Ozempic is a medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by helping to lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems.
It also helps you lose weight.
Ozempic belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists). This group of medicines works by stimulating insulin release, reducing glucagon release, and slowing the rate at which food leaves your stomach.
Symptoms
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. It also lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.
A doctor starts you on a low dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks. After this, they will increase your dose to 0.5 mg once weekly.
The medicine is injected into a skin fold on your thigh, upper arm or abdomen. Rotating your injection site each week is important to prevent a buildup of medicine in one area and help reduce side effects like dizziness, diarrhea and vomiting.
The medicine needs to stay refrigerated until you use it for the first time and can then be stored for 56 days at room temperature between 59oF and 86oF or 15oC to 30oC. After this period, you should throw away the pen, even if there is medicine left in it.
Treatment
Ozempic is a once-a-week injection that’s given subcutaneously (under the skin) in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It comes as a liquid solution in a pre-filled pen that you inject.
Your doctor will start you on a low dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. This dosage is intended to help you get used to the medicine and does not provide much blood sugar control.
After four weeks, your doctor may increase the amount of ozempic you take once a week to 1 or 2 mg. The higher your dosage, the more blood sugar you can control.
Medications and supplements you take can affect how ozempic works, so tell your doctor about all the drugs you use. You might need to adjust the dose of ozempic to help your other medications work well together.
You should inject your ozempic once each week on the same day of the week every week. If you need to change the day, it must be at least 48 hours (2 days) before the new injection date.
Diagnosis
Ozempic is a once-weekly medicine for people with type 2 diabetes used in addition to diet and exercise. It helps lower blood sugar levels and reduces your risk of heart attack or stroke.
It also improves your body’s ability to use insulin, which can help you feel less hungry and full longer. You will take 0.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, then 1 or 2 mg once weekly until your doctor decides the dosage is right for you.
Your doctor may also prescribe it with other drugs to manage your diabetes or lower your risk of heart problems. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take.
It is important to take your medication at the same time every week. If you miss a dose, don’t take it more than five days after the last one you took. Taking two doses close together can cause dangerously low blood sugar.
Prevention
Taking ozempic when you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant can have serious effects on the fetus. This includes possible birth defects, increased blood sugar, and death.
During pregnancy, you should talk with your doctor about the risks of using Ozempic and about how to avoid them. You should also discuss any other medications you take and any vitamins or supplements you take.
Your doctor will start you on a low dosage of 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks. After that, you will get a steady dose of ozempic every week to help control your blood sugar levels.
The drug is available in a pen that can be injected under the skin on your stomach area, thigh, or upper arm. It is important to rotate (change) the injection site each week.
The drug should be stored refrigerated (between 36degF to 46degF or 2degC to 8degC) until you use it. Then, you can store it at room temperature (between 59degF to 86degF or 15degC to 30degC) for up to 56 days. After that, you should discard the pen, even if it has some medicine left in it.