Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medicine that’s used with diet and exercise to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. It’s also sometimes used to help people with obesity lose weight.
Doctors say it’s not safe to take ozempic during pregnancy. It may damage the fetus and cause birth defects.
What is ozempic?
Ozempic is a type of injectable medicine that’s used to control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It’s made by Novo Nordisk and is a member of a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLA).
These medicines help keep your blood sugar in a healthy range, and they also slow down how quickly your stomach empties food into the small intestine. This helps you feel full longer and may cause you to eat less.
Semaglutide, the main ingredient in Ozempic, is available as pre-filled pens that deliver a 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg dose per injection. It’s typically injected under the skin (subcutaneously) once weekly, with or without food.
It’s important to use it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It’s also a good idea to talk with your doctor about your other medical conditions and medicines you’re taking, including prescription or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products.
How does ozempic work?
Ozempic is a medication that can be used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also helps to reduce the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems in people with diabetes.
It also can help control your appetite to help you lose weight. But, like many medications, it can have side effects and should be taken carefully under the supervision of your doctor.
In rare cases, this medicine may cause kidney problems. It isn’t known why this happens.
But it may be because of other side effects, such as high blood sugar and a risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your doctor will watch your kidney health closely while you’re taking this drug.
It also may cause diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the retina in the back of your eye. This can lead to blurred vision and floating spots or streaks. You may need to have a full eye exam every year while you’re taking this medicine.
What are the side effects of ozempic?
Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by helping the body control blood sugar by increasing the amount of insulin that is released when you eat a meal.
This treatment also reduces blood sugar levels and improves how well you feel. It also helps you lose weight, which can help lower your risk for serious health problems.
It’s important to remember that ozempic may cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These side effects are mild and go away within a few days or weeks.
If you experience these side effects, talk with your doctor about taking medication to prevent them or avoiding foods that can make them worse.
Your doctor can also recommend another medication that may be better for you.
Other side effects that occur more frequently than others are low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and dizziness. Your doctor can adjust your dose of insulin or other medications that you take with Ozempic to help prevent these side effects.
Can i get pregnant while taking ozempic?
Ozempic is a medication that’s used to treat diabetes. It works by stimulating the GLP-1 receptors in your stomach and small intestine, which helps control blood sugar levels and decreases hunger.
People with type 2 diabetes should talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks of using Ozempic when trying to get pregnant. They should also stop using the drug at least 2 months before they plan to conceive.
Taking Ozempic or a similar medication during pregnancy isn’t safe, and it can increase your risk of serious birth defects. It can also increase your risk of having a baby with low birth weight.
The FDA says in its safety profiles that the drugs should not be taken during pregnancy. They’re a part of a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). These drugs are used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity.