Buying semaglutide: what is legal and what isn't

What is semaglutide? (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy)

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist: a substance that mimics the natural hormone GLP-1. It slows your gastric emptying, curbs your appetite and helps regulate your blood sugar. As a result you eat less without constantly having to fight cravings. That is exactly what makes the difference for people for whom willpower alone never proved enough.

The substance is found in three brand-name medicines, all of which require a prescription according to Apotheek.nl (the Dutch pharmacists' patient information website):

• Ozempic: weekly injection, officially registered for type 2 diabetes
• Rybelsus: daily tablet, also for type 2 diabetes
• Wegovy: weekly injection, specifically registered for weight management in people with overweight

Its effect on overweight has been well studied. In a large clinical trial among more than 1,900 adults with overweight, participants on weekly semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% in the placebo group. Important to add: that result was achieved with lifestyle support, and results vary per person.

It is also true that semaglutide has side effects. Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and fatigue mainly occur in the first weeks and usually ease. Rarer are more serious problems such as an inflamed pancreas or gallstones. That is another reason why a doctor should be at your side, as with medical weight loss with injections under medical supervision. Read more about Ozempic and your eyes.

Buying semaglutide without a prescription: the risks

Buying semaglutide without a prescription is prohibited in the Netherlands, and what you buy is often not what it seems. Webshops that promise "semaglutide without a prescription" or "order now" operate outside Dutch regulatory oversight. You have no guarantee whatsoever about what is really in the pen or pill.

That risk is not theoretical. In 2023, the Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd (the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate) warned about counterfeit Ozempic pens that had turned up at European wholesalers. The inspectorate's advice is crystal clear: only obtain prescription medicines through your doctor and pharmacy.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also raised the alarm about these counterfeits. Some fake pens turned out to contain insulin instead of semaglutide. For someone without diabetes, that can cause dangerously low blood sugar. Other counterfeits contain the wrong dose or no active ingredient at all.

So never buy semaglutide without a prescription. You risk your health, your money and your motivation. There is a safe route, and it is more accessible than you might think.

What does semaglutide cost?

The price of semaglutide itself varies by brand, dose and pharmacy. If you use it to lose weight, the medication is in most cases not covered by basic health insurance (basisverzekering) and you pay the costs yourself. If in doubt, always check with your health insurer. Read more about Ozempic insurance coverage.

At Qlinic you choose a complete programme: medical intake, prescription, home delivery and personal supervision by your own doctor. These are our programme prices:

In addition, you pay a one-off €400 for supervision. You will find all amounts and current details under the cost of medical weight loss.

How to get semaglutide legally

The legal route to semaglutide always runs through a doctor. At a specialised clinic for medical weight loss, it looks like this:

1. Consultation and intake. You complete an eligibility check and then have a personal consultation with a BIG-registered doctor (the BIG register is the Dutch register of healthcare professionals). The doctor assesses whether medication is medically responsible in your situation.
2. Prescription and home delivery. If it is a good fit, the doctor writes a prescription. A registered Dutch pharmacy delivers the medication discreetly to your home. That way you can be 100% sure you are getting real medication.
3. Weight loss with support. You start gently and have a follow-up with the doctor every 4 weeks. Most people notice the first effect after about 4 weeks: the feeling of hunger decreases.

Your GP (huisarts) can in principle also prescribe it, but many GPs are reluctant to prescribe weight loss medication because the intensive supervision it requires is hard to fit into a regular practice. A specialised clinic is set up for this.

Want to know whether semaglutide or another GLP-1 programme is right for you? Our BIG-registered doctor personally reviews your application, without obligation. Take the eligibility check →

Alternatives: Wegovy, Saxenda and Mounjaro

Semaglutide is not the only medication for medical weight loss, and not automatically the best choice for you. These medicines work in a similar way, but differ in substance, administration and intensity:

• Wegovy also contains semaglutide, but is specifically registered for weight management.
• Saxenda contains liraglutide and is a daily injection. Here too: Saxenda without a prescription does not legally exist in the Netherlands. What does exist is medical weight loss with injections via a doctor.
• Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on two hormones at once (GLP-1 and GIP). It is a weekly injection and is used in medical weight loss with injections under medical supervision.

Which medicine is right depends on your health, your preferences and how your body responds. That is exactly the decision the doctor makes together with you during the intake, and at the follow-up every 4 weeks the doctor assesses whether your medicine still suits you.

Medical weight loss with supervision at Qlinic

We don't believe in loose injections or pills, but in a programme that tackles the cause: the constant feeling of hunger that sabotages weight loss. You can read why previous attempts failed in our article on why you are not losing weight. The medication largely takes away that hunger, and the supervision makes sure the result lasts.

At Qlinic you get your own BIG-registered doctor who really knows you. No changing faces: the same doctor does your intake and every follow-up, every 4 weeks. If you have side effects or doubts in between, you discuss them with that same doctor.

So far we have helped around 50 clients, and they rate us 5.0 on Google (more than 20 reviews). Your medication is delivered discreetly to your home through registered Dutch pharmacies.

Ready to take a different approach, safely and legally? With the eligibility check you quickly find out whether medical weight loss with a doctor is an option for you. Take the eligibility check →

Frequently asked questions about buying semaglutide

Can you buy semaglutide without a prescription?

No, buying semaglutide without a prescription is illegal in the Netherlands. Providers who promise it anyway often supply counterfeits with wrong or dangerous contents. The only safe route is via a doctor who writes a prescription, after which a registered pharmacy supplies the medication.

Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic?

Semaglutide is the active ingredient, Ozempic is a brand name. The same substance is also found in Wegovy (injection for weight management) and Rybelsus (tablet for type 2 diabetes). When people say "buy Ozempic", they usually mean medication containing semaglutide.

What does semaglutide cost per month?

The price of the medication varies by brand and dose, and for weight loss you usually pay it yourself. At Qlinic, a complete programme including prescription, home delivery and supervision by a doctor costs €250 to €850 per month, depending on the medication, plus a one-off €400 for supervision.

Can you get Saxenda without a prescription?

No, like semaglutide, Saxenda requires a prescription in the Netherlands. Buying Saxenda online without a prescription is illegal and unsafe. A doctor first assesses whether liraglutide (the active ingredient in Saxenda) suits your situation and then writes a prescription.

How do I get a prescription for semaglutide?

Through a doctor: your own GP or a specialised clinic for medical weight loss. At Qlinic you start with an eligibility check and an intake with our BIG-registered doctor. If medication is medically responsible, the doctor arranges the prescription and a registered pharmacy delivers the medication to your home.

How fast does semaglutide work?

Most people notice the first effect after about 4 weeks: less hunger and fewer cravings between meals. Weight loss then builds up gradually. In clinical research, participants lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, always combined with lifestyle support.