Ozempic is a well-liked sort 2 diabetes remedy 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 identify for a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist authorised by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to assist handle blood sugar ranges in adults with sort 2 diabetes, alongside weight loss program and train.
This injectable remedy is taken simply as soon as every week because of its long-lasting results.
What are the advantages of Ozempic?
Ozempic affords three foremost advantages for folks with diabetes:
Improved blood sugar administration
The drugs lowers blood sugar and A1c ranges by growing insulin manufacturing from the pancreas and decreasing the discharge of glucagon (a storage type of glucose) from the liver.
Weight reduction or upkeep
Ozempic helps customers lose or preserve weight by reducing urge for food and slowing digestion. Scientific trials with the everyday dose present a median weight lack of 4 to five %.
(Wegovy, one other semaglutide-based remedy authorised particularly for weight reduction, makes use of increased 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 danger of main coronary heart occasions like coronary heart assault, stroke, and demise 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 shall be prescribed Ozempic, as many can handle their blood sugar ranges with weight loss program, train, and generally insulin remedy or different medicines.
Nevertheless, in case you’re having problem sustaining blood sugar ranges inside a wholesome vary together with your present drugs, or in case you’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 present coronary heart illness are prescribed Ozempic as a result of it helps cut back the danger of stroke, coronary heart assault, and untimely demise on this inhabitants.
What are the unintended effects?
Widespread unintended effects embrace:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Weight reduction
- Low blood sugar (particularly in case you’re on insulin)
Uncommon however severe issues could embrace:
- Thyroid tumors (together with most cancers)
- Pancreatitis
- Imaginative and prescient adjustments (worsening of diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney issues
- Extreme allergic reactions
Search instant medical consideration in case you expertise a fever, worsening imaginative and prescient, weak point, or ache after taking the remedy.
Be taught extra in: Ozempic Facet Results: What You Must Know.
Dosages
Ozempic is obtainable as a liquid answer 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 fluctuate primarily based in your well being historical past and objectives. Most medical doctors begin with 0.25 milligrams (mg) as soon as weekly, growing to 0.5 mg after a number of 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 necessary 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 in case you take an excessive amount of Ozempic?
Overdosing can result in severe unintended effects, together with extreme nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), particularly in case you’re additionally on insulin.
These situations will be life-threatening if not handled instantly. Should you’ve taken an excessive amount of Ozempic, contact your physician or search emergency medical consideration instantly.
Can I miss a dose?
Should you miss a dose, you possibly can take it inside a number of 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 achieve, however attempt to keep away from lacking doses frequently, because the remedy works finest when taken persistently.
The way to inject Ozempic
Earlier than injecting, test 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 forestall pores and skin harm.
Ozempic is usually injected beneath the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm. Communicate together with your healthcare supplier about the very best injection websites and rotation strategies.
See extra in: Ozempic Injection: The place and The way to Inject.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic?
Solely take Ozempic if prescribed by a health care provider. It’s not advisable in case you are pregnant, planning to turn out to be pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Keep away from utilizing Ozempic in case you don’t have diabetes, or you probably have prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes and not using a doctor’s steering.
Don’t use Ozempic in case you 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 in case you’re allergic to semaglutide. Should you’re allergic, you may contemplate Victoza, which comprises liraglutide, one other GLP-1 agonist.
How do I cease taking Ozempic?
You may contemplate stopping Ozempic because of unintended effects, value, or the way it makes you’re feeling.
Nevertheless, at all times converse to your physician earlier than discontinuing any diabetes remedy. Your supplier will doubtless advocate tapering the dose fairly than stopping abruptly.
Remember that stopping Ozempic could result in a return of insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar ranges, meals cravings, and weight achieve.
It’s necessary to have another plan in place, corresponding to a special remedy, train, or weight loss program 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 preserve decrease A1c ranges.
Research have proven that decrease A1cs are related to a diminished danger of long-term diabetes issues.
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 danger of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely demise in folks with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness, considerably enhancing general well being outcomes.
Can Ozempic exchange insulin?
No, Ozempic isn’t an alternative to insulin.
Should you’ve not too long ago been prescribed Ozempic, don’t cease taking your different diabetes drugs except directed by your physician. Whereas Ozempic lowers blood sugar over time, it doesn’t trigger the fast discount in blood sugar that insulin does.
Should you 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, but it surely’s unlikely that you simply’ll be capable of fully cease utilizing insulin on your diabetes administration.
Can I take Ozempic with different diabetes drugs?
Sure, Ozempic will be taken with different diabetes drugs like metformin, insulin, and others.
Nevertheless, at all times seek the advice of your physician to make sure it doesn’t battle with any drugs you’re presently taking. Make sure that your physician is conscious of all of the drugs you employ earlier than beginning Ozempic.
It’s necessary 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 weight loss program
When taking Ozempic, it’s necessary to be conscious of how sure life-style selections, corresponding to alcohol consumption and weight loss program, can have an effect on your remedy and general well being.
Understanding the interactions between Ozempic and alcohol, in addition to understanding which meals to keep away from, will help you handle your diabetes extra successfully and cut back the danger of adversarial results.
Be taught 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 broadly coated by main well being plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid (it isn’t coated for weight-loss functions).
In case you have any questions relating to protection or co-pay prices, you possibly can contact Ozempic help at 1-833-OZEMPIC (1-833-693-6742).
For many who qualify, the Affected person Help Program (PAP) affords free remedy. 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?
Discuss to your physician in case you’re focused on a prescription. In case you have sort 2 diabetes and are coping with weight reduction or insulin resistance, your physician can prescribe it.
In case you have one other type of diabetes and are coping with insulin resistance, focus on your remedy choices together with your supplier.
Should you don’t have diabetes and are searching for weight-loss options, ask your physician about FDA-approved weight-loss drugs that could be safer and extra acceptable than Ozempic.
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