Ozempic

Generic name: Semaglutide Injection
Dosage form: subcutaneous injection (0.25mg dose pen; 0.5mg dose pen; 1.0mg dose pen; 2.0 mg dose pen)
Drug class: Incretin mimetics

Usage of Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is used for type 2 diabetes in adults to improve blood sugar levels and also used to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack or death, for adults with type 2 diabetes with heart disease. In clinical trials, Ozempic has also been shown to help with weight loss, after 30 weeks, patients on Ozempic 0.5mg had lost 2.6 kg more than the placebo group, and patients on Ozempic 1mg lost 3.5 kg more than the placebo group. Although currently, Ozempic is not an FDA-approved weight loss medicine.

Ozempic works to lower blood sugar, helping the pancreas make more insulin, decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes, and slowing the rate food passes through your body, making you feel full longer. Ozempic is from a class of medicines called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (incretin mimetics) that works by binding to GLP-1 receptors which results in lower blood sugar levels and A1C levels and may also reduce your appetite to help weight loss.

Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that should be used along with diet and exercise. Ozempic should not be used for type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Ozempic side effects

Common Ozempic side effects

low blood sugar (in people with type 2 diabetes);

upset stomach, heartburn, burping, gas, bloating;

nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;

diarrhea, constipation;

runny nose or sore throat;

stomach flu symptoms; or

headache, dizziness, tiredness.

Serious Ozempic side effects.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching; dizziness, fast heartbeats; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

vision changes;

unusual mood changes, thoughts about hurting yourself;

pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

signs of a thyroid tumor--swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, feeling short of breath;

symptoms of pancreatitis--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea with or without vomiting, fast heart rate;

gallbladder problems--upper stomach pain, fever, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

low blood sugar--headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery;

kidney problems--swelling, urinating less, blood in urine, feeling tired or short of breath

stomach flu symptoms--stomach cramps, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea (may be watery or bloody)

symptoms of ileus (stomach paralysis)--bloating, stomach cramps or pain, nausea or vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Ozempic

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients in this medicine, or if you have:

multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands); or

a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer).

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a stomach or intestinal disorder;

pancreatitis;

kidney disease; or

eye problems caused by diabetes (retinopathy).

This medicine caused thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer in animal studies. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Pregnancy

Tell your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Ozempic will harm your unborn baby. Stop using this medicine at least 2 months before you plan to get pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to control your blood sugar if you plan to become pregnant or while you are pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, as is gaining the right amount of weight. Even if you are overweight, losing weight during pregnancy could harm the unborn baby.

Breastfeeding

Tell you health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Ozempic passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while usingthis medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Ozempic

Ozempic recommended dosage:

Start Ozempic with a 0.25 mg suBCutaneous injection (injection under the skin) once weekly for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dosage is intended for treatment initiation and is not effective for glycemic control.

After 4 weeks on the 0.25 mg dosage, increase the dosage to 0.5 mg once weekly.

If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dosage, the dosage may be increased to 1 mg once weekly.

If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 1 mg dosage, the dosage may be increased to 2 mg once weekly. The maximum recommended dosage is 2 mg once weekly.

Administer Ozempic once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals.

The day of weekly administration can be changed if necessary as long as the time between two doses is at least 2 days (>48 hours).

If a dose is missed, administer your injection as soon as possible within 5 days after the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. In each case, patients can then resume their regular once weekly dosing schedule

Ozempic is available as 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1mg and 2mg dose pens.

Warnings

Call your doctor at once if you have signs of a thyroid tumor, such as swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, or shortness of breath.

You should not use this medicine if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands), or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer.

Postmarketing data has shown an association between Ozempic use and ileus (stomach paralysis). Because these reports are voluntary it is not possible to estimate the frequency of these effects. Talk to a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps or pain, nausea or vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, or loss of appetite.

What other drugs will affect Ozempic

This medicine can slow your digestion, and it may take longer for your body to absorb any medicines you take by mouth.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially insulin or other diabetes medicines, such as dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, Byetta, Trulicity, Victoza, and others. There is an increased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when Ozempic is used in combination with insulin or other diabetes medications such as glyburide, glipizide, glimepiride, or gliclazide. The dose of these other agents may need to be reduced to lower the risk of hypoglycemia.

Other drugs may affect this medicine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.