Rybelsus
What is Rybelsus?
Many Australians who use Ozempic may have been looking for an oral hypoglycaemic agent for a long time because they are tired of endless injections. The Novo Nordisk company has developed Rybelsus pills as an alternative to pen injectors. Although it has been approved in Australia, there is currently no reliable online source from which to purchase it.
Mechanism of Action and Effects
The oral GLP-1 agonist semaglutide is produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) through a process called DNA recombination.[1] Once in the bloodstream, the active ingredient slows down the digestive process, which affects feelings of hunger directly. It also prevents the liver from breaking down glycogen and releasing large amounts of glucose into the blood.
How to Use?
The dosage is adjusted depending on the clinical presentation of the disease. The correct dosage is prescribed by the attending physician. The tablets should be taken at the same time every day, regardless of meals.
The usual scheme of taking Rybelsus is presented on the infographics below.
The initial dose is 3 mg for the first 30 days, to allow the body to adjust to the medication. After this, you should be prescribed 7 mg to improve glucose control. After a further 30 days, your GP may increase your dose to 14 mg if you require even better blood sugar control.[2]
Buy Rybelsus Online in Australia
Some websites, such as a-pharmacie.com, offer Rybelsus over the counter (OTC). Be cautious — they are illegal. There are articles on multiple websites featuring links/banners to a-pharmacie.com. Hackers have added these articles to websites without informing the owners. They are just parasites, using reliable websites’ ratings to advertise rogue pharmacies. This practice is known as “black hat SEO” and doorway pages. Don’t be fooled by this illegal trick — don’t purchase Rybelsus tablets there. As noted by the TGA, these pills can be fake and may contain potentially harmful ingredients.[3]
Here’s how the adequate procedure for buying prescription medicines, which is implemented in some countries, should work. To buy Rybelsus, patients need to select it from the list of available medicines, then choose the dosage and quantity required. They will also need to upload a prescription. If they have not yet consulted a doctor, they will need to complete a health questionnaire. Once submitted, a medical specialist will evaluate the information and issue an electronic prescription. The patient can then proceed to the payment stage and wait for the medication to be delivered to their home.
Ordering from New Zealand?
Multi-country telemedicine and medicine delivery services are not available in Oceania. Furthermore, no online service can guarantee proper storage and transport conditions for medicines, nor fast and cheap delivery. It is important to choose a local pharmacy and not to use the services of foreign delivery companies, such as those based in India and Sri Lanka. This could harm your health.
Rybelsus at Chemist Warehouse
Unlike Ozempic and Mounjaro, Rybelsus was not available on the Chemist Warehouse website as of 2025. It is difficult to say whether it can be found in the local pharmacies of this chain.
Price of Rybelsus
The price varies depending on the dosage and the number of tablets in the pack. In general, Rybelsus is expensive, but diabetics may be eligible for reimbursement. Only buy from pharmacies you trust.
Rybelsus and Alcohol
Drinking alcohol during therapy can affect the outcome of your treatment. Therefore, your doctor should advise you to either refrain from drinking alcohol completely or at least minimise your consumption. In general, drinking alcohol is not good for your health.
Interestingly, Rybelsus may be helpful in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). For example, one study showed that it “significantly reduced weekly alcohol craving relative to placebo”.[4]
Side Effects
Since the drug affects the gastrointestinal tract, side effects will most often occur in this area. The most common of these are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. These are usually mild to moderate. However, if you experience any side effects, consult your doctor.
Other adverse events may include:
- acute pancreatitis
- hypoglycaemia
- temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy
Some Precautions
Rybelsus is not usually prescribed to patients with pancreatic cancer. In addition, the medication has not been studied in people with a history of pancreatitis. Patients with type 1 diabetes should also refrain from taking this drug, as it is unlikely to be effective and would be a waste of money. Of course, no doctor will prescribe it to treat this condition, as this is prohibited.
What Are Alternatives to Rybelsus?
Rybelsus’s main competitor in the Australian pharmaceutical market is Ozempic. Like Rybelsus, it contains semaglutide and is used to treat diabetes, but it is administered via injection. It needs to be taken once a week rather than daily.
Another important competitor and alternative to Rybelsus is Victoza, which is currently available. It is a pen injector containing liraglutide, which is an analogue of human GLP-1. It affects blood sugar levels by slowing down intestinal emptying. It is mainly prescribed to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Rybelsus vs. Metformin
Metformin contains a substance that controls blood sugar levels by reducing glucose production in the liver and lowering sugar absorption in the intestines. It is indicated for use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, either in combination with other oral antidiabetic drugs for adults, or in combination with insulin for children. A notable difference between the two drugs is that Rybelsus is not used in children.
User Reviews
Overall, the medication received above-average ratings in patient reviews.[5] Obese patients also reported gradual weight loss after taking Rybelsus. In the initial stages of treatment at the lowest dosage, patients reported an improvement in their general condition with no side effects.
FAQ
In Australia, Rybelsus was registered by the TGA in early 2022 (Date of decision: 4 February 2022[6]), with broader awareness and availability occurring in 2023. It was approved as an oral treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes, which should be used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise.
In Australia, your GP can prescribe Rybelsus, particularly if you are being treated for type 2 diabetes. You can also receive expert guidance and a prescription from an endocrinologist if your condition is complex or hasn’t responded to other treatments.
Dietitians cannot issue scripts for this medication. However, they can collaborate closely with you and/or your doctor to help you manage your diet, lifestyle and treatment goals.
No, you cannot prescribe this dosage yourself. First, your doctor will prescribe a dose of 3 mg, which you will take for 30 days. Depending on the results and your tolerance of the medication, your doctor may increase the dose to 7 mg.
The drug has not been officially approved by the TGA for the treatment of obesity. For this reason, no dosage for the treatment of obesity is specified in the instructions. The medication is recommended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in dosages of 3 mg, 7 mg, and 14 mg.
No, there are no generics offered on the market. If they are available, this means that they are illicit.
Rybelsus is not recommended if you do not have diabetes. Rarely some doctors prescribe it off-label for slimming. Wegovy and Saxenda are as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of excess weight.
No, you cannot control how much of the medicine is in each half of the tablet. It is best to use ready-made doses and not cut the tablets. Your safety and the expected result of treatment depend on this.
There is a risk of developing hypoglycaemic conditions when taking these drugs. This combination can only be prescribed by the GP and only under their close supervision.
These two medications work differently to help control blood glucose levels. Based on this, your doctor may prescribe Rybelsus and Jardiance to be taken together. Using them together has shown positive results in treating your condition and reducing side effects.
You shouldn’t take the medicine at any time of day. Firstly, the leaflet officially indicates that it should be ingested in the morning. Secondly, Rybelsus is best absorbed after fasting. Taking it at night after eating greatly reduces its effectiveness.
No, it’s a bad idea. Such an unregulated administration scheme might be unpredictable in terms of treatment results and body reaction to the medication.
The cost of this medication may be covered by insurance. It is important to check with your insurance company to confirm this. As of 2025, the PBS database only includes injectable forms of the medicine.[7]
This medicine is available as tablets in three strengths: 3 mg, 7 mg and 14 mg. It is important to never increase the dose without consulting your doctor.
Sources:
- EMA: Ozempic EPAR Assessment Report (PDF)
- Rybelsus Official Site: What to Expect
- TGA: Counterfeit Rybelsus Tablets Detected
- JAMA Psychiatry: Study Related to Semaglutide
- Drugs.com: Rybelsus User Reviews (Type II Diabetes)
- TGA: Australian Product Information for Rybelsus
- PBS Australia: Semaglutide Listing Information
