Ozempic for Diabetes and Weight Loss: Dosage, Side Effects, and More

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly prescription medication used to control blood sugar levels in adults with type two diabetes. It is administered as a subcutaneous injection and comes as a solution inside prefilled disposable pens. Ozempic 0.25 mg solution for injection: Each pre-filled pen contains 1.5 ml of solution, delivering 4 doses of 0.25 mg.

What is Ozempic, and How Does It Work?

Ozempic's active ingredient is semaglutide. Ozempic is the brand name, and currently, there isn't a generic form of the drug available. Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs referred to as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and works to increase insulin secretion and sugar metabolism.

There are other GLP-1 agonists in the market, such as Rybelsus and Gaxenda.

Ozempic is used to:

• Improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes in conjunction with diet and exercise.
• Help reduce the risk of cardiovascular incidents, such as heart attacks or strokes, in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The medication was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2017.

Ozempic for Weight Loss

Ozempic is not a weight-loss drug, but it can help people who have obesity without diabetes to lose weight. The synthetic semaglutide compound is designed to act similarly to the human GLP-1 hormone, which suppresses appetite helping people to lose weight.

However, Ozempic does not stimulate weight loss in people with Type 2 diabetes as their bodies already struggle to produce enough of the GLP-1 hormone.

Ozempic Dosage Guide

Ozempic is only available as a pen used to self-inject medications. It does not have an oral version.

The medication is administered once a week and on the same day each week. It can be used alone or together with other diabetes medications, as prescribed by healthcare providers. And you can take Ozempic with or without food.

The beginning dose is 0.25mg subcutaneous injection administered once weekly for the first four weeks. The 0.25mg is used to give the body a chance to get used to the medication. It's meant for treatment initiation and is too low a dose for glycemic control.

After the four weeks, the dosage is increased to 0.5mg once a week. If additional blood sugar control is necessary after four weeks on the 0.5mg dose, a healthcare professional will determine whether it's appropriate to increase the dosage to 1mg once a week.

The maximum recommended dosage is 1mg once a week.

Here are a few other things to keep note of:

• It's possible to change the day of weekly medication administration as long as the last dose was taken 2 or more days before.
• If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible within 5 days. If more than 5 days have passed, do not take the dose. Instead, skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
• Each pen holds several doses of Ozempic. A healthcare professional will explain the number of times the pen should be used before being disposed of.

Do not use Ozempic if you:

• Have a family history of Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (MEN 2) or currently have one of these conditions.
• Are allergic to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Ozempic

Possible Side Effects of Ozempic

Ozempic can cause mild or severe side effects. Doctors, pharmacists, and other health professionals can explain the side effects further and provide tips on how to handle the side effects if any.

The more common side effects of Ozempic might include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pains
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Flatulence

These side effects might take a few days to a couple of weeks to dissipate. However, if the side effects become bothersome, talk with a healthcare provider.

Serious side effects can occur, but they are not common. In case of serious side effects, it's imperative to call emergency services or a healthcare practitioner. Serious Ozempic side effects can include:

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Thyroid tumors
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Acute kidney injury
• Diabetic retinopathy (diabetes-related eye problems)

As with other drugs, some people can experience serious hypersensitivity reactions to Ozempic. If an allergic reaction occurs, discontinue use of the drug immediately and get prompt medical attention. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include skin rash, itchiness, and flushing.

A more severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is rare but possible. Ozempic is not to be administered to people with a history of hypersensitivity to another GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Important Safety Information

The Ozempic pen is intended for single-person use. It is not to be shared with other people, even if the needle has been changed due to the possibility of infection.

Ozempic is not an insulin substitute and should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Currently, it’s not known whether the drug is safe and effective for use in children under the age of 18.

Ordering Ozempic Online

Yes, it's possible to order Ozempic online, but since it's a prescription medication, you will need a prescription either provided by your local doctor or an online doctor. Kiwi is an international online pharmacy that makes it easy and convenient to fill your Ozempic prescription by delivering it to your doorstep. Orders are shipped globally, purchasing Ozempic online is subject to the online doctor's approval.