Ozempic
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription injection used with diet and exercise to help manage Type 2 diabetes in adults. It's also FDA approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in those with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In addition, it can reduce the risk of worsening kidney problems in people with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 agonist that's injected under the skin once a week. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What is Ozempic (semaglutide)?
What is Ozempic (semaglutide) used for?
Lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Lower the risk of worsening kidney problems and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD)
How Ozempic (semaglutide) works
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. It acts like the natural GLP-1 hormone in your body. This hormone helps lower your blood sugar by making your pancreas release more insulin, reducing the sugar made by your liver, and slowing down digestion.
The effects above, along with the medication’s ability to reduce weight, lower blood pressure, and lower inflammation, can help protect both your heart and kidneys.
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
- Indigestion
- Burping
- Gas
- Acid reflux
- Injection-site reactions
- Fast heart rate
- Tiredness
- Unusual taste in the mouth
- Dizziness
Serious Side Effects
- Risk of thyroid tumors: lump in the neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, hoarseness
- Vision changes (diabetic retinopathy): vision loss, blurred vision, floaters, seeing dark spots, changes in how you see color
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): stomach or back pain that won't go away, vomiting
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): shaking, sweating, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision
- Kidney problems: changes in urination, swollen feet or ankles, tiredness, nausea
- Severe stomach problems: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, heartburn
- Gallbladder problems: pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, clay-colored stool
- Serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing, rash, hives, swollen face, fast heartbeat, dizziness
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
Might help you lose weight
Helps lower the risk of heart problems and kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes
Can store open and used pens at room temperature for up to 8 weeks
Cons
Is an injection given under the skin
Commonly causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Risk of low blood sugar if taken with certain diabetes medications
Can't be used for Type 1 diabetes
Pharmacist tips for Ozempic (semaglutide)
Ozempic (semaglutide) works best if you follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Never share Ozempic (semaglutide) with anyone else, even if you change the needle. Sharing this medication can spread serious infections.
Ozempic (semaglutide) can cause changes in appearance, sometimes called "Ozempic face", where your skin looks saggy after weight loss. Talk to your prescriber if this worries you.
Ozempic (semaglutide) rarely causes pancreatitis. Stop taking it and call your prescriber if you have severe stomach pain that spreads to your back, with or without vomiting.
Some people have reported hair loss while taking Ozempic (semaglutide). Tell your prescriber if you notice thinner hair or more hair falling out than usual.
Let your prescriber know if you're pregnant or want to get pregnant since it's not known if Ozempic (semaglutide) is safe during pregnancy. To be safe, you should stop taking this medication 2 months before you plan to become pregnant.
Keep unopened Ozempic (semaglutide) pens in the refrigerator. Once opened, you can keep them in the fridge or at room temperature, but throw them away after 8 weeks in a sharps container, even if there’s medication left. Unopened pens are safe to use up until the expiration date printed on the label.
Tips for how to inject Ozempic (semaglutide):
Your prescriber should show you how to inject Ozempic (semaglutide) before your first dose. You can also check the Instructions for Use or watch an instructional video.
Inject Ozempic (semaglutide) once a week under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. You can use it at any time of day, with or without food.
Try to use Ozempic (semaglutide) on the same day each week. But if needed, you can change your injection day, but keep at least 2 days between doses.
If you miss a dose of Ozempic (semaglutide), take it as soon as possible within 5 days of the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regular day. After that, go back to your usual once-weekly schedule.
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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.
Risk of thyroid tumors
Risk factors: History of MTC | History of MEN 2
In animal studies, semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic (semaglutide)) caused thyroid tumors when given over a long period. But it's not known if the same thing happens in people.
Because of this possible risk, you shouldn't take Ozempic (semaglutide) if you or someone in your family has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Call your prescriber right away if you find a lump in your neck, have trouble breathing or swallowing, or notice hoarseness that doesn’t go away.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Some people taking Ozempic (semaglutide) have had a serious condition called pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. This is rare but can be life-threatening. After you start this medication, tell your prescriber right away if you have severe stomach pain that doesn’t go away. The pain can spread to your back and could be accompanied by vomiting. If your care team thinks you have pancreatitis, they’ll stop the medication and give you the right treatment.
Eye problems
Risk factors: History of diabetic retinopathy
Ozempic (semaglutide) can cause eye problems, especially if you already have a condition called diabetic retinopathy. If you have this condition, your care team might want to check your eyes more often while you take Ozempic (semaglutide). Tell them right away if you notice changes in your vision, like blurry vision, floaters, dark spots, or vision loss.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when taken with certain diabetes medications
Risk factors: Taking medications that raise your insulin levels
If you take Ozempic (semaglutide) with insulin or other diabetes medications like sulfonylureas, you might have a higher risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can sometimes be serious. Your prescriber might need to lower the dose of your insulin or other medications to prevent this. Make sure you know the signs of low blood sugar — like shakiness, sweating, confusion, or feeling very hungry — and how to treat it.
Kidney damage
Kidney problems have been reported in people taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic (semaglutide). Some people needed treatments like dialysis, even if they didn’t have kidney problems before. These problems were often linked to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration.
If you have stomach side effects while taking Ozempic (semaglutide), and they're severe, your care team might check your kidney labs — especially when starting or raising your dose.
Severe stomach problems
Risk factors: History of gastroparesis
Some people taking Ozempic (semaglutide) have had stomach-related side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. In some cases, these side effects were serious. Ozempic (semaglutide) isn't recommended if you have a condition called gastroparesis, which slows down how your stomach empties. Be sure to tell your prescriber if you’ve had stomach problems before starting this medication.
Severe allergic reactions
Severe allergic reactions to Ozempic (semaglutide) are possible, including life-threatening ones like facial swelling or anaphylaxis, which can cause throat swelling or trouble breathing. Call for medical help right away if you notice symptoms such as hives, a rash, red skin, or swelling of your lips, tongue, or face after taking this medication.
Gallbladder problems
Although rare, gallbladder problems such as gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder have happened in some people taking Ozempic (semaglutide). Tell your prescriber if you experience symptoms like upper stomach pain, fever, or clay-colored stool. They might run tests to check your gallbladder and decide if you need treatment.
Lung problems during anesthesia or deep sedation
Risk factors: Undergoing surgery or a procedure requiring anesthesia or deep sedation
Ozempic (semaglutide) slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach. Rarely, people taking similar medications have had food remain in their stomach during surgery, even after fasting like they were told. This can lead to a serious lung problem if stomach contents get into the lungs during anesthesia or deep sedation. Make sure to tell your prescriber if you're taking Ozempic (semaglutide) before any planned surgery or procedure.
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Ozempic (semaglutide) dosage forms
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)
Personal history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Allergy to products containing semaglutide (e.g., Rybelsus, Wegovy)
What are alternatives to Ozempic (semaglutide)?
Lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Lower the risk of worsening kidney problems and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Type 2 diabetes in people age 10 and older, together with a balanced diet and exercise
Lowering the risk of serious heart-related problems 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 foundAmerican Thyroid Association. (n.d.). Medullary Thyroid Cancer.
Jones, M. W., et al. (2023). Acute cholecystitis. StatPearls.
Novo Nordisk. (n.d.). Using your Ozempic pen.
Novo Nordisk. (2025). OZEMPIC- semaglutide injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Yasir, M., et al. (2023). Multiple endocrine neoplasias type 2. StatPearls.
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