Ozempic is a well-liked kind 2 diabetes remedy that lowers blood glucose (sugar), improves A1c ranges (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months), and helps weight reduction or upkeep.
On this article, we’ll cowl every little thing you must learn about Ozempic, together with its advantages, unwanted effects, and efficient use.
What’s Ozempic?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is the model title for a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist accredited by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 to assist handle blood sugar ranges in adults with kind 2 diabetes, alongside food regimen and train.
This injectable remedy is taken simply as soon as per week on account of its long-lasting results.
What are the advantages of Ozempic?
Ozempic gives three primary advantages for folks with diabetes:
Improved blood sugar administration
The drugs lowers blood sugar and A1c ranges by growing insulin manufacturing from the pancreas and lowering the discharge of glucagon (a storage type of glucose) from the liver.
Weight reduction or upkeep
Ozempic helps customers lose or keep weight by lowering urge for food and slowing digestion. Medical trials with the everyday Ozempic dose present a median weight lack of 4 to five p.c.
(Wegovy, one other semaglutide-based remedy accredited particularly for weight reduction, makes use of larger doses and leads to a median weight lack of 14.9 p.c.)
Ozempic can be prescribed “off-label” for weight reduction in folks with kind 1 diabetes or these with out diabetes.
Learn extra in: Can Ozempic Assist You Lose Weight?
Decrease threat of heart problems
Ozempic reduces the danger of main coronary heart occasions like coronary heart assault, stroke, and dying in adults with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Why would you be prescribed Ozempic?
Ozempic is FDA-approved particularly for folks with kind 2 diabetes. Not everybody with kind 2 diabetes will likely be prescribed Ozempic, as many can handle their blood sugar ranges with food regimen, train, and typically insulin remedy or different medicines.
Nevertheless, in case you’re having problem sustaining blood sugar ranges inside a wholesome vary together with your present medicines, or in case you’re coping with insulin resistance, your physician might prescribe Ozempic as a complement to your remedy plan.
Moreover, many individuals with kind 2 diabetes and present coronary heart illness are prescribed Ozempic as a result of it helps cut back the danger of stroke, coronary heart assault, and untimely dying on this inhabitants.
What are the unwanted effects?
Frequent unwanted effects of Ozempic embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Weight reduction
- Low blood sugar (particularly in case you’re on insulin)
Uncommon however critical problems might embody:
- Thyroid tumors (together with most cancers)
- Pancreatitis
- Imaginative and prescient adjustments (worsening of diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney issues
- Extreme allergic reactions
Search instant medical consideration in case you expertise a fever, worsening imaginative and prescient, weak point, or ache after taking the remedy.
Study extra in: Ozempic Facet Results: What You Must Know.
Ozempic dosages
Ozempic is out there as a liquid answer in prefilled, disposable pens for subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection, taken as soon as weekly, with or with out meals.
The pens are available in varied strengths:
Ozempic pen dose power chart
| Pen Power | Dose Given Per Injection |
| 2 mg/1.5 mL (1.34 mg/mL) | 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg |
| 2 mg/3 mL (0.68 mg/mL) | 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg |
| 4 mg/3 mL (1.34 mg/mL) | 1 mg |
| 8 mg/3 mL (2.68 mg/mL) | 2 mg |
See extra in: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
How a lot Ozempic ought to I be taking?
Your Ozempic dosage will range primarily based in your well being historical past and targets. Most docs begin with 0.25 milligrams (mg) as soon as weekly, growing to 0.5 mg after a number of weeks if well-tolerated.
If wanted, your dose could also be elevated to 1 mg, as much as a most of two mg weekly. It’s vital to take Ozempic on the identical day on the similar time every week.
See extra in: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
What occurs in case you take an excessive amount of Ozempic?
Overdosing on Ozempic can result in critical unwanted effects, together with extreme nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), particularly in case you’re additionally on insulin.
These situations may be life-threatening if not handled instantly. If you happen to’ve taken an excessive amount of Ozempic, contact your physician or search emergency medical consideration instantly.
Study extra in: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
Can I miss a dose of Ozempic?
If you happen to miss a dose of Ozempic, you possibly can take it inside a number of days. Nevertheless, if it has been greater than 5 days, skip the missed dose and proceed together with your subsequent scheduled dose.
One missed dose gained’t trigger insulin resistance or weight acquire, however attempt to keep away from lacking doses recurrently, because the remedy works finest when taken constantly.
Learn extra in: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
inject Ozempic
Earlier than injecting, verify the liquid within the pen for particles or discoloration — if current, don’t use the pen.
Clear the injection website with rubbing alcohol, and rotate injection websites weekly to stop pores and skin harm.
Ozempic is often injected beneath the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm. Converse together with your healthcare supplier about the very best injection websites and rotation methods.
See extra in: Ozempic Injection: The place and Inject.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic?
Solely take Ozempic if prescribed by a physician. It’s not really useful if you’re pregnant, planning to grow to be pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Keep away from utilizing Ozempic in case you don’t have diabetes, or when you’ve got prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes with out a doctor’s steering.
Don’t use Ozempic in case you or your loved ones members have a historical past of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2).
Moreover, keep away from Ozempic in case you’re allergic to semaglutide. If you happen to’re allergic, you would possibly contemplate Victoza, which comprises liraglutide, one other GLP-1 agonist.
Seek the advice of your healthcare supplier when you’ve got any considerations or questions on beginning Ozempic.
How do I cease taking Ozempic?
You would possibly contemplate stopping Ozempic on account of unwanted effects, price, or the way it makes you are feeling.
Nevertheless, all the time communicate to your physician earlier than discontinuing any diabetes remedy. Your supplier will doubtless advocate tapering the dose quite than stopping abruptly.
Bear in mind that stopping Ozempic might result in a return of insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar ranges, meals cravings, and weight acquire.
It’s vital to have an alternate plan in place, equivalent to a special remedy, train, or food regimen technique, to handle these results.
How does Ozempic enhance diabetes administration?
Ozempic helps handle diabetes by reducing blood sugar ranges and supporting weight reduction or upkeep, making it simpler to attain and keep decrease A1c ranges.
Research have proven that decrease A1cs are related to a diminished threat of long-term diabetes problems.
By addressing insulin resistance, Ozempic helps stabilize blood sugar, and the related weight reduction could make bodily exercise extra manageable.
Moreover, Ozempic reduces the danger of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely dying in folks with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness, considerably enhancing total well being outcomes.
Can Ozempic exchange insulin?
No, Ozempic is just not an alternative to insulin.
If you happen to’ve just lately been prescribed Ozempic, don’t cease taking your different diabetes medicines until directed by your physician. Whereas Ozempic lowers blood sugar over time, it doesn’t trigger the speedy discount in blood sugar that insulin does.
If you happen to sometimes take insulin with meals, you’ll must proceed doing so. After a number of months on Ozempic, you would possibly discover a lower in your insulin wants, but it surely’s unlikely that you simply’ll have the ability to fully cease utilizing insulin on your diabetes administration.
Can I take Ozempic with different diabetes medicines?
Sure, Ozempic may be taken with different diabetes medicines like metformin, insulin, and others.
Nevertheless, all the time seek the advice of your physician to make sure it doesn’t battle with any medicines you’re presently taking. Be sure that your physician is conscious of all of the medicines you employ earlier than beginning Ozempic.
It’s vital to notice that Ozempic shouldn’t be mixed with different GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Victoza (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), as this may be harmful.
Learn extra in: Can You Take Metformin and Ozempic Collectively?, Ozempic vs. Wegovy – Which Drug Is Proper for You?, Ozempic vs. Victoza: Which One Ought to You Select?, Trulicity vs. Ozempic: Which Remedy Is Proper for You?, and Ozempic vs. Mounjaro: Which One Ought to You Select?
Ozempic and food regimen
When taking Ozempic, it’s vital to be conscious of how sure way of life decisions, equivalent to alcohol consumption and food regimen, can have an effect on your remedy and total well being.
Understanding the interactions between Ozempic and alcohol, in addition to figuring out which meals to keep away from, may help you handle your diabetes extra successfully and cut back the danger of opposed results.
Study extra in: Ozempic and Alcohol: Can You Drink Whereas Taking Ozempic? and Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Ozempic.
Does Ozempic have to be refrigerated?
Sure, Ozempic ought to be saved within the fridge at a temperature between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and eight°C). As soon as opened, it may be used for as much as 56 days.
What does Ozempic price?
The quantity you’ll pay every month, generally known as your co-pay, varies relying in your insurance coverage plan. To find out your particular co-pay, use your prescription or medical card and the Ozempic protection and co-pay calculator.
As a diabetes drug, Ozempic is broadly coated by main well being plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid (it’s not coated for weight-loss functions).
When you have any questions concerning protection or co-pay prices, you possibly can contact Ozempic help at 1-833-OZEMPIC (1-833-693-6742).
For many who qualify, the Affected person Help Program (PAP) gives free remedy. To be taught extra about this program, name Novo Nordisk’s PAP toll-free at 1-866-310-7549.
How do I get a prescription for Ozempic?
Discuss to your physician in case you’re eager about a prescription for Ozempic. When you have kind 2 diabetes and are coping with weight reduction or insulin resistance, your physician can prescribe it.
When you have one other type of diabetes and are coping with insulin resistance, talk about your remedy choices together with your supplier.
If you happen to don’t have diabetes and are in search of weight-loss options, ask your physician about FDA-approved weight-loss medicines that could be safer and extra applicable than Ozempic.
Learn Can Ozempic Assist You Lose Weight? to be taught extra in regards to the potential weight-loss advantages of this remedy. Did you discover this text useful? Click on Sure or No under to tell us!
