What is Ozempic used for?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. This FDA-approved medication helps manage blood sugar levels and reduces cardiovascular risks in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes Ozempic also reduces the risk of kidney function decline, kidney failure, and death due to cardiovascular disease. 

This medicine is given by self-injection, 1 time a week under the skin of the stomach (belly), the thigh, or the upper arm using an autoinjector (pen).

Ozempic received FDA approval on December 5, 2017. There is no Ozempic generic.  Each of the different brands of semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelus, Wegovy) are made by Novo Nordisk, but are FDA-approved for different conditions.

Benefits of Ozempic Treatment

• Blood sugar control and HbA1C reduction* 
• Significant weight loss support
• Lower risk of heart attack and stroke
• Improved cardiovascular health in type 2 diabetes patients
• Slows the decline of kidney disease and improves cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes.

In clinical trial (FLOW phase 3b) using Ozempic in adults with type 2 diabetes and CKD, achieved:

• 24% risk reduction of kidney disease worsening, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and
• 4.9% risk reduction in death due to cardiovascular disease. 

*HbA1C measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.

Although Ozempic is not officially approved for weight loss, it can help you lose weight because it contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that works by slowing down digestion and making you feel fuller for longer (see Ozempic for weight loss).

How Does Ozempic Work?

Ozempic's mechanism of action involves mimicking a natural hormone in the body called GLP-1 which:

• Stimulates insulin production from the pancreas
• Reduces liver sugar production
• Slows down digestion
• Helps control appetite and food intake.

The way Ozempic works for kidney-related risk reduction is not fully understood.

Ozempic belongs to the drug class called GLP-1 receptor agonists. 

"Oatzempic" is a term coined on social media, referring to a blended drink made from oats, water, and lime juice, that may make you feel fuller for longer and help you eat less. However, there are no clinical trials to prove this drink helps you lose weight (see Oatmeal Ozempic for Weight Loss? Oatzempic).

Medical Indications and FDA Approval

Ozempic is officially approved by the FDA for:

• Blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
• Reducing major cardiovascular event risks (such as heart attack, stroke, or death) in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease
• Reducing the risk of kidney disease worsening, kidney failure, and death due to cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Ozempic helps with weight loss and maintains the lost weight in clinical trials when combined with diet and exercise. See Ozempic for weight loss for more information.

WARNING: Ozempic is not approved for type 1 diabetes treatment and it is not known if it can be used in people with pancreatitis.

It is not known if this medicine is safe or effective in children under 18 years of age.

Ozempic side effects

Common side effects

Common Ozempic side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, upset stomach, heartburn, burping, gas, bloating, loss of appetite, runny nose or sore throat, stomach flu symptoms or headache, dizziness, tiredness and low blood sugar (in people with type 2 diabetes). 

Stomach or gastrointestinal side effects are common but tend to be mild and clear up in a few weeks in most people and will not interfere with long-term treatment. Stomach side effects can be more common with higher doses.

The most common gastrointestinal side effect is nausea, which trials report occurs in about 15% to 20% of people.

• Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
• These side effects occurred at rates higher than the placebo-treated groups (receiving an inactive treatment).

More patients receiving Ozempic 0.5 mg (3.1%) and 1 mg (3.8%) discontinued treatment due to stomach side effects than patients receiving placebo (0.4%).

Stomach side effects usually occur at the beginning of treatment and if your dose is increased too quickly. Because of this, your healthcare provider will slowly increase your dose every 4 weeks as needed until you reach your target dose. You can take Ozempic with or without meals.

Ozempic face is a term used to describe the noticeable facial changes seen in some people who are prescribed this medicine. These changes are not a specific side effect of Ozempic, but rather a result of significant weight loss (see Ozempic face: What causes it and how to prevent it?).

Tips for managing stomach side effects

Following these tips may help you manage stomach side effects:

• eat more slowly
• consume smaller meals
• select more bland, low-fat foods (like crackers, toast, and rice)
• avoid greasy, fried foods or sugar treats
• eat foods that contain water (like soup or gelatin)
• don’t lie down right after eating
• drink clear or ice-cold liquids
• if possible, go outside for fresh air if you feel sick to your stomach

Serious side effects

Ozempic can cause serious side effects such as inflammation of the pancreas, vision changes, low blood sugar levels, kidney problems, and serious allergic reactions, and it can also increase the risk of food or liquid getting into your lungs during surgery or a medical procedure (see Ozempic side effects to watch for).

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

Call your healthcare provider 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.

Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that require anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Ozempic may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking this medicine before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures.

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 the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.