Ozempic and GLP-1 Shortage in Canada: Current Status
Quick answer
Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications have cycled in and out of shortage in Canada since demand surged, rather than settling into either a stable shortage or a stable resolution — so don't rely on a headline from a few months ago. Check the current status for your specific dose and pen size directly before assuming either way, and talk to your pharmacist if you're affected rather than searching for a workaround on your own.
Why GLP-1 medications have been unusually volatile
Ozempic and related GLP-1 medications saw demand rise sharply after they became widely known for uses beyond their original approval, and manufacturing has repeatedly struggled to keep pace. Unlike a typical shortage caused by a single production disruption that eventually gets fixed, GLP-1 supply in Canada has moved in and out of shortage more than once as demand and manufacturing capacity have shifted against each other — which is why a status you read even a few months ago may no longer be accurate.
Different doses and pen sizes aren't always affected the same way
A shortage report for Ozempic doesn't necessarily mean every dose strength or pen size is affected — starting doses and maintenance doses have, at different points, had different availability. Search the specific dose you're prescribed rather than going by a general "Ozempic shortage" headline.
Check the current status before assuming either way
Because this drug class has cycled between shortage and adequate supply more than once, don't assume the status you saw reported in the news — whether that was "resolved" or "in shortage" — still applies now. The status shown against a specific DIN on MedShort reflects the same Health Canada reporting your pharmacy checks, current as of the last update.
What to do if your dose is currently affected
If your specific dose is short-supplied, talk to your pharmacist about your options — depending on the situation, that might mean an alternate pen size of the same medication, a delay, or a discussion with your prescriber about a different medication in the same class. This is a decision for your pharmacist or prescriber, not something to work out from a forum post or a different country's availability. See when switching strength is and isn't straightforward.
Where to check
Search your exact medication and dose on MedShort for the current status directly from Health Canada's Drug Shortages Canada system.
Related Guides
Which Medications Are in Shortage in Canada Right Now?
Search any drug by name or DIN for live status, plus which drug classes — ADHD meds, GLP-1s, antibiotics, insulin — go into shortage most often.
Can I Use a Different Strength During a Medication Shortage in Canada?
Combining two lower-strength tablets, or splitting a higher one, isn't automatically safe — here's when a pharmacist can approve it on the spot and which drugs (like extended-release or narrow-therapeutic-index medications) it's not safe for at all.
What to Do When Your Medication Is in Shortage in Canada
A step-by-step guide for Canadian patients: how to check if a shortage is still active, what an estimated resolution date means, and when to talk to your pharmacist.
Latest Canadian Shortage Updates
Sources
Guide text last reviewed August 16, 2026; the shortage status shown above is pulled from Health Canada's data and refreshed hourly. MedShort.ca is an independent tracking tool and does not provide medical advice.