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Quick summary

Type of Medicine

Once weekly GLP-1 injection for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction

Generic

No

Active Ingredient

Semaglutide, in a once weekly prefilled diabetes pen

Effective Within

Blood sugar typically starts improving within the first two weeks, with the fuller effect on long term glucose control seen across eight to twelve weeks.

Works By

Prompts insulin release when glucose is high, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite signals.

Side Effects

Nausea and looser stools are common as the dose rises, usually settling with time. In people also taking insulin or sulfonylureas, low blood sugar becomes a more important watch point.

Ozempic®, Wegovy® pen or pill?

Wegovy® pen

Novo Nordisk

Wegovy® pen
From $199.00
Wegovy® pill

Novo Nordisk

Wegovy® pill
From $149.00
Ozempic®

Novo Nordisk

Ozempic®
From $149.00
How it’s taken

One injection once a week.

One tablet once a day

One injection once a week.

Average weight loss

Lose around 15–19% of body weight, depending on dose*

Lose around 14% of body weight*

Not licensed for weight management. But it can be prescribed off-label.

Best for

People who prefer a weekly routine

People who prefer no needles

People who prefer a weekly routine

How to take it

Inject under the skin using a pre-filled pen

Take on an empty stomach with water

Inject under the skin using a pre-filled pen

Payment options

Cash-pay or insurance may be available

Cash-pay only

Cash-pay or insurance may be available

Product details

Ozempic is a once weekly injection of semaglutide developed for adults living with type 2 diabetes. It improves blood sugar control by prompting the body to release insulin when glucose runs high and by slowing how quickly the stomach empties, smoothing out the peaks and dips across the day.

Beyond glucose, it earned a further approval for reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in adults who have type 2 diabetes alongside established heart disease. That dual benefit is a large part of why it has become so widely relied upon in diabetes care.

One point is worth stating plainly. Ozempic is approved for diabetes and heart risk, not for weight loss. The medicine licensed specifically for weight management is Wegovy, which contains the same molecule at doses studied for that purpose. A clinician will always prescribe according to the approved use.

  • Steadies blood sugar through several complementary actions
  • Also approved to lower cardiovascular risk in eligible adults
  • Given once a week from a prefilled pen, on any chosen day

As with all GLP-1 medicines it carries a thyroid tumor boxed warning and is unsuitable for anyone with a history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2. It is available only on prescription.

Inject once a week under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, on the same day each week, rotating the site. Begin at the starter dose and increase only as your clinician directs. If a dose is missed and the next is at least two days away, take it promptly, otherwise skip it. Never give two doses together.

Semaglutide as the active ingredient, in a sterile solution for injection.

Nausea and looser stools are common as the dose rises and generally settle. Less often: gallbladder problems and pancreatitis. Low blood sugar becomes a more important concern when combined with other glucose lowering medicines.

Carries a boxed warning for a rare thyroid tumor seen in animals. Avoid if you or a relative has had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2. Watch for severe abdominal pain, a possible sign of pancreatitis. Use with insulin or sulfonylureas raises the risk of low blood sugar.

How it works

From question to doorstep, in days not weeks.

FAQs

Can I take Ozempic to lose weight?

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk, not for weight loss. The medicine licensed for weight management is Wegovy, which contains the same molecule. Your clinician prescribes according to approved use.

How soon will my blood sugar improve?

Blood sugar usually starts improving within the first couple of weeks, with the fuller effect on long term control over about eight to twelve weeks.

Do I need to worry about low blood sugar?

On its own the risk is low, but it rises if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, so those may need adjusting. Discuss this with your clinician.

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