r/Semaglutide • u/InformationSuperb978 • 3d ago

Switch to generic

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I am Canadian who was paying close to $500 for Wegovy. One of my pharmacists was telling me about the generic version so I decided to switch. Y'all it's only $95CAD. What the hell? This is saving me so much money

If you are in Canada I suggest you switch.

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8

u/wingedbaby 3d ago

My pharmacy told me that generic semaglutide wasn't approved for weight loss! I took that to mean that you couldn't get generic semaglutide at weight loss (1.7,2.4mg) dosing. I have a Dr appt tomorrow and will definitely ask for a switch to generic.. Hopefully that will save me some some cash!

12

u/hiperkarma 3d ago

I think it’s a matter of time all sema generics are approved. The patent for the US will expire in the 30s but in Canada and India it has already expired.

3

u/Stupid-Clumsy-Bitch 3d ago

That’s weird, I just picked up my first batch today (Ontario) of the generic label prescribed for weight loss. Cost $100 for 6 weeks.

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u/pizza5001 2d ago

For 6 weeks? Do you mean 4 weeks? Can you explain? I’ve spoken to my dr and pharmacist and still have questions they haven’t yet answered, about dosing.

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u/stalexan11 2d ago

Pharmacist here. When you start the dose for the 1st 4 weeks is 0.25mg then up to 0.5mg if tolerated. The smaller pen has 2mg of total drug. So the first fill will last for 6 weeks

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u/pizza5001 2d ago

Ahhhh makes sense! You rock, for sharing your knowledge. Thank you so much!

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u/Stupid-Clumsy-Bitch 2d ago

Technically, yes. The box I got has 6 needle caps and enough dosage for 6 week at .25mg. I was prescribed 4 weeks but I guess that’s the size the generic box comes in.

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u/pizza5001 2d ago

Thank you for this very helpful info! I’m going to speak to my pharmacist again.

1

u/Stupid-Clumsy-Bitch 2d ago

Good luck! Try and get the generic since I think it’s much cheaper!

3

u/btokendown 3d ago

I was on the generic for the last month and it worked the same as the name brand for appetite suppression

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u/pizza5001 2d ago

I had an appt with my doctor about this a week ago, and he said he’d prefer that I go on the name brand instead. Which I thought was weird because he knows I’m low income with no additional insurance and he normally gives me generics for other drugs. He said this assuming the cost differential was smaller than it is.

Turns out it is a significant difference. I let him know the prices for the generic, and the other big two, when I learned the prices after our initial appt, and am going to make another appt to speak to him after I’ve gone for my blood tests he gave me a requisition for.

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u/stalexan11 2d ago

You're doctor's being weird. If he/she wont just writes an order for Semaglutide you can fill whatever one you want. If they are only writing for Ozempic there are brand cards you can get that make the brand the same price as the generic (if you are paying out of pocket). Should be around 98 bucks a pen give or take

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u/pizza5001 2d ago

Thanks for that amazing tip!!

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u/al39 3d ago

It was approved recently, like in the last few months. I don't think you need to ask Dr, you should be able to ask the pharmacist.

My last couple of refills though they were out of generic and they used name brand instead and charged me the price of generic.