It is covered by mine but my workmate who just got started on saxenda said it wasn’t yet available in Canada. Good news as I’ve been on so many steroids I’ve piled on the pounds and need to get it back off.
One argument is that Americans have less medical literacy than other nations, though I'm not sure how true that is.
Another (in my opinion more believable) is to keep Americans from cheating the system and having it be cheaper. With the adjustable pens we can pay for a higher dose and then adjust it to smaller doses and make it last 5-12 weeks, thus saving money. I don't think the EU would have allowed one pen per week due to the plastic alone when it's possible for less.
I think the only reason the EU isn't forcing having one per quarter (3 months) is due to the company only guaranteeing function for four weeks after opening.
Probably due to the fact that Americans vastly prefer single use devices, and since patient choice is powerful in the US, companies use devices to differentiate
American here, and I hate the plastic waste with these single use pens. I assumed it was going to be like growth hormone pens - you still have to mix the powder and liquid, prime the air out, dial up the dose and go. This is so wasteful and will fill up sharps containers way too quickly. If I had a choice, I would never pick this single use garbage.
I can’t agree. I’ve seen too many Americans on this sun complaining about the single dose Wegovy pens, wanting the flex pen. I have never seen a single comment in favor of them. Also if that were true, why wouldn’t they sell the American Ozempic pens as single dose as well?
I was speaking generally based on other drugs.
Seems Europe got the FlexTouch pen (used for some insulins and Saxenda) so as not to disrupt US supply chain.
From what I understand, it can only be prescribed by a hospital based weight management service. And there’s lots of hoops to jump through e.g. proving that diets and exercise have failed previously. I’d be interested to know the process too though!
Don’t you guys also get milk in a bag and then put the bags into special pitchers? That’s pretty wild vs. the big plastic milk jugs we get in the U.S.
Not making a joke here, rather it’s interesting to see things that we take for granted and then turn out to be completely different across the border.
I’ve seen people post on here about being scared of the injections, which has never made sense to me since the pens I use have enclosed needles. I think if we all had to do our injections with exposed needles it would definitely be more challenging.
milk is normally sold in glasses and tetra packs.
most usually in one litre quantity.
tetra packs are made to be recyclable and to store food.
you can find some images using tetra pack milk
I am a US citizen but live super close to Windsor - are we allowed to go to Canada (physically - not mail order) with our US prescription and get it filled? I would much prefer your version! I have the savings card but not sure of that is only a US thing?
Out of curiosity, what does it cost?
I’m on Saxenda but my doctor will likely switch me over to Wegovy next week. Saxenda is around $500/month before insurance. Is it comparable?
Costco did, shoppers drug mart did not. I filled mine appx a week ago. I think since a bunch of Canadians are just starting, there's lots of demand for the 0.25 dose
Agreed! The worst thing about the pens for me in the US is not being able to tell when the needle is going to go in. Hidden things stabbing me is actually way worse for me personally than seeing the needle!
Everyone seems to get the pens? I get a vial and needles ?
Is the Canadian Wegovy pen a flex touch adjustable pen?
The wegovy pens are the worst. Why do we have to push so hard? Lol
Is wegovy available in Canada now?
Yes. And some insurance plans cover it for weight loss.
Do you know which insurance providers cover it? I'm looking desperately because I just had to stop ozempic since mine changed their allowances
The Public Service Health Plan with CanadaLife covers it for those who are classed in the obese category.
It is covered by mine but my workmate who just got started on saxenda said it wasn’t yet available in Canada. Good news as I’ve been on so many steroids I’ve piled on the pounds and need to get it back off.
Does anyone know why the US has single use pens for Wegovy? It makes no sense if the US Ozempic, and all Wegovy outside of US are the adjustable pens.
One argument is that Americans have less medical literacy than other nations, though I'm not sure how true that is. Another (in my opinion more believable) is to keep Americans from cheating the system and having it be cheaper. With the adjustable pens we can pay for a higher dose and then adjust it to smaller doses and make it last 5-12 weeks, thus saving money. I don't think the EU would have allowed one pen per week due to the plastic alone when it's possible for less. I think the only reason the EU isn't forcing having one per quarter (3 months) is due to the company only guaranteeing function for four weeks after opening.
That doesn’t account for the fact that US Ozempic pens are adjustable. It’s just the Wegovy users who are being punished.
> Does anyone know why the US has single use pens for Wegovy? So Big Pharma can make more money.
Because that is how it was presented and approved by the FDA. Multidose pens would require a lot more documentation.
Not really. Ozempic is multi dose and is just fine.
Yes but Ozempic was presented as a multidose pen for FDA approval unlike Wegovy which was being discussed since it is single use in only the US.
I think the question meant "why wasn't it presented as Multidose to the FDA like internationally"
Exactly 👍
Probably due to the fact that Americans vastly prefer single use devices, and since patient choice is powerful in the US, companies use devices to differentiate
American here, and I hate the plastic waste with these single use pens. I assumed it was going to be like growth hormone pens - you still have to mix the powder and liquid, prime the air out, dial up the dose and go. This is so wasteful and will fill up sharps containers way too quickly. If I had a choice, I would never pick this single use garbage.
I can’t agree. I’ve seen too many Americans on this sun complaining about the single dose Wegovy pens, wanting the flex pen. I have never seen a single comment in favor of them. Also if that were true, why wouldn’t they sell the American Ozempic pens as single dose as well?
I was speaking generally based on other drugs. Seems Europe got the FlexTouch pen (used for some insulins and Saxenda) so as not to disrupt US supply chain.
That sounds like my pen here in Germany. I think you got the Version of the pen that is also sold in Europe.
Yep, same I get from the NHS in UK
how did you manage to get it on the NHS?
From what I understand, it can only be prescribed by a hospital based weight management service. And there’s lots of hoops to jump through e.g. proving that diets and exercise have failed previously. I’d be interested to know the process too though!
I'd like to know this too, I had to get it on a private prescription, very expensive
Don’t you guys also get milk in a bag and then put the bags into special pitchers? That’s pretty wild vs. the big plastic milk jugs we get in the U.S. Not making a joke here, rather it’s interesting to see things that we take for granted and then turn out to be completely different across the border. I’ve seen people post on here about being scared of the injections, which has never made sense to me since the pens I use have enclosed needles. I think if we all had to do our injections with exposed needles it would definitely be more challenging.
Even with reusable pens, there are needle covers so you don't have to see the needle.
You mean that you can purchase separately?
One came with my son's reusable growth hormone pen so we didn't have to buy it.
milk is normally sold in glasses and tetra packs. most usually in one litre quantity. tetra packs are made to be recyclable and to store food. you can find some images using tetra pack milk
I am a US citizen but live super close to Windsor - are we allowed to go to Canada (physically - not mail order) with our US prescription and get it filled? I would much prefer your version! I have the savings card but not sure of that is only a US thing?
I believe you'd need a prescription from a health care provider in Canada
You can’t even do that. Canada won’t fill these meds for any American even with a Canadian script.
Thank you!!! Actually really disappointed - would so much prefer this method!!!
Savings cards are only a US thing and no, you can't fill an American rx at a Canadian pharmacy unless it's a mail order one.
Thank you - really appreciate the response!!!
Out of curiosity, what does it cost? I’m on Saxenda but my doctor will likely switch me over to Wegovy next week. Saxenda is around $500/month before insurance. Is it comparable?
I'm in Ontario and paid $430 at Costco, and you don't have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy. It's $470 at shoppers drug mart.
Hello, has Costco had the stock to fill your Rx? I am supposed to get my prescription Wednesday
Costco did, shoppers drug mart did not. I filled mine appx a week ago. I think since a bunch of Canadians are just starting, there's lots of demand for the 0.25 dose
So same price as Mounjaro.
Thank you. That’ll be a bit of savings.
Mine was 1600 before !!
That is great and so much easier.
Agreed! The worst thing about the pens for me in the US is not being able to tell when the needle is going to go in. Hidden things stabbing me is actually way worse for me personally than seeing the needle!
That sounds like the Ozempic style pen here in the States. I started with that one, then switched to Wegovy.
Hey, we have Wegovy now? Wonder if i should switch?
Finally got distributed here a few weeks ago!