at 2 to 8°C and do not freeze it. After first use it can be kept below 30°C or in the fridge for up to six weeks. Remove the needle after every injection and store the pen with the cap on.
Ozempic Side Effects
Very common
- Nausea (17-20% vs 6% on comparators)
- Diarrhoea (12-13%)
- Low blood sugar when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea
Common
- Vomiting (6-8%)
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Gallstones
- Decreased appetite
- Fatigue
Serious
- Acute pancreatitis
- Dehydration and kidney injury
- Diabetic retinopathy complications
- Sudden vision loss (NAION)
- Severe allergic reaction (rare)
Ozempic Safety: What the Australian Product Information Says
Unlike the Wegovy Product Information revised on 3 November 2026, the Ozempic Product Information does not list a history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2 as a contraindication; thyroid tumours appear only as a class effect in rodents.
Precautions in the Product Information:
Acute pancreatitis (0.3% vs 0.2% in the phase 3a trials): stop if suspected, do not restart if confirmed.
Diabetic retinopathy complications: 3.0% vs 1.8% on placebo in SUSTAIN 6; the increase was larger in people with existing retinopathy treated with insulin.
Dehydration from gut effects, which can lead to acute kidney injury.
Gastroparesis, and a risk of inhaling stomach contents under general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
Sudden vision loss (NAION): some studies show an increased risk with semaglutide; stop if confirmed. The TGA updated GLP-1 class warnings on 23 July 2026.
Suicidal behaviour and ideation, reported across GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Not recommended in NYHA class IV heart failure.
Interactions: slower stomach emptying can change how oral medicines are absorbed. The Product Information says semaglutide is not expected to reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
Pregnancy: Category D. Stop at least two months before a planned pregnancy because of the long half-life.
In the pooled phase 3a trials, 6.1% on 0.5 mg and 8.7% on 1 mg stopped because of an adverse event, mostly gut effects, against 1.5% on placebo.
This is not a complete list of side effects or precautions; the Product Information and Consumer Medicine Information have the full list.
Ozempic Clinical Trial Results
The SUSTAIN trials, FLOW and SURPASS-2 enrolled people with type 2 diabetes and measured blood glucose control, cardiovascular events or kidney outcomes, with body weight as a secondary outcome. The Product Information reports weight reduction as an effect of the medicine, not as a use. STEP 2 was a weight-management trial of the Wegovy dose in type 2 diabetes that also had a 1.0 mg arm.
| Trial | Who | Dose and length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSTAIN 1 | 388 adults with type 2 diabetes, taking no other diabetes medicine | 0.5 mg or 1 mg vs placebo, 30 weeks | Weight -3.7 kg (0.5 mg) and -4.5 kg (1 mg) vs -1.0 kg |
| SUSTAIN 7 | 1,201 adults with type 2 diabetes | 0.5 mg or 1 mg vs dulaglutide 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg, 40 weeks, open label | Weight -4.6 kg and -6.5 kg vs -2.3 kg and -3.0 kg |
| SUSTAIN FORTE | 961 adults with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c 8 to 10% | 2 mg vs 1 mg, 40 weeks | Weight -6.9 kg vs -6.0 kg (on treatment); -6.4 kg vs -5.6 kg (all randomised) |
| SUSTAIN 6 | 3,297 adults with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk | 0.5 mg or 1 mg vs placebo, 104 weeks | Heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death 6.6% vs 8.9% (hazard ratio 0.74) |
| FLOW | 3,533 adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease | 1 mg vs placebo, median 3.4 years, stopped early for efficacy | Kidney failure, a 50% fall in eGFR, or kidney or cardiovascular death 24% lower (hazard ratio 0.76); cardiovascular death hazard ratio 0.71; weight -5.6 kg vs -1.4 kg at week 104 |
| SURPASS-2 | 1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | Semaglutide 1 mg vs tirzepatide 5, 10 or 15 mg, 40 weeks, open label | Weight -5.7 kg vs -7.6, -9.3 and -11.2 kg; HbA1c -1.86 vs -2.01 to -2.30 points |
| STEP 2 | 1,210 adults with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or more | Semaglutide 1.0 mg vs 2.4 mg vs placebo, 68 weeks | Weight -7.0% (1.0 mg, sponsor-reported), -9.6% (2.4 mg) and -3.4% (placebo) |
Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic, funded the SUSTAIN trials, FLOW and STEP 2. Eli Lilly, which makes tirzepatide (Mounjaro), funded SURPASS-2. SUSTAIN 7 and SURPASS-2 were open label. The STEP 2 1.0 mg figure comes from Novo Nordisk's June 2020 announcement; the published abstract gives weight results only for 2.4 mg against placebo.
Ozempic Clinical Trial Sources
SUSTAIN 1 (monotherapy vs placebo)
NCT02054897Weight -3.7 kg (0.5mg) and -4.5 kg (1mg) vs -1.0 kg placebo at 30 weeks in 388 adults with type 2 diabetes
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2017;5:251-260
SUSTAIN 7 (vs dulaglutide)
NCT02648204Weight -4.6 kg (0.5mg) and -6.5 kg (1mg) vs -2.3 kg and -3.0 kg on dulaglutide at 40 weeks in 1,201 adults with type 2 diabetes (open label)
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2018;6:275-286
SUSTAIN FORTE (2mg vs 1mg)
NCT03989232HbA1c -2.2 vs -1.9 points and weight -6.9 kg vs -6.0 kg (2mg vs 1mg, on treatment) at 40 weeks in 961 adults with type 2 diabetes
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021;9:563-574
SUSTAIN 6 (CV outcomes)
NCT01720446Heart attack, stroke or CV death 6.6% vs 8.9% placebo (HR 0.74) over 104 weeks in 3,297 adults with type 2 diabetes and high CV risk
N Engl J Med 2016;375:1834-1844
FLOW (chronic kidney disease)
NCT03819153Kidney failure, 50% eGFR fall, or kidney or CV death 24% lower vs placebo (HR 0.76) at 1mg, median 3.4 years, in 3,533 adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease; weight -5.6 kg vs -1.4 kg at week 104
N Engl J Med 2024;391:109-121
SURPASS-2 (vs tirzepatide)
NCT03987919Weight -5.7 kg on semaglutide 1mg vs -7.6, -9.3 and -11.2 kg on tirzepatide 5, 10 and 15mg at 40 weeks in 1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes (open label, Lilly-funded)
N Engl J Med 2021;385:503-515
STEP 2 (1.0mg arm, type 2 diabetes)
NCT03552757Weight -7.0% at 1.0mg (sponsor-reported) vs -9.6% at 2.4mg and -3.4% placebo at 68 weeks in 1,210 adults with type 2 diabetes and BMI 27 or more
Lancet 2021;397:971-984
Published, peer-reviewed Ozempic trials. Links open the trial registry, the journal article or PubMed in a new tab.
What Happens When You Stop Ozempic
The Consumer Medicine Information says: "Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. If you stop using it, your blood sugar levels may increase." Semaglutide has a half-life of about one week and stays in the circulation for about five weeks after the last dose.
The Product Information says to stop if pancreatitis is suspected, if NAION is confirmed or if pregnancy occurs, and gives no tapering schedule.
Stopping data for semaglutide come from the Wegovy dose in people without diabetes: in the STEP 1 extension (327 participants, semaglutide 2.4 mg), people regained about two thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping. Australian Prescriber (December 2025), in an article on injectable drugs for weight management, says that when treatment is stopped, "regaining weight is the norm".
How to Get Ozempic in Australia
Ozempic is a Schedule 4 prescription-only medicine. A GP can prescribe it; the Product Information does not restrict starting to specialists. Patients who have already had a PBS-subsidised GLP-1 receptor agonist can go straight to the streamlined PBS listing.
Off-label use: Ahpra and the National Boards published prescribing guidance on 16 September 2026, and Ahpra said it had been investigating unsafe prescribing in high-volume and single-treatment business models, including those supplying GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. The guidance says to "only prescribe off-label, unapproved or compounded medicines when a medicine included on the ARTG is unavailable or inappropriate and there is adequate evidence available to support its use", and that "patient demand alone is not a valid reason to prescribe a medicine". Informed consent must include that the medicine "is not approved for the intended use", the costs, and a plan to stop treatment if benefit is not shown. The guidance describes off-label use as "a clinical decision, made at the discretion of the treating practitioner". It does not name Ozempic.
Telehealth: the Medical Board of Australia says prescribing without a real-time consultation (in person, by video or by phone) is not good practice, including requests based only on an online questionnaire, except in some circumstances by the patient's usual practitioner. More on online consultations: telehealth.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Ozempic
- Do I meet the PBS authority criteria, given my current diabetes medicines and any SGLT2 inhibitor I have tried?
- Which maintenance dose do you expect me to need (0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg), and how will we decide?
- If I take a sulfonylurea or insulin, should those doses change when I start, and should I check my blood sugar?
- Do I have diabetic eye disease, and do I need an eye check before or during treatment?
- Does anything in my history (pancreatitis, gallstones, gastroparesis, kidney disease) change whether Ozempic suits me?
- What should I tell the anaesthetist before a procedure under anaesthesia or sedation?
- I may want to become pregnant. When would I need to stop?
- What should happen with my diabetes treatment if I stop Ozempic?
Ozempic FAQ
Can I get Ozempic for weight loss in Australia?
Ozempic is registered by the TGA for type 2 diabetes, not for weight management. A script outside the PBS diabetes criteria is private and costs the full pharmacy price. The TGA says advertising Ozempic for weight loss is illegal. Wegovy, Mounjaro and generic liraglutide are injections registered for chronic weight management. In September 2026 Ahpra and the National Boards published guidance on prescribing medicines off-label.
Is Ozempic available in Australia now?
Yes. The TGA removed Ozempic from its shortage list on 18 July 2025, and its shortage database showed no semaglutide shortage on 9 November 2026. Chemist Warehouse, Your Discount Chemist and Chemist Outlet listed the 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens; none listed the registered 2 mg pen. The 1.5 mL starter pen was deleted on 31 December 2025 and replaced by a 3 mL pen.
How much does Ozempic cost in Australia?
On the PBS, for type 2 diabetes meeting the authority criteria, a script costs $25.00, or $7.70 with a concession card. On a private script a pen cost $144.99 at Chemist Warehouse, $145.00 at Your Discount Chemist and $150.00 at Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026. A pen is four weekly doses at 0.5 mg or 1 mg, so 13 pens a year cost about $1,885 to $1,950.
How much is Ozempic at Chemist Warehouse?
On 9 November 2026 Chemist Warehouse listed Ozempic at $144.99 on a private script and $25.00 on a PBS script, with a concession price shown as $7.10 (the PBS concessional co-payment is $7.70). The 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens cost the same. Chemist Warehouse sells Ozempic in store only and did not list the 2 mg pen.
Is Ozempic on the PBS?
Yes, for type 2 diabetes only. The first script needs a telephone or online authority. Ozempic must be used with metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, the diabetes must not be controlled on one of those, and an SGLT2 inhibitor must have failed, be contraindicated or not have been tolerated. Later scripts are streamlined. Ozempic is not PBS-subsidised for weight loss; a script for that use is private.
How much is a 30-day supply of Ozempic without the PBS?
One pen gives four weekly doses, which is 28 days at a maintenance dose. On a private script it cost $144.99 at Chemist Warehouse, $145.00 at Your Discount Chemist and $150.00 at Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026, the same for the 0.25/0.5 mg and 1 mg pens. Pen needles may be extra: a 100-pack was $19.95 to $24.99 online.
Is the Ozempic 2 mg pen available in Australia?
The 2 mg pen is on the ARTG and the Product Information allows 2 mg weekly for type 2 diabetes after at least four weeks on 1 mg. It is not on the PBS, and Chemist Warehouse, Your Discount Chemist and Chemist Outlet did not list it on 9 November 2026. In SUSTAIN FORTE (961 adults with type 2 diabetes, 40 weeks), HbA1c fell 2.2 points on 2 mg against 1.9 points on 1 mg, and weight fell 6.9 kg against 6.0 kg.
Which is cheaper, Mounjaro or Ozempic?
Per pen, Ozempic is cheaper. At Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026 a private Ozempic pen was $144.99, against $279.99 for Mounjaro 2.5 mg, $389.99 for 5 mg and up to $689.99 for 15 mg. Mounjaro is registered for type 2 diabetes, weight management and sleep apnoea with obesity; Ozempic for type 2 diabetes only. Only Ozempic is on the PBS.
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same medicine?
Both contain semaglutide and are made by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic is registered for type 2 diabetes at up to 2 mg a week and is on the PBS for that use. Wegovy is registered for chronic weight management at up to 2.4 mg a week (7.2 mg in some adults) and is not on the PBS. Wegovy 2.4 mg cost $369.99 a pen at Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026.
Is there an Ozempic tablet?
No. Ozempic is an injection only. Rybelsus is the semaglutide tablet registered for type 2 diabetes (3, 7 and 14 mg). Wegovy tablets (1.5, 4, 9 and 25 mg) were registered on 3 November 2026 for adult weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction; on 9 November 2026 they were not on sale at the three retailers checked and had no Australian price. The two tablets are not interchangeable.
What are the side effects of Ozempic?
The most common are nausea and diarrhoea; vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, reflux and gallstones are common. Low blood sugar is very common when Ozempic is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea. Serious effects include pancreatitis, diabetic eye complications, kidney injury from dehydration and a rare optic nerve condition (NAION). In pooled trials 6.1% on 0.5 mg and 8.7% on 1 mg stopped because of side effects, against 1.5% on placebo.
What happens when you stop Ozempic?
The Consumer Medicine Information says not to stop suddenly, because blood sugar may rise. Semaglutide stays in the body for about five weeks after the last dose. Stopping data come from the Wegovy dose: in the STEP 1 extension, people without diabetes regained about two thirds of their lost weight within a year of stopping.
Food, recipe and meal finders with general nutrition information for people prescribed a GLP-1 medicine: eating on GLP-1 medication.
Sources and References
- Novo Nordisk, Ozempic Australian Product Information, revised 25 September 2026
- Novo Nordisk, Ozempic Consumer Medicine Information, August 2026
- TGA, OZEMPIC (Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd) prescription medicine registration, chronic kidney disease indication, 2025
- TGA, Advertising Ozempic and GLP-1 receptor agonists is prohibited, 30 November 2022
- TGA, Medicine Shortage Reports Database, semaglutide, read 9 November 2026
- Novo Nordisk Australia, Product update notifications (Ozempic removed from shortage list 18 July 2025)
- TGA, GLP-1 RAs and rare vision disorder, 23 July 2026
- PBS, PBS restriction changes to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) medicines
- PBS, Fees, Patient Contributions and Safety Net Thresholds, as at 1 July 2026
- PBAC, Obesity treatments public summary document, November 2025 (compliance letters, paragraph 2.85)
- DUSC, Semaglutide public release document, June 2024
- PBS, Medicine status 1650, semaglutide (Wegovy) revised proposal, updated 23 October 2026
- Healthdirect, Ozempic brand page, PBS verified 1 October 2026
- Novo Nordisk, Wegovy Australian Product Information, revised 3 November 2026
- TGA, ARTG entry 522759, WEGOVY semaglutide 25 mg tablet, 3 November 2026
- Australian Pharmacist, New GLP-1 RA weight-loss tablet approved in Australia, 4 November 2026
- Ahpra and National Boards, Prescribing off-label, unapproved or compounded medicines, September 2026
- Ahpra, Peptide prescribing crackdown, 16 September 2026
- Medical Board of Australia, Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients
- Australian Prescriber, Injectable drugs for weight management, 9 December 2025
- Marso et al, Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 6), N Engl J Med 2016;375:1834-1844
- Perkovic et al, Effects of semaglutide on chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (FLOW), N Engl J Med 2024;391:109-121
- Sorli et al, Once-weekly semaglutide monotherapy versus placebo (SUSTAIN 1), Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2017;5:251-260
- Pratley et al, Semaglutide versus dulaglutide once weekly (SUSTAIN 7), Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2018;6:275-286
- Frías et al, Once-weekly semaglutide 2.0 mg versus 1.0 mg (SUSTAIN FORTE), Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021;9:563-574
- Frías et al, Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-2), N Engl J Med 2021;385:503-515
- Davies et al, Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2), Lancet 2021;397:971-984
- Novo Nordisk, company announcement on STEP 2 results, 12 June 2020
- Wilding et al, Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension, 2022
- Pharmacy Daily, 3mL Ozempic pens to replace 1.5mL, 6 June 2025
- Chemist Warehouse, Ozempic 1.34mg/mL 3mL pre-filled pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Ozempic 1.34mg/mL 1.5mL pre-filled pen, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Ozempic Injection Pen 1mg 3mL, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Ozempic Injection Pen 0.25/0.5mg 3mL, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Ozempic Prefilled Pen 0.25/0.5mg 3mL, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Ozempic P/F Pen 1.34mg/mL 3mL, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, NovoFine Pen Needle 32G x 4mm 100 Pack, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Novofine Plus 32G 4mm 100 pack, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Wegovy 2.4mg FlexTouch pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Mounjaro KwikPen 2.5mg, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Mounjaro KwikPen 15mg, read 9 November 2026
- Cleanbill, 2026 Blue Report, January 2026
- HCF, Claiming prescriptions and PBS medications
- Teachers Health, Medications used for weight loss
- Bupa, Pharmacy cover FAQs
- Chemist Warehouse, Mounjaro KwikPen 5mg, read 9 November 2026
- TGA, Update on the GLP-1 RA pharmacy compounding changes, 18 June 2024 (updated 7 October 2026)
Compare Ozempic with Other Medications
Wegovy vs Ozempic
GLP-1 receptor agonist
~15% average weight loss at 2.4 mg in STEP 1, 68 weeks
Mounjaro vs Ozempic
Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
~21% average weight loss at 15 mg in SURMOUNT-1, 72 weeks
Contrave vs Ozempic
Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination
~5-6% average weight loss in the COR trials, 56 weeks
Orlistat vs Ozempic
Lipase inhibitor
2.9 kg more than placebo, 16 trials of 1 to 4 years
Saxenda vs Ozempic
GLP-1 receptor agonist
~8% average weight loss at 3 mg in SCALE Obesity, 56 weeks
Estimate your total treatment cost
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This website is for informational and research purposes only.
We are not medical professionals and nothing on this page constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified doctor or specialist before making any decisions about medication.
The weight loss medication landscape in Australia is changing rapidly. Information on this page may become outdated without notice. Last reviewed 9 November 2026.