Ozempic is a once-weekly injection used along with diet and exercise to treat adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). There have been shortages of Ozempic since early 2022 due to its off-label use as a weight loss drug. Telehealth and social media have played a significant role in driving this demand for Ozempic, which has left diabetic patients scrambling to find this medication. Novo Nordisk has increased production of Ozempic as well as limited access to lower doses to address these shortages.
Keep reading and we will discuss everything you need to know about Ozempic and what it is used for.
What conditions does Ozempic treat?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a brand-name prescription drug that is approved along with a healthy diet and exercise by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:
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Manage blood sugar levels in adults with T2DM
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Reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) in adults with T2DM and known heart disease
Ozempic has a boxed warning against its use in people with a personal or family history of certain types of thyroid cancer. It should also be avoided if you have certain medical conditions such as pancreatitis and is not approved to treat type 1 diabetes (T1DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis.
How does Ozempic work?
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which belongs to a drug class called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a natural hormone released by your gut when you eat. Ozempic works by activating GLP-1 receptors. This causes your pancreas to release more insulin while stopping your liver from releasing sugar into the bloodstream. It also slows down digestion to help you eat less and lose weight.
What doses of Ozempic are available?
Ozempic is available as an injection in the following strengths:
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2 mg/1.5 ml or 2 mg/3 ml prefilled pen that can deliver 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg per injection
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4 mg/3 ml prefilled pen that delivers 1 mg per injection
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8 mg/3 ml prefilled pen that delivers 2 mg per injection
What is the dosage for Ozempic?
Your dose of Ozempic is started low and slowly increased to help reduce the risk of stomach-related side effects. You should use Ozempic exactly as your prescriber tells you to.
It is typically started at 0.25 mg once a week, given as an injection under the skin of your thigh, stomach, or upper arm. After 4 weeks, your dose is increased to 0.5 mg once a week. If your blood sugar is still not controlled on this dose, it can be increased to 1 mg once a week after 4 weeks. It can then be increased to the maximum dose of 2 mg once a week if additional blood sugar control is still needed after 4 weeks on the 1 mg dose.
Are there any drug interactions with Ozempic?
When Ozempic is taken with other drugs, it can change how they work or make some side effects more likely or severe. You should ask your healthcare provider if any of the prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, or supplements you take may interact with Ozempic, including:
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Other diabetic medications such as insulin and metformin
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Oral medications, since Ozempic slows down digestion and can change how much these medications are absorbed
What are the common side effects of Ozempic?
The most common side effects of Ozempic seen in clinical trials when compared to placebo include:
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Abdominal pain
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Constipation
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Weight loss
Rarely, Ozempic may cause some more serious side effects such as:
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Serious, life-threatening allergic reactions
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Increased risk of certain thyroid tumors including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
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Increased risk of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
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Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
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Diabetic retinopathy complications and vision changes
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Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if it is used with other diabetes medications
- Worsening kidney disease
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
Contact your healthcare professional for medical advice about any possible adverse effects you experience while taking Ozempic. You can report your adverse effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Is Ozempic used for anything other than diabetes?
While Ozempic is only FDA-approved to manage blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics, it has been extensively used off-label as a weight loss medication over the past year. The active ingredient, semaglutide is approved at a higher dose to treat obese patients under the brand name Wegovy.
Ozempic is also used to reduce the risk of serious heart-related events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with T2DM and heart disease.
How much weight can you lose on Ozempic?
During clinical trials, most patients on Ozempic lost weight. Based on 2 of these trials, participants lost an average of between -9.3 lbs and -14.1 lbs of their starting body weight after 40 weeks. It should be noted that these patients also ate a healthy diet and exercised regularly while taking Ozempic.
What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic?
Semaglutide is the same active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. However, Ozempic is only FDA-approved to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is a higher-dose version of Ozempic that is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity and other weight-related medical conditions such as T2DM, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
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