Key takeaways:
Most people with seizure conditions can safely take Ozempic. Most seizure medications are safe to take along with Ozempic.
Ozempic side effects, especially vomiting, may make it more difficult to maintain your seizure medications at the right level. This can increase your risk of having a seizure.
Work closely with your healthcare team to make sure your seizure medications remain at a safe level while taking Ozempic.
Ozempic and Wegovy are weekly injectable medications that contain semaglutide. They’re
FDA approved to treat several conditions, like Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. These medications can help you stay healthy. But starting a new medication can be tricky if you’re already taking other long-term medications.
This is especially a concern for people living with epilepsy, who need to make sure their anti-seizure medication levels stay within a safe range. The good news is that most people who take seizure medications can also safely take Ozempic. Here’s what to know if you’re living with epilepsy and are considering taking Ozempic.
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Is it safe to take Ozempic if you have epilepsy?
Most people with epilepsy can safely take Ozempic.
The makers of Ozempic don’t list epilepsy, seizure disorders, or a history of seizures as contraindications to taking the medication. A contraindication is anything — like a medical condition — that makes it unsafe for someone to take a certain medication.
There’s also no evidence that Ozempic interacts with any seizure medications. A medication interaction is a situation where one medication stops the other from working properly.
These things could change over time as more people take semaglutide and new information becomes available.
Does Ozempic increase the risk of having a seizure?
There’s no evidence that Ozempic increases your risk of having a seizure. But some of its side effects can make it harder to keep epilepsy well controlled.
1. Ozempic can affect seizure medication levels
Semaglutide slows how quickly the stomach empties. This can change how your body absorbs seizure medications, and it may increase medication levels in some people. If these medication levels get too high, you may develop side effects or toxicity. Your healthcare team may want to monitor medication levels more closely after starting Ozempic or changing your dose.
On the other hand, semaglutide side effects like vomiting can stop your body from absorbing enough seizure medication. If medication levels drop too low, you may be more likely to have a seizure — even if you’re taking your medication as prescribed. Let your healthcare team know if you’re experiencing ongoing vomiting, nausea, or trouble keeping medications down while taking Ozempic. You may need closer monitoring or dose adjustments.
2. Ozempic can trigger dehydration and low blood sugar
Ozempic side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. This matters because dehydration can increase the risk of seizures in some people with epilepsy.
Ozempic can also cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), although this is uncommon when the medication is used on its own. The risk is higher if you also take insulin or sulfonylureas. Very low blood sugar can trigger seizures.
Add GoodRx as a trusted source on GoogleAdd GoodRx as a trusted sourceWhen shouldn’t you take Ozempic if you have epilepsy?
There are a few situations where you might not want to take Ozempic if you have epilepsy.
You haven’t found the right anti-seizure medication plan
Some people with epilepsy have ongoing seizures and haven’t found the right medications to stop them. You might not want to start taking Ozempic until you find the right seizure treatment plan. Ozempic may affect your digestion and medication absorption, which can make it more difficult to find the right balance of seizure medications.
You’re having a lot of nausea or vomiting while taking Ozempic
Nausea and vomiting may prevent you from taking your seizure medications or keeping them down. Call your healthcare team right away if you aren’t able to take your seizure medications. You may need to stop taking Ozempic and start other medications to treat diabetes instead. You may also need treatment to relieve your nausea and vomiting so that you can safely take your seizure medications.
You’re having surgery
Some experts recommend stopping Ozempic at least 1 week before any planned surgery. Ozempic slows digestion, which can increase your risk of aspiration during anesthesia. Aspiration occurs when solids and liquids in your stomach move up into your esophagus and then enter your airway. Aspiration can lead to severe respiratory problems. Your healthcare team can help you safely stop Ozempic and switch to other medications ahead of your surgery.
Can you take Ozempic if you’re taking medication for epilepsy?
You can take Ozempic and seizure medications at the same time. But it’s important to work closely with your healthcare team to make sure you’re absorbing your medications safely.
You may need to have your seizure medication levels checked more often when you first start taking Ozempic. Close monitoring will help make sure your levels stay in a safe range.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no strong evidence that Ozempic causes neurological problems or worsens underlying mental health conditions. In fact, there’s some early evidence that Ozempic may lower inflammation in the brain, which may support brain health over time.
You shouldn’t take Ozempic if you have a history of medullary thyroid cancer or if you have a personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). You should also not take Ozempic if you’re allergic to the medication or if you’re pregnant or nursing. Your healthcare team may recommend stopping Ozempic if you develop complications such as pancreatitis or gastroparesis while taking the medication.
There’s no strong evidence that Ozempic causes neurological problems or worsens underlying mental health conditions. In fact, there’s some early evidence that Ozempic may lower inflammation in the brain, which may support brain health over time.
You shouldn’t take Ozempic if you have a history of medullary thyroid cancer or if you have a personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). You should also not take Ozempic if you’re allergic to the medication or if you’re pregnant or nursing. Your healthcare team may recommend stopping Ozempic if you develop complications such as pancreatitis or gastroparesis while taking the medication.
The bottom line
People with epilepsy can usually take Ozempic. Ozempic doesn’t interact with seizure medications. And Ozempic doesn’t directly increase your risk of having a seizure.
But side effects of Ozempic may increase your risk of having a seizure. Nausea and vomiting from dehydration can affect your body’s ability to absorb seizure medication. This can trigger a seizure. Nausea and vomiting can also lead to dehydration, which can increase your risk of having a seizure.
Work closely with your healthcare team to make sure your seizure medications stay within a safe range while taking Ozempic.
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References
Epilepsy Scotland. (2019). 12 most common seizure triggers.
Joshi, G. P., et al. (2024). American Society of Anesthesiologists consensus-based guidance on preoperative management of patients (adults and children) on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. American Society of Anesthesiologists.
MedlinePlus. (2025). Contraindication.
MedlinePlus. (2026). Low blood sugar.
Novo Nordisk. (2026). Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
Zhu, Y., et al. (2025). Semaglutide ameliorates diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction in mouse model of type 2 diabetes. PLOS One.
