Can my pharmacist substitute a different GLP-1 medication if mine is unavailable?

Pharmacists generally cannot substitute between different GLP-1 medications without prescriber authorization because they're different drugs with different dosing, not generic equivalents. Ozempic cannot be substituted for Wegovy at the pharmacy level despite both containing semaglutide - they have different FDA indications, dosing, and sometimes insurance coverage. Similarly, Mounjaro and Zepbound both contain tirzepatide but aren't interchangeable at pharmacy without new prescriptions. If your specific medication is unavailable, your options are: have the pharmacist contact your prescriber to request a new prescription for an available alternative, ask your prescriber to send a new prescription for a different GLP-1 medication, or wait for your prescribed medication to come back in stock. Some insurance plans have specific requirements about which GLP-1 they'll cover, so switching medications may affect coverage. Never accept a different medication without prescriber approval and counseling on proper dosing for the new drug.