Ozempic was on FDA's drug shortage list from August 2022 until FDA declared the shortage resolved on February 21, 2025. Wegovy, the semaglutide brand for weight management, had been listed since March 2022. FDA says Novo Nordisk's supply now meets or exceeds demand, but a pharmacy can still run out of one strength on a given day. Here is what happened, and where things stand.

Key takeaways

  • FDA added Wegovy to its shortage list on March 31, 2022, and Ozempic on August 23, 2022. It determined the semaglutide injection shortage was resolved on February 21, 2025.
  • FDA says semaglutide injection products were short since 2022 due to increased demand.
  • FDA acknowledged that "some, or even many" people had trouble getting prescriptions filled during the shortage. It also says occasional local gaps can continue even when national supply meets demand.
  • Compounded semaglutide is not FDA approved. FDA says it does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed.
  • If a pharmacy is out of your strength, the practical answer is the same as it was in 2022: ask about the next delivery, call other pharmacies, and loop in your prescriber.

When did the Ozempic shortage start and end?

Here is the timeline from FDA's records:

  • December 2017: FDA approves Ozempic (semaglutide injection) for adults with type 2 diabetes.
  • June 2021: FDA approves Wegovy (semaglutide injection) for chronic weight management.
  • March 31, 2022: FDA adds Wegovy to its drug shortage list.
  • August 23, 2022: FDA adds Ozempic to its shortage list.
  • February 21, 2025: FDA issues a declaratory order to Novo Nordisk finding that the semaglutide injection shortage is resolved.

FDA's order says it based the decision on information from Novo Nordisk, including supply and inventory data and projected demand. It concluded the company's supply was "meeting or exceeding" demand and that its reserves would let supply keep pace with projected demand. FDA also weighed information from telehealth companies, compounders, patients, and others, and found that information had important limitations.

Why was Ozempic so hard to find?

FDA's public update says semaglutide products were in shortage since 2022 due to increased demand. A shortage, in FDA's terms, is a period when national demand exceeds national supply. That is the big picture. The experience at the counter was messier.

FDA's own order acknowledges that. It says FDA received reports that some patients and pharmacists could not get the approved drugs, and that this is "not inconsistent with some, or even many, individuals having had some trouble" getting prescriptions filled. FDA added that later, intermittent challenges are most likely explained by the part of the supply chain between Novo Nordisk and its customers, including wholesale distributors and pharmacies, rather than by a national shortage.

A second problem was pharmacy economics. NBC News reported in March 2023 that some independent pharmacies had stopped stocking Ozempic altogether. The pharmacy owners it interviewed said reimbursement for the drug was below what they paid for it, so they could not afford to dispense it. NBC also reported that patients often had to visit several pharmacies to find Ozempic. That was a different problem from the shortage itself, but it added to the difficulty.

What did the shortage mean for patients?

For many people it meant calling more than one pharmacy, asking about delivery days, and sometimes waiting. For people taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, a gap in supply can mean a gap in treatment. Please talk with your prescriber if you are about to run out. Do not split doses, stretch a pen, or skip doses on your own. Only your prescriber can change your dose or your medicine.

What happened with compounded semaglutide?

When a drug is on FDA's shortage list, pharmacies and outsourcing facilities have more room to compound versions of it. After FDA's February 2025 order, it set end dates for that flexibility. The dates ran from late April 2025 for state-licensed pharmacies to May 22, 2025 for outsourcing facilities.

FDA's position is that compounded drugs are not FDA approved. It says reports of adverse events tied to compounded semaglutide, some requiring hospitalization, may be related to dosing errors. As of May 31, 2026, FDA had received 990 adverse event reports for compounded semaglutide, and it says underreporting is likely. FDA has also said it is aware of counterfeit Ozempic in the U.S. supply. If a pharmacy offers anything other than the FDA-approved brand on your prescription, ask your prescriber and pharmacist about it first.

Where do things stand now?

As of FDA's April 1, 2026 update, semaglutide and tirzepatide are not on its drug shortage list. FDA says it confirmed with the manufacturer that capacity can meet present and projected national demand, and that patients may still see "intermittent and limited localized supply disruptions" as products move through the supply chain.

In other words, the national problem has ended, but a local one can still happen. The most common version is a pharmacy that has some strengths and is out of the one you need next. For the latest on brands, strengths, new pills, and coverage, see our GLP-1 availability guide.

How can I find my strength if my pharmacy is out?

  1. Ask your pharmacy two questions. "Is it on order?" and "When is your next delivery?"
  2. Call other pharmacies. Chains, independents, and grocery stores buy from different wholesalers, so one may have what another does not.
  3. Ask about the exact product. Brand name, strength, and pen type if you know it. Our guide to asking a pharmacy if a medication is in stock has a script.
  4. Ask whether the issue is stock or insurance. A rejected claim can look the same as an empty shelf.
  5. Call your prescriber if no one has it, and say which strengths you checked.

If you do not want to make those calls yourself, Needle phones pharmacies on your behalf and reports which ones say they have your exact drug, strength, and form. You can start a search at app.findneedle.co.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ozempic still in shortage?

No. FDA determined the semaglutide injection shortage resolved on February 21, 2025. As of FDA's April 1, 2026 update, semaglutide is not on its shortage list. A pharmacy can still be out of a specific strength.

Why did Ozempic and Wegovy run short?

FDA says semaglutide injection products were short since 2022 due to increased demand. Wegovy was added to the shortage list on March 31, 2022, and Ozempic on August 23, 2022.

Why can my pharmacy still be out of Ozempic?

FDA measures shortages nationally, not store by store. Its order says intermittent local problems are most likely explained by the supply chain between the manufacturer and the pharmacy, including wholesalers.

Is compounded semaglutide the same as Ozempic?

No. Ozempic is an FDA-approved drug. FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA approved and are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed.

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