Ozempic is a well-liked sort 2 diabetes medicine 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.
What’s Ozempic?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is the model title for a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist authorized by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to assist handle blood sugar ranges in adults with sort 2 diabetes, alongside eating regimen and train.
This injectable medicine is taken simply as soon as every week as a consequence of its long-lasting results.
What are the advantages of Ozempic?
Ozempic gives three essential advantages for folks with diabetes:
Improved blood sugar administration
The medication lowers blood sugar and A1c ranges by rising 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 standard dose present a median weight lack of 4 to five %.
(Wegovy, one other semaglutide-based medicine authorized particularly for weight reduction, makes use of larger doses and ends in a median weight lack of 14.9 %.)
Ozempic can also be prescribed “off-label” for weight reduction in folks with sort 1 diabetes or these with out diabetes.
Decrease danger of heart problems
Ozempic reduces the chance of main coronary heart occasions like coronary heart assault, stroke, and dying in adults with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Why would you be prescribed Ozempic?
Ozempic is FDA-approved particularly for folks with sort 2 diabetes. Not everybody with sort 2 diabetes can be prescribed Ozempic, as many can handle their blood sugar ranges with eating regimen, train, and generally insulin remedy or different medicines.
Nevertheless, for those who’re having issue sustaining blood sugar ranges inside a wholesome vary together with your present medicines, or for those who’re coping with insulin resistance, your physician could prescribe Ozempic as a complement to your remedy plan.
Moreover, many individuals with sort 2 diabetes and current coronary heart illness are prescribed Ozempic as a result of it helps cut back the chance of stroke, coronary heart assault, and untimely dying on this inhabitants.
What are the unwanted effects?
Frequent unwanted effects embrace:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Weight reduction
- Low blood sugar (particularly for those who’re on insulin)
Uncommon however critical problems could embrace:
- Thyroid tumors (together with most cancers)
- Pancreatitis
- Imaginative and prescient adjustments (worsening of diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney issues
- Extreme allergic reactions
Search quick medical consideration for those who expertise a fever, worsening imaginative and prescient, weak spot, or ache after taking the medicine.
Study extra in: Ozempic Facet Results: What You Must Know.
Dosages
Ozempic is on the market as a liquid resolution in prefilled, disposable pens for subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection, taken as soon as weekly, with or with out meals.
The pens are available numerous strengths:
| 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 |
How a lot Ozempic ought to I be taking?
Your dosage will differ based mostly in your well being historical past and objectives. Most docs begin with 0.25 milligrams (mg) as soon as weekly, rising to 0.5 mg after just a few 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 essential 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 for those who take an excessive amount of Ozempic?
Overdosing can result in critical unwanted effects, together with extreme nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), particularly for those who’re additionally on insulin.
These situations will be life-threatening if not handled instantly. For those who’ve taken an excessive amount of Ozempic, contact your physician or search emergency medical consideration immediately.
Can I miss a dose?
For those who miss a dose, you’ll be able to take it inside just a few 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 received’t trigger insulin resistance or weight acquire, however attempt to keep away from lacking doses often, because the medicine works finest when taken persistently.
Find out how to inject Ozempic
Earlier than injecting, examine 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 damage.
Ozempic is often injected underneath the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm. Communicate together with your healthcare supplier about the most effective injection websites and rotation methods.
See extra in: Ozempic Injection: The place and Find out how to Inject.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic?
Solely take Ozempic if prescribed by a health care provider. It’s not beneficial if you’re pregnant, planning to turn into pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Keep away from utilizing Ozempic for those who don’t have diabetes, or if in case you have prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes with out a doctor’s steering.
Don’t use Ozempic for those who or your loved ones members have a historical past of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2).
Moreover, keep away from Ozempic for those who’re allergic to semaglutide. For those who’re allergic, you may think about Victoza, which incorporates liraglutide, one other GLP-1 agonist.
How do I cease taking Ozempic?
You may think about stopping Ozempic as a consequence of unwanted effects, value, or the way it makes you are feeling.
Nevertheless, all the time communicate to your physician earlier than discontinuing any diabetes medicine. Your supplier will probably advocate tapering the dose relatively than stopping abruptly.
Bear in mind that stopping Ozempic could result in a return of insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar ranges, meals cravings, and weight acquire.
It’s essential to have an alternate plan in place, comparable to a unique medicine, train, or eating regimen technique, to handle these results.
How does Ozempic enhance diabetes administration?
Ozempic helps handle diabetes by decreasing 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 lowered danger 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, the drug reduces the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely dying in folks with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness, considerably bettering total well being outcomes.
Can Ozempic change insulin?
No, Ozempic shouldn’t be an alternative choice to insulin.
For those who’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 fast discount in blood sugar that insulin does.
For those who usually take insulin with meals, you’ll must proceed doing so. After a number of months on Ozempic, you may discover a lower in your insulin wants, nevertheless it’s unlikely that you simply’ll be capable to utterly cease utilizing insulin on your diabetes administration.
Can I take Ozempic with different diabetes medicines?
Sure, Ozempic will 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 at the moment taking. Be certain your physician is conscious of all of the medicines you utilize earlier than beginning Ozempic.
It’s essential 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.
Ozempic and eating regimen
When taking Ozempic, it’s essential to be aware of how sure way of life selections, comparable to alcohol consumption and eating regimen, can have an effect on your remedy and total well being.
Understanding the interactions between Ozempic and alcohol, in addition to understanding which meals to keep away from, might help you handle your diabetes extra successfully and cut back the chance of antagonistic 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 needs 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 value?
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 extensively lined by main well being plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid (it isn’t lined for weight-loss functions).
When you’ve got any questions relating to protection or co-pay prices, you’ll be able to contact Ozempic help at 1-833-OZEMPIC (1-833-693-6742).
For individuals who qualify, the Affected person Help Program (PAP) gives free medicine. 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?
Speak to your physician for those who’re inquisitive about a prescription. When you’ve got sort 2 diabetes and are coping with weight reduction or insulin resistance, your physician can prescribe it.
When you’ve got one other type of diabetes and are coping with insulin resistance, focus on your remedy choices together with your supplier.
For those who 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.
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