The acute GLP-1 shortages of 2023 and 2024 have largely resolved — manufacturing capacity caught up, and Ozempic and Wegovy are generally obtainable now. What replaced supply scarcity is a different access problem: following the FDA's March 2026 action on compounded-GLP-1 marketing, two of the largest telehealth platforms exited compounding entirely, and some patients lost the cheap route they had been relying on. If you can't get your medication today, the cause is more likely to be cost or a pharmacy-level gap than a national shortage — and the fixes differ accordingly.
If cost rather than stock is the problem
Manufacturer-direct self-pay has changed the maths considerably. Zepbound runs $299 to $449 a month depending on dose through LillyDirect, and eligible Medicare Part D members pay a flat $50 through the GLP-1 Bridge programme that began July 1, 2026.
Immediate Options
- • Call multiple pharmacies—stock varies
- • Ask about different doses
- • Try mail-order pharmacies
- • Consider compounded semaglutide from a licensed 503B outsourcing facility — verify which pharmacy fills it
- • Ask about alternative medications (Mounjaro, Saxenda)
What If You Miss Doses?
Missing One Dose
Take it as soon as you remember—unless within 2 days of your next dose. Then skip the missed dose and resume your schedule.
Missing Multiple Doses
If you go more than 2 weeks without medication, you may need to restart at a lower dose. Contact your doctor for guidance.
The Bottom Line
GLP-1 shortages are frustrating but manageable. Call multiple pharmacies, ask about different doses, and consider compounded alternatives from reputable sources.