[Europe] Germany/France pharmacy experiences

EU member trying to compare pricing and access across borders. What's your experience been in your country?

Germany here, and it's been a mixed bag. My apotheke stocks it most months but there were two stretches this spring where I had to call around three towns to fill my pen, while a friend in France says her pharmacy just orders it in without drama. Prices seem comparable once you factor in the prescription visit, though the French reimbursement angle makes me a bit jealous.

France here, confirming what your friend said - my pharmacie orders it in a couple days with barely a question, and the reimbursement situation really does take the sting out of the price. I've been on it since spring and down 30 lbs, so access-wise I can't complain. Sounds like Germany's the tricky one right now.

Belgium here, so somewhere in between - most months my apotheker fills it without issue, but the cost stings since there's nothing like the French reimbursement to soften it. I cross into France occasionally and it's tempting, honestly. Only a couple kilos down myself so far but steady, so I'll take it.

Watching this from the US side where I'm paying full price for Saxenda, so the French reimbursement talk is genuinely making me jealous. My supply hiccups here make your German shortage months sound familiar though. Interesting how different the access game is even within the EU.

German here - my Apotheke has had gaps the last few months and I ended up waiting weeks once, so the cross-border idea is real. Slow start on my end too, barely a kilo gone, but I'm sticking with it since even small losses feel like progress.Germany here - my Apotheke has had gaps the last few months and I ended up waiting weeks once, so the cross-border idea is real. Slow start on my end too, barely a kilo gone, but I'm sticking with it since even small losses feel like progress.

Austrian here, and my experience sits closer to the German posts - occasional stock gaps but no reimbursement help, so full price every month. Down about 10 lbs myself, and honestly the slow steady pace has been the same story for me. The French system sounds like a dream from where I'm standing.

French pharmacies near the border have been my workaround during the German gaps - not cheap without reimbursement but at least in stock when my Apotheke came up empty. Down 14 lbs since starting even with the delays, so the slow weeks didn't hurt results much. Curious if anyone's found a consistent French source that doesn't require jumping through hoops.

Belgian here, and I pay out of pocket too, though my local pharmacy has been more reliable on stock than the German posters describe. Down 49 lbs over a much longer stretch, so the slow losses people are mentioning don't bother me anymore - the border-hopping only got me once. If the French supply stays steady for you, that gap-filling trick sounds worth keeping in your back pocket.

The border-hopping approach is interesting to me as an American paying out of pocket here in Kentucky, where stock is fine but the price alone is a hurdle. Down 62 lbs on Ozempic and honestly the supply headaches sound worse in the EU even if French pricing is better. If anyone finds that consistent French source, definitely report back.

German pharmacy here, stock has been hit or miss this year but the last few months have been steady. Down 56 lbs paying out of pocket, so I mostly stick with one place now since the price difference across borders was never worth the drive for me. Curious if anyone has luck with the French option long term.

German Apotheke stock has been hit or miss for me too, though I've only lost about 5 lbs so far so I'm still early days. Haven't tried the French route yet but hearing it works during shortages makes me less nervous about the next gap. Watching this thread for that consistent source too.

Same boat over here, coverage has been a moving target. Are you pairing it with any walking or strength work?

German Apotheke here too, and after a patchy stretch in spring I finally settled on one pharmacy that keeps calling me when a shipment lands. The border run never penciled out once I added up fuel and time. Worth asking any shop you trust if they'll hold your name on a list.

No cross-border tips from me since I'm in the US paying out of pocket, but the callback list idea rings true. My pharmacy in Vegas texts me when stock lands, and that heads-up has saved me more than once. Down 12 lbs so far and consistency of supply has mattered more than shaving a few dollars off.

French pharmacy here and the callback list thing matches my experience too. The one near me in Lyon texts when pens come in, and honestly supply consistency is why I'm down 35 lbs steady. Cross-border trips never made the math work for me either once I factored the travel day.

Thanks for starting this, super useful to compare notes. Access where I am has been hit or miss lately.

US perspective here so no help on EU pricing, but the callback list workaround seems universal. My compound pharmacy in Portland does the same thing, texts before each shipment, and staying supplied without gaps has been the biggest factor in the 29 lbs I've dropped. Would love to hear how German prices compare to what we pay over here.

German pharmacies near the Dutch border have been reliable for me, though I pay more per pen than the French prices people are describing here. Supply has been steady enough that my progress never stalled, down 15 lbs so far. Curious if anyone's found German prices beating French ones once you factor in the trip.

I'm in France and my pharmacy in a mid-size town keeps stock pretty consistently, no cross-border trips needed. I've heard the same from others here that the German border pharmacies cost more, so for me it hasn't been worth the drive just to maybe save a few euros per pen.Living in France I've had steady luck with a regular pharmacy in my town, no border runs needed, and the per-pen price has stayed manageable. For me the hassle of driving to Germany never penciled out once I added up fuel and a couple hours of my time, especially since supply here hasn't been the problem some people describe. Down 12 lbs with no gaps, so sticking local has worked fine so far.