Ozempic in the Philippines: prescription, legal access and what to know

Not yet medically reviewed. Fact-checked against the sources listed below on October 7, 2026.How we write and review

Last updated October 7, 2026

Yes, as a prescription medicine. Ozempic (semaglutide), a once-weekly injection, is listed as a registered prescription drug in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). Under RA 10918, a licensed pharmacist may dispense it only with a valid prescription, through a licensed retail drug outlet.

Key takeaways

Ozempic solution for injection is listed as a registered prescription drug (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal, under four registration records valid on October 7, 2026.
The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) lists type 2 diabetes, and reducing major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease. It has no weight or kidney indication.
In the US, Ozempic is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes: for blood sugar control, and to lower heart and kidney risks in certain groups. Weight management is not among its US approved uses.
The US Ozempic label (revised 05/2026) starts at 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg, with a maximum of 2 mg once weekly. Your doctor sets your dose.
The Ozempic US label lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation as the most common side effects.
FDA Philippines said in 2024 it was concerned about Ozempic sold online without a prescription, and asked the public to report illegal online sales to ereport@fda.gov.ph.

What Ozempic is

What is Ozempic? It is a brand of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, given as an injection under the skin once a week.

The US Ozempic label describes semaglutide as a GLP-1 analogue with 94% sequence homology to human GLP-1. It lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin release and lowering glucagon release, both only when blood sugar is raised. A small delay in stomach emptying after meals also contributes.

Its long action comes mainly from binding to albumin in the blood, which slows its removal by the kidneys and protects it from breakdown, according to the same label.

Semaglutide is also sold under other brand names, including Wegovy. Those are separate brands with their own labels and approved uses. For the molecule as a whole, see our semaglutide guide.

Approved uses on each regulator's label

What is Ozempic approved for? Every approved use recorded here is in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Regulator	Approved uses of Ozempic injection
US FDA	With diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. To reduce the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease. To reduce the risk of sustained kidney decline, end-stage kidney disease and heart death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
FDA Philippines (Philippine package insert)	Adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise, alone when metformin is not suitable, or with other diabetes medicines. To reduce the risk of major heart events (heart death, nonfatal heart attack or nonfatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease

The Philippine row comes from the Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326). The inserts linked for BR-1327 and BR-1328 carry the same indication text. One of the four Ozempic inserts, linked for BR-1346, lists only the type 2 diabetes indication. The Philippine insert has no weight management or chronic kidney disease indication.

The US kidney indication rests on the FLOW trial, which the US label presents as its kidney outcomes trial. FLOW (NEJM 2024) followed 3,533 adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease for a median of 3.4 years. Major kidney disease events were 24% lower with semaglutide 1 mg than with placebo (hazard ratio 0.76).

Weight management is not among the US approved uses of Ozempic. In the US, the semaglutide brand approved to reduce excess body weight is Wegovy.

The US also has an oral form. The US label for Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets covers blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, and reducing the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk. An FDA Philippines Verification Portal search for "Ozempic" on October 7, 2026 returned only solution for injection records. In the Philippines, the portal lists oral semaglutide tablets under the brand Rybelsus.

Is Ozempic registered in the Philippines?

Yes. Ozempic is listed as a registered prescription drug in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). The portal lists four Ozempic records, all solution for injection under the skin, all classified "Prescription Drug (Rx)" and all valid on that date. The importer and distributor is Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (Philippines), Inc., and the manufacturer is Novo Nordisk A/S.

The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) lists type 2 diabetes, and reducing the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease.

You can check the current status yourself on the FDA Philippines verification portal at verification.fda.gov.ph.

FDA Philippines registration records

These are the Ozempic records listed in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal on October 7, 2026. The strengths are the registered product forms, not dosing advice. Your doctor sets your dose.

Brand	Form	Strength as registered	Registration number	Valid until
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	0.25 mg/0.19 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1346	October 28, 2027
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	0.25 mg/0.19 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1328	October 15, 2026
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	0.5 mg/0.37 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1327	October 28, 2027
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	1 mg/0.74 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1326	November 17, 2027

All four are classified "Prescription Drug (Rx)". The portal record for BR-1328 shows issuance on September 29, 2026 and expiry on October 15, 2026.

How to get an Ozempic prescription legally

How do you get Ozempic legally in the Philippines? With a valid prescription, dispensed by a licensed pharmacist through a retail drug outlet licensed by FDA Philippines.

The prescription. Ozempic is listed as a prescription drug (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). RA 10918 defines prescription medicines as medicines a pharmacist may dispense only on a valid prescription from a physician, dentist or veterinarian.

The pharmacy. Under the Philippine Pharmacy Act (RA 10918), prescription medicines are dispensed only by a licensed pharmacist with a valid prescription. Pharmaceutical products may be made available to the public only through a retail drug outlet licensed by FDA Philippines. Dispensing includes the pharmacist reading, validating and interpreting the prescription, and counseling the patient.

Online consultations. DOH-DILG-PhilHealth Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-0001 sets guidelines for telemedicine. Under it:

Only licensed physicians may practice telemedicine.
The physician decides, using professional judgment, whether telemedicine is appropriate, and may ask for a face-to-face consultation at any step.
The JAO also says first-time consultations, emergencies and cases that need face-to-face assessment should not be managed using telemedicine.
An electronic prescription must carry the physician's digital signature, name and license number.
Pharmaceutical outlets must dispense as prescribed by a valid electronic prescription, which counts as a written prescription. Pharmacists may verify it with the physician.

Online sellers. In February 2024, FDA Philippines said it was concerned about Ozempic being sold online without a prescription and was investigating online sellers. It asked the public to report prescription drugs sold illegally online to ereport@fda.gov.ph. Under the FDA Act of 2009 (RA 9711), selling, distributing or retailing any drug without an FDA License to Operate is prohibited.

How Ozempic is taken, and pen types

How is Ozempic used? The US Ozempic label says:

It is injected under the skin once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals.
Injection sites are the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Use a different spot each week when injecting in the same area.
The solution should look clear and colorless before use.

The US label describes two forms:

Form	What the US Ozempic label says
Pen	Single-patient-use pen holding several weekly doses, used with NovoFine Plus needles
Prefilled syringe	Single-dose prefilled syringe

An Ozempic pen must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed. The FDA Philippines Verification Portal lists Ozempic as a solution for injection.

The US label dose schedule

What dose schedule does the label set? The US Ozempic label (revised 05/2026) starts low and steps up, to reduce the risk of stomach side effects. This is the label schedule, quoted for information. Your doctor sets your dose.

Stage	US Ozempic label, revised 05/2026
Start	0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks
Next step	0.5 mg once weekly, after 4 weeks on 0.25 mg
Maintenance	0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg once weekly, based on blood sugar control
Further steps	After at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg, may increase to 1 mg. After at least 4 weeks on 1 mg, may increase to 2 mg. Only if more blood sugar control is needed
Maximum	2 mg once weekly
Type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease	Maintenance 1 mg once weekly, after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg
Timing	Once weekly, same day each week, any time of day, with or without meals

These numbers come from the US label. They are not instructions for you. Your doctor sets your dose.

Key trials behind Ozempic's uses

What did the trials show? Two trials recorded here that tested Ozempic doses in type 2 diabetes are SUSTAIN-6 and SURPASS-2.

Trial	Who took part	What was compared	Main result
SUSTAIN-6 (NEJM 2016)	3,297 people with type 2 diabetes on standard care	Semaglutide 0.5 mg or 1 mg once weekly vs placebo, 104 weeks	Heart death, nonfatal heart attack or nonfatal stroke: 6.6% vs 8.9% (hazard ratio 0.74)
SURPASS-2 (NEJM 2021)	1,879 people with type 2 diabetes	Semaglutide 1 mg vs tirzepatide 5, 10 or 15 mg once weekly, 40 weeks, open-label	HbA1c fell by 1.86 percentage points with semaglutide 1 mg, and by 2.01, 2.24 and 2.30 points with tirzepatide 5, 10 and 15 mg

In SUSTAIN-6, diabetic eye (retinopathy) complications were more frequent with semaglutide (hazard ratio 1.76).

The large semaglutide trials for weight and heart outcomes, such as STEP 1 and SELECT, used 2.4 mg, a Wegovy dose. That is above the 2 mg maximum on the US Ozempic label, so those results do not describe Ozempic. For how Ozempic and Mounjaro compare, see Ozempic vs Mounjaro.

Side effects

What side effects are most common? Stomach and gut effects, according to the US Ozempic label.

Side effect	US Ozempic label
Nausea	Reported in 5% or more of patients
Vomiting	Reported in 5% or more of patients
Diarrhea	Reported in 5% or more of patients
Abdominal pain	Reported in 5% or more of patients
Constipation	Reported in 5% or more of patients

The label says these gastrointestinal effects can sometimes be severe.

How often in a trial. STEP 2 tested semaglutide in 1,210 adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes for 68 weeks. Stomach side effects, mostly mild to moderate, were reported in 57.5% of people on semaglutide 1 mg (one of the Ozempic maintenance doses) and 34.3% on placebo. STEP 2 was a weight trial, not an Ozempic trial.

Serious warnings

Which warnings matter most? This section names the US label each warning comes from. Some are recorded only on the US Wegovy label, a separate label for the same molecule.

From the US Ozempic label:

Severe gastrointestinal side effects have been reported. Ozempic is not recommended in people with severe gastroparesis.
Serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis and angioedema, have been reported.
Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation has been reported in people on GLP-1 receptor agonists having elective surgery or procedures. Tell your healthcare provider about any planned surgery or procedure.
Semaglutide delays stomach emptying and may affect the absorption of oral medicines taken at the same time.

From the US Wegovy label, which contains the same molecule:

Warning	What the US Wegovy label says
Boxed warning: thyroid tumors	Semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. It is unknown whether it causes them in humans, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Who must not use it	People with a personal or family history of MTC, people with MEN 2, and people with a prior serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or its ingredients
Pancreatitis	Acute pancreatitis, including fatal cases, has been seen with GLP-1 receptor agonists
Gallbladder disease	Wegovy treatment is linked to more gallstones and gallbladder inflammation
Low blood sugar	Higher risk, including severe low blood sugar, with insulin or a sulfonylurea
Kidney injury	Reports of acute kidney injury, mostly linked to dehydration from stomach side effects
Diabetic eye disease	People with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored
Pregnancy	May cause harm to an unborn baby. Stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy

Your doctor checks these points before prescribing.

How to store Ozempic

How should Ozempic be kept? The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) says:

Before first use: "Store in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Keep away from the cooling element. Do not freeze Ozempic® and do not use Ozempic® if it has been frozen."
After first use: "may be stored for a maximum of 6 weeks. Store below 30°C or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C)."
Keep the pen cap on to protect it from light, and store the pen without a needle attached.

The US Ozempic label gives different rules for the pen after first use. The Philippine package insert applies to products registered in the Philippines.

Form and stage	Storage on the US Ozempic label
Pen, before first use	Refrigerator at 2 to 8 C, in the original carton
Pen, after first use	Up to 56 days at 15 to 30 C, or in a refrigerator
Prefilled syringe	Refrigerator at 2 to 8 C. If needed, up to 28 days at 8 to 30 C. Discard after use

The label also says:

Do not freeze, and do not use if it has been frozen.
Protect from excessive heat and sunlight.
Keep the pen cap on, store the pen without a needle attached, and use a new needle for each injection.

The US FDA advises not using any injectable GLP-1 medicine that arrives warm or without enough refrigeration.

Spotting unregistered or fake Ozempic

How can you tell a product may not be genuine? Regulators give these signals:

Check registration. FDA Philippines tells the public to check whether a product is registered on its verification portal or its list of verified unregistered health products.
Counterfeit Ozempic exists. The US FDA reports counterfeit Ozempic. It says counterfeit drugs could contain the wrong ingredient, too little, too much or no active ingredient, or other harmful ingredients.
"Research" labels. The US FDA has warned companies that illegally sold unapproved semaglutide and similar drugs falsely labeled "for research purposes" or "not for human consumption".
Online sales without a prescription. In February 2024, FDA Philippines said it was concerned about Ozempic being sold online without a prescription and was investigating online sellers. Report illegal online sales to ereport@fda.gov.ph.
Warm deliveries. The US FDA advises not using any injectable GLP-1 medicine that arrives warm or without enough refrigeration.

A search of the FDA Philippines website for "Ozempic" and "semaglutide" on October 7, 2026 found no advisory naming either. This was not a check of every advisory.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ozempic available in the Philippines?

Yes, as a prescription medicine. Ozempic is listed as a registered prescription drug in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). Under RA 10918, it is dispensed by a licensed pharmacist with a valid prescription.

Is Ozempic approved by FDA Philippines?

Ozempic solution for injection is listed as a registered prescription drug (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal, under four records valid on October 7, 2026. The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) lists type 2 diabetes, and reducing the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease. The insert linked for BR-1346 lists only the type 2 diabetes indication.

Do I need a prescription for Ozempic in the Philippines?

Yes. Ozempic is listed as a prescription drug (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). Under the Philippine Pharmacy Act (RA 10918), prescription medicines are dispensed only by a licensed pharmacist with a valid prescription from a physician, dentist or veterinarian.

Can a doctor give an Ozempic prescription through an online consultation?

Under DOH-DILG-PhilHealth Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-0001, only licensed physicians may practice telemedicine, and they decide, using their professional judgment, whether telemedicine fits a given patient. An electronic prescription must carry the physician's digital signature, name and license number, and pharmacies must dispense as prescribed by a valid electronic prescription. The JAO also says first-time consultations, emergencies and cases that need face-to-face assessment should not be managed using telemedicine.

Is Ozempic approved for weight loss?

Weight management is not among the approved uses on the US Ozempic label, which covers adults with type 2 diabetes. In the US, the semaglutide brand approved for weight reduction is Wegovy. The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) also has no weight management indication.

How is Ozempic taken?

The US Ozempic label says it is injected under the skin once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals. It is injected in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, using a different spot each week when injecting in the same area. Your doctor sets your dose.

What are the most common side effects of Ozempic?

The US Ozempic label lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation, each reported in 5% or more of patients. The label also says gastrointestinal side effects can sometimes be severe.

Who should not use Ozempic?

The US Ozempic label says it is not recommended in people with severe gastroparesis. The US Wegovy label, which contains the same molecule, says semaglutide must not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, with MEN 2, or with a prior serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or its ingredients. Your doctor checks this before prescribing.

How should Ozempic be stored?

The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) says to keep a new pen in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). After first use it "may be stored for a maximum of 6 weeks. Store below 30°C or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C)." The US Ozempic label allows 56 days at 15 to 30 C or in a refrigerator. The Philippine insert applies to products registered in the Philippines. Do not freeze it or use it if it has been frozen.

How can I tell if Ozempic is fake or unregistered?

FDA Philippines tells the public to check whether a product is registered on its verification portal. The US FDA reports counterfeit Ozempic, and says counterfeit drugs could contain the wrong ingredient, too little, too much or no active ingredient, or other harmful ingredients. The US FDA also advises against using any injectable GLP-1 medicine that arrives warm or without enough refrigeration.

Is it legal to sell Ozempic online without a prescription?

In February 2024, FDA Philippines said it was concerned about Ozempic being sold online without a prescription and was investigating online sellers. Under RA 10918, prescription medicines are dispensed only with a valid prescription, through a retail drug outlet licensed by FDA Philippines. FDA Philippines asks the public to report illegal online sales of prescription drugs to ereport@fda.gov.ph.

Does this page list Ozempic prices?

No. This page does not list Ozempic prices.

Sources

This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed doctor before starting any treatment.