Ozempic
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription injection that's used along with a nutritious diet and exercise to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. It's also proven to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Ozempic (semaglutide) belongs to the drug class known as GLP-1 agonists. The dosing is convenient because it's only injected under the skin once per week. Common side effects of this medication include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What is Ozempic (semaglutide)?
What is Ozempic (semaglutide) used for?
Lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
How Ozempic (semaglutide) works
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. It acts like the natural GLP-1 hormone in the body. This hormone works to lower your blood sugar by causing your pancreas to release more insulin, stopping your liver from releasing more sugar, and slowing down your digestion.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Ozempic (semaglutide)?
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (16-20%)
- Diarrhea (9%)
- Vomiting (5-9%)
- Stomach pain (6-7%)
- Constipation (3-5%)
Other Side Effects
- Stomach upset or indigestion
- Burping
- Gas
- Acid reflux
- Stomach inflammation
- Gallstones
- Low blood sugar
- Discomfort or redness at the site of injection
- Fast heart rate
- Tiredness
- Unusual taste in the mouth
- Dizziness
Serious Side Effects
- Thyroid cancer: lump in the neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, hoarseness
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): stomach or back pain that won't go away, vomiting
- Low blood sugar: shaking, sweating, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision
- Kidney problems: changes in urination, blood in your urine, swollen feet or ankles, smaller appetite, muscle cramping
- Gallbladder problems: pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, clay-colored stool
- Serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing; hives; itching; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
Source: DailyMed
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The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Change in vision
- Dehydration—increased thirst, dry mouth, feeling faint or lightheaded, headache, dark yellow or brown urine
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Pancreatitis—severe stomach pain that spreads to your back or gets worse after eating or when touched, fever, nausea, vomiting
- Thyroid cancer—new mass or lump in the neck, pain or trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, hoarseness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
Pros and cons of Ozempic (semaglutide)
Pros
Only given once per week
Available as prefilled pens for injection
Can switch injection days as long as the doses are separated by at least 2 days
Can store open and used pens at room temperature for up to 8 weeks
Cons
Must be given as an injection under the skin
Commonly causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Risk of low blood sugar if it's taken with certain other diabetes medications (e.g., sulfonylureas, insulins)
Can't be used for Type 1 diabetes
Pharmacist tips for Ozempic (semaglutide)
Ozempic (semaglutide) works best if you follow a balanced and nutritious diet and exercise regularly.
A healthcare professional (HCP) should show you how to use Ozempic (semaglutide) before you take your first dose. You can also review the Instructions for Use or watch the instructional video. Ask an HCP if you have any further questions.
Inject Ozempic (semaglutide) each week under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. You can use it at any time of the day, and it can be taken with or without food.
It's recommended that you use Ozempic (semaglutide) on the same day each week. But if you need to, you can change the day you take your dose as long as the time between your doses is at least 2 days.
Before you use Ozempic (semaglutide), be sure to take a look at the injection pen. The medication inside should be clear and colorless. Don't use the pen if the medication has changed color or if there's any floating particles in it.
Keep new or unused Ozempic (semaglutide) pens in the refrigerator. You can keep open or used Ozempic (semaglutide) pens in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Throw away any open or used pens after 8 weeks in a sharps container, even if the pen still has medication left in it. New or unused pens are safe to use up until the expiration date printed on the label.
Never share Ozempic (semaglutide) with other people, even if you change the needle. Sharing this medication with others can put you both at risk for serious infections.
If you miss a dose of Ozempic (semaglutide), take your dose as soon as possible if it's been 5 days or less since your missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and give your next dose on your regularly scheduled day. In either case, you can go back to your normal dosing schedule afterwards.
Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant or want to get pregnant. There haven't been enough studies looking at how safe Ozempic (semaglutide) is during pregnancy. But animal studies show that there might be risks for unborn babies. To be safe, you should stop taking this medication 2 months before you plan to become pregnant.
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Frequently asked questions about Ozempic (semaglutide)
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What are the risks and warnings for Ozempic (semaglutide)?
Ozempic (semaglutide) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Thyroid cancer
Risk factors: History of MTC | History of MEN 2
Using Ozempic (semaglutide) might put you at higher risk for certain thyroid cancers. This is based on studies done in animals. Because of this risk, you shouldn't take Ozempic (semaglutide) if you or a family member has ever had certain thyroid cancers called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Call your prescriber right away if you discover a lump in your neck, have trouble breathing or swallowing, or have hoarseness that won't go away. Your prescriber can examine you to check for cancer.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Although rare, some people who've used Ozempic (semaglutide) have developed swelling in their pancreas, or pancreatitis. Let your prescriber know right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis, such as severe stomach or back pain or stomach problems causing you to throw up.
Eye problems
Risk factors: History of diabetic eye problems (diabetic retinopathy)
Some people who used Ozempic (semaglutide) had complications from diabetic retinopathy. The risk for complications appears to be higher if you already have eye problems due to diabetes. Contact your prescriber right away if you notice any vision changes.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when taken with certain other diabetes medications
Risk factors: Taking medications that raise your insulin levels
Taking Ozempic (semaglutide) with medications that raise the amount of insulin in your body, such as sulfonylureas and insulins, can put you at risk of having low blood sugar. It's important that you know how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. Let your prescriber know if you experience any signs of low blood sugar like shaking, sweating, dizziness, confusion, or blurred vision. Your prescriber might need to adjust the doses of your diabetes medications.
Dehydration and kidney problems
Ozempic (semaglutide) can affect how well your kidneys work. These kidney issues might be partly due to stomach-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Keep in mind that vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes lead to dehydration, which can also harm the kidneys. Watch out for signs of dehydration like feeling thirsty, dry skin, and urinating less.
Severe allergic reactions
Severe allergic reactions to Ozempic (semaglutide) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Get medical help right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after you use Ozempic (semaglutide).
Gallbladder problems
Although rare, gallbladder problems, such as gallstones and swelling of the gallbladder, have happened in some people taking Ozempic (semaglutide). Let your prescriber know if you experience symptoms of gallbladder problems, such as pain in the upper stomach, fever, and clay-colored stool.
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Ozempic (semaglutide) dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 prefilled 2mg pen of 2mg/1.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 2 prefilled 2mg pens of 2mg/1.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 1 prefilled 2mg pen of 2mg/3ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 1 prefilled 4mg pen of 4mg/3ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 1 prefilled 8mg pen of 8mg/3ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
Typical dosing for Ozempic (semaglutide)
The typical starting dose is 0.25 mg injected under the skin once per week for 4 weeks.
After 4 weeks, your prescriber will raise your dose to 0.5 mg injected under the skin once per week.
If needed, your prescriber might raise your dose even further to 1 mg or 2 mg once per week after at least a few weeks at each dose. The maximum total dose is 2 mg per week.
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How much does Ozempic (semaglutide) cost?
Ozempic (semaglutide) contraindications
Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Allergy to products containing semaglutide (e.g., Rybelsus, Wegovy)
What are alternatives to Ozempic (semaglutide)?
Lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Type 2 diabetes in people age 10 and older, in addition to diet and exercise
Lowering the risk of major heart-related problems (like heart attack) in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Manage Type 2 diabetes in people 10 years and older, along with diet and exercise
Lower the risk of heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or heart-related risk factors
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References
Best studies we foundJones, M. W., et al. (2023). Acute cholecystitis. StatPearls.
Master, S. R., et al. (2023). Medullary thyroid cancer. StatPearls.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndrome.
Novo Nordisk. (2023). OZEMPIC- semaglutide injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Novo Nordisk. (2023). Using your Ozempic pen.
Yasir, M., et al. (2023). Multiple endocrine neoplasias type 2. StatPearls.
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