Worried About the Ozempic Shortage? These 7 Ozempic Alternatives Help You Lose Weight

Chances are you’ve been hearing a lot about Ozempic lately. The diabetes medication has gotten a ton of buzz thanks to an attractive side effect: rapid weight loss. So if you’re looking to shed a few pounds, is Ozempic the best option for you? Are there any Ozempic alternatives for weight loss that can deliver similar results? Here’s what you need to know.

How does Ozempic work for weight loss?

Ozempic is the brand name for the medication semaglutide, which is designed to treat diabetes. Ozempic works by mimicking the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that triggers the pancreas to release insulin. This helps the body to use glucose for energy more efficiently and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Medications that work this way are known as incretin mimetics, or GLP-1 agonists.

Beyond its benefits for diabetes, many people on Ozempic noticed their cravings suddenly disappeared and the pounds started to melt off. According to a study in the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy , people who took 2.4 mg of semaglutide — the standard dose of Wegovy for weight management — each week lost up to 17% of their body weight after 68 weeks.

But Ozempic does have a few downsides. “Cost is definitely a barrier,” says Sulagna Misra , MD, BCMAS , founding physician at Misra Wellness. The overwhelming demand has also created a shortage. And some people simply feel Ozempic is still too new. “People are nervous about side effects,” such as GI upset, Dr. Misra says.

So if you’re feeling skittish, you may be wondering what other options to lose weight are out there.

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The most common Ozempic alternatives

Sure, following a balanced diet (and scaling back and processed foods and added sugar) can help jumpstart your weight loss journey. But sometimes, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough. If you’ve been looking into medications and supplements as alternatives to Ozempic, there are a few options you may have come across. Here’s how they stack up to semaglutide.

1. Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy are both brand names for semaglutide. Ozempic is FDA-approved to treat diabetes, while Wegovy is approved as a weight loss medication.

Choosing Wegovy can help alleviate some of the supply issues caused by Ozempic’s popularity. “The biggest drawback to using Ozempic for weight loss is that it creates a very real shortage of this medication for patients with diabetes,” says Eleanor Yusupov , DO , an obesity medicine physician and assistant professor at New York Institute of Technology’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Wegovy is also available in a stronger dose than Ozempic, which may make it more effective for weight loss, she adds.

2. Compounded semaglutide

Because Ozempic is in short supply, some people are turning to compounding pharmacies for Ozempic alternatives. Compounding pharmacies can create customized versions of prescription medications, including semaglutide.

However, Dr. Yusupov cautions that compounded versions of semaglutide are “not FDA-approved or evaluated for safety, and may contain a different chemical form of semaglutide — or no active ingredient at all.”

3. Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is commonly sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound. Mounjaro is FDA-approved for treating diabetes, while Zepbound is approved for weight loss.

“Tirzepatide was approved for weight loss in November 2023,” Dr. Yusupov says. “It acts on two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP [gastric inhibitory peptide], and can result in even greater weight loss than semaglutide.” In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , after 88 weeks of taking tirzepatide, participants lost an average of 25% of their total body weight.

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4. Other GLP-1 agonists

They may not get as much hype as Ozempic and Mounjaro, but there are several other GLP-1 agonists on the market, including liraglutide (Saxenda) and dulaglutide (Trulicity). But when it comes to weight loss, Dr. Yusupov says, these have taken a backseat to the more dramatic results from semaglutide and tirzepatide.

5. Berberine

This plant compound can help regulate appetite and boost insulin production. According to the National Institutes of Health , studies show that people who took 1 gram of berberine for at least eight weeks reported a drop in weight and BMI.

You won’t get magical results from berberine alone. But when it’s paired with healthy eating habits and exercise, it could give your weight loss efforts a boost. “Berberine is not a medication,” Dr. Misra clarifies. “It’s a dietary supplement that is often used in conjunction with lifestyle modification. That includes dietary changes, sleep optimization, stress reduction and exercise to assist in weight loss.”

6. Other weight loss medications

There are a few other options for weight loss medications on the market, but their side effects may deter people from considering them as Ozempic alternatives. For example, phentermine can suppress appetite, but it’s not safe for everyone. “Phentermine can cause a lot of side effects, including hypertension, worsening cardiovascular disease and rapid heart rate,” Dr. Misra says.

Orlistat is another well-known weight loss med with unsavory side effects. “Expect oily, stinky stool that leaks,” Dr. Misra cautions. “It’s not a good medication to have a proper quality of life for some patients, and results in very little weight loss.”

7. Nutrient sequencing

Feeling skittish about taking a weight loss medication? Certain dietary changes may be able to help you regulate your appetite and deliver the health benefits you’re after.

The order in which you eat your foods during a meal can play an important role in glucose control and appetite management, Dr. Yusupov says. Research suggests eating protein before carbohydrates can help promote secretion of GLP-1. “I recommend eating protein-rich foods and non-starchy vegetables before eating corn, potatoes, pasta or bread,” she adds. “This way of eating is called nutrient sequencing , and it’s gaining popularity for weight management.”

Continue reading for more insight into weight loss medications:

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan .