Counterfeit Ozempic in the US: how do you spot a fake and stay safe?
The FDA has found fake Ozempic pens in the US drug supply three times since 2023. The lot numbers, the signs to look for, how to check a pharmacy, and how to report a suspect pen.
Written for the United States. Other country versions are coming.
Yes, fake Ozempic has reached the US supply chain. The FDA warned about lots NAR0074 (December 2023), PAR0362 (April 2025) and PAR1229 (December 2025). Its advice: get Ozempic only with a valid prescription from a state-licensed pharmacy, check the pen first, and report suspect pens.
Key takeaways
- The FDA has warned about three batches of counterfeit Ozempic in the US drug supply: lot NAR0074 in December 2023, PAR0362 in April 2025 and PAR1229 in December 2025.1
- In the 2023 fakes the needles were counterfeit, so the FDA said their sterility could not be confirmed, raising the risk of infection.1
- For the PAR1229 fake, the FDA says the EXP/LOT text appears to the left of the expiration date.1
- The FDA says a safe online pharmacy always needs a prescription, has a US address and a licensed pharmacist, and is licensed by a state board.3
- Suspect pens should not be used; the FDA gives Novo Nordisk’s line, 1-800-727-6500, and MedWatch for reports.1,6
On this page
Has counterfeit Ozempic been found in the US?
Yes. The FDA has warned about three batches of fake Ozempic found in the US drug supply: in December 2023, April 2025 and December 2025.1
Semaglutide is the medicine; Ozempic is Novo Nordisk’s brand of it in a weekly pen.2 A counterfeit copies the look of the real pen and box, but nobody knows what is inside or how it was made.
| FDA alert | Batch details | What the FDA said |
|---|---|---|
| December 21, 2023 | Lot NAR0074, serial number 4308341490571 | The needles were fake, so their sterility can’t be confirmed. The pen label, leaflets and carton were also fake.1 |
| April 14, 2025 | Lot PAR0362, serial numbers starting 517465171 | “Several hundred units” of fake Ozempic 1 mg were in the US supply chain.1 |
| December 5, 2025 | Lot PAR12291 | On the fake, the EXP/LOT text sits to the left of the expiration date.1 |
The FDA identifies each fake batch by its lot number, and two of them by serial number too. A pen outside these batches is not proven genuine, so the FDA also asks everyone to check the product before using it.1
Why is a fake pen dangerous?
Because nothing about it has been checked. The FDA says fake needles can’t be confirmed as sterile, “which presents an increased risk of infection.”1
- Unknown contents: the pen may hold the wrong medicine, the wrong amount, or none.
- Infection: fake needles may not be sterile.1
- False labels: the FDA has seen fake versions of compounded drugs with false label information, naming pharmacies that don’t exist or didn’t make them.4
For the April 2025 batch, the FDA had six reports of side effects linked to that lot, but said none appeared to be caused by the fake product itself.1 That is the FDA’s reading of reports, not a sign that fakes are safe.
Real Ozempic has its own side effects. On the label the most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation.2 Our side-effects guide covers them, and the serious ones.
How can you check your pen?
Compare the lot number, serial number and printing with the FDA’s alert photos, and look closely at the carton and leaflets. If anything looks off, don’t use it.1
- Find the lot and serial numbers on the carton and pen. Compare them with the three batches in the FDA alert: NAR0074, PAR0362 and PAR1229.1
- Check the printing. For the PAR1229 fake, the FDA says the EXP/LOT text is on the left of the expiration date.1
- Look at the FDA’s photos. The FDA tells patients to check the product for signs of counterfeiting before use, and asks pharmacies to compare shipments with its photographs.1
- Check the packaging. The FDA lists altered appearance, damaged or foreign packaging, and missing expiration dates as warning signs of an unsafe supplier.3
- Ask your pharmacist to look at it with you if you are unsure.
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How do you know a pharmacy is legitimate?
The FDA says a safe online pharmacy always asks for a prescription, has a US address and phone number, has a licensed pharmacist to answer questions, and is licensed by a state board of pharmacy.3
The FDA’s BeSafeRx campaign lists warning signs of an unsafe one:3
- it doesn’t ask for a prescription;
- it isn’t licensed in the US or by your state board of pharmacy;
- it has no licensed pharmacist to answer questions;
- it offers “deep discounts or prices that seem too good to be true”;
- it charges you for products you never ordered or received.
The FDA’s BeSafeRx page also points to a way to locate state-licensed online pharmacies.3
Is compounded semaglutide the same as a fake?
No, but it is not the same as Ozempic either. Compounded semaglutide is mixed by a pharmacy, is not FDA-approved, and is not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality before it is sold.5
In March 2026 the FDA sent 30 warning letters to telehealth companies over claims that implied their compounded products were the same as approved medicines.5 By May 31, 2026, the FDA had received 990 side-effect reports linked to compounded semaglutide.4 It also says it knows of no lawful basis for compounding with semaglutide salt forms, such as semaglutide sodium.4
What should you do if you think your pen is fake?
Don’t inject it. Keep the pen and box, call Novo Nordisk customer care, and report it to the FDA through MedWatch.1,6
- Stop and keep everything: the pen, carton, leaflet and receipt.1
- Call Novo Nordisk customer care at 1-800-727-6500, the number the FDA gives for these alerts.1
- Report to the FDA through MedWatch online, or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088 as printed on the Ozempic label.2,6
- Tell your prescriber if you injected any of it, and about any symptoms since.
Questions people ask
Is there fake Ozempic in the US?
Yes. The FDA has warned about three counterfeit batches found in the US supply chain: lots NAR0074, PAR0362 and PAR1229.1
How can I tell if my Ozempic pen is fake?
Compare the lot and serial numbers and the printing with the FDA’s alert and photos. For lot PAR1229, the fake has the EXP/LOT text to the left of the expiration date.1
Where should I get Ozempic to avoid fakes?
The FDA says only with a valid prescription, through state-licensed pharmacies.1
Who do I call about a fake Ozempic pen?
Novo Nordisk customer care at 1-800-727-6500, and report it to the FDA through MedWatch.1,6
Is compounded semaglutide counterfeit?
Not necessarily, but it is not FDA-approved and not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality before sale. The FDA has also seen fake compounded products with false labels.4,5
How we researched this
On October 12, 2026, we read the FDA’s counterfeit Ozempic alert page (all three alerts), the FDA’s BeSafeRx guidance, its page on unapproved GLP‑1 drugs, its March 2026 warning-letter release, the MedWatch page and the current US Ozempic label.
Everything about the fakes comes from the FDA. We name no seller, pharmacy or website, and we don’t publish photos of pens or boxes.
Before you move on
- The FDA has flagged three fake Ozempic batches in the US: NAR0074, PAR0362, PAR1229.
- Check the lot, serial and printing against the FDA alert before you inject.
- A safe pharmacy needs a prescription and is licensed by a state board.
- Report suspect pens to Novo Nordisk and to the FDA through MedWatch.
More from the US blog
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An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don't sell medicines, take drug-company money or earn clinic commissions. Once a month: FDA approvals and safety notices, label changes, Medicare and Medicaid coverage changes, and published price changes. How we write
Sources
- FDA. FDA warns consumers not to use counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) found in U.S. drug supply chain. Alerts of December 21, 2023, April 14, 2025, and December 5, 2025; content current as of December 5, 2025. fda.gov
- Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) injection: US prescribing information, revised 05/2026. novo-pi.com
- FDA. BeSafeRx: considering an online pharmacy? Content current as of September 21, 2020. fda.gov
- FDA. FDA’s concerns with unapproved GLP‑1 drugs used for weight loss. Content current as of October 1, 2026. fda.gov
- FDA. FDA warns 30 telehealth companies against illegal marketing of compounded GLP‑1s. Press release, March 3, 2026. fda.gov
- FDA. MedWatch: the FDA safety information and adverse event reporting program. Content current as of October 9, 2026. fda.gov
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Opened October 12, 2026. poison.org
Last checked Oct 12, 2026 · Next review due Apr 12, 2027 · Report an error
How this post was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical, legal or tax advice. Talk to a qualified doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write