Ozempic®

Store unopened Ozempic pens in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F). Don’t freeze them or store them directly against a freezer pack, and don’t use a pen that has been frozen. Keep them away from heat and light.

After first use, follow the storage instructions and time limit on the label that comes with your pen, as these can differ by country of origin. Never share your pen with anyone, even if the needle is changed. Use a new needle for each injection, and dispose of used needles in a sharps container. You can find pen needles and sharps containers in our diabetes supplies

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Ozempic is used with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It helps regulate blood glucose by increasing glucose-dependent insulin release, reducing glucagon secretion and slowing stomach emptying. These effects can help lower blood sugar after meals when used as directed within a diabetes care plan.

The medicine is also indicated to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, according to approved labeling. It is not indicated for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. People reviewing other medicines for diabetes care can browse the type 2 diabetes collection or the broader diabetes category.

Ozempic for weight loss is a common topic because appetite reduction and weight changes may occur with GLP-1 therapy. However, this brand is approved for type 2 diabetes, not chronic weight management. If weight is part of the treatment conversation, discuss the goal, risks and alternatives with a licensed clinician; the weight management category is separate from diabetes product selection.

Ozempic has a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodent studies. Don’t use Ozempic if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Tell your healthcare provider if you notice a lump or swelling in your neck, trouble swallowing, hoarseness or shortness of breath.

The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation and reduced appetite. These may occur more often when you start Ozempic or when your dose changes. Serious risks listed on the label include:

• Pancreatitis: Severe stomach pain that won’t go away, sometimes spreading to the back, with or without vomiting.
• Gallbladder disease: Pain in the upper stomach, fever or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Kidney injury: Linked to dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea.
• Allergic reactions: Swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing.
• Worsening diabetic retinopathy: Changes in vision in people with diabetic eye disease.
• Low blood sugar: More likely when Ozempic is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.

Your healthcare provider may check your blood sugar, kidney function and eyes during treatment. Get medical help right away for severe stomach pain, signs of an allergic reaction or severe dehydration.

Ozempic slows stomach emptying, which can affect how some medicines taken by mouth are absorbed. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines and supplements you take, as well as any upcoming surgery or procedure that uses anesthesia.

Don’t combine Ozempic with another GLP-1 medicine unless your prescriber tells you to. Changes to your dose should come from your prescriber, not from stretching a pen to save money.

Diabetes medicines differ by active ingredient, device, dosing schedule and approved indication, so one can’t be swapped for another without your prescriber’s direction. Rybelsus contains the same molecule, semaglutide, as a daily tablet, but its doses aren’t equivalent to Ozempic’s. Ozempic is also different from insulin: it’s a GLP-1 receptor agonist injected once a week.

Browse all GLP-1 agonists to compare the medicines in this class.