Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication used to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. It’s injected once a week.
It works by slowing the rate of food moving out of your stomach. This helps your body absorb glucose more slowly, which lowers your blood sugar.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a type of medication called a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 agonist). It’s used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with diabetes, along with lifestyle improvements in diet and exercise.
Ozempic comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, disposable pens. You’ll inject it into your skin under your doctor’s supervision.
Your doctor will tell you the right dose for your condition. It may be given alone or in combination with other diabetes medications.
You should give yourself a dose every week on the same day. If you need to change the day you give yourself your injections, make sure to do so at least 48 hours before your next dose.
Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of using Ozempic during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Losing too much weight during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby.
What are the side effects of Ozempic?
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection for improving blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also helps to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Some people get side effects from this drug, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. These symptoms usually go away on their own after a few days or weeks as your body adjusts to this medication.
If you experience any of these symptoms, tell your doctor as soon as possible. They may prescribe an over-the-counter medication to help.
The most common side effects of this medication are nausea and vomiting, especially when it is used together with a low-calorie diet or weight loss programme. Your doctor may increase the dose of this medication if you have a history of these side effects or if they become severe.
In addition, this medication has been associated with new or worsening kidney problems in some people. If you have kidney problems, your doctor will monitor your health closely during treatment with this medication.
Will Ozempic interfere with birth control?
Many women use oral contraceptives to help control their fertility and family planning, and they are not always aware of the potential issues that can come with some medications. The pharmacology of Semaglutide is such that it can slow your stomach emptying, which may make it harder for your body to absorb birth control medication.
But this may not affect your ability to have a normal menstrual cycle. It is just one of the side effects of Ozempic and it is not a problem that will be experienced by all women on this medication.
It is not known if Ozempic will interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives that contain the hormones ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone. These drugs stop ovulation so an egg is not released from the ovary and thicken cervical mucus, which is a protective barrier against pregnancy.
You should not take Ozempic if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should also not use this drug if you have kidney problems or a condition that can increase your risk of kidney damage, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Talk to your doctor about any risks and benefits of using Ozempic during pregnancy.
Will Ozempic make my menstrual cycle start earlier?
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar. It’s used in combination with diet and exercise to improve glucose levels.
The medication is injected under the skin once a week. It is usually a painless procedure.
It is best to change the injection site each time you use it so that you aren’t injecting into the same area every week. This helps ensure that you are getting the right amount of medication.
There are many drugs that can interact with ozempic, so it is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medications you are taking. This will help them avoid a possible drug interaction.
In addition, it is important to talk with your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant while on ozempic. There are concerns that it may harm your baby.