For many people with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic is an excellent weekly treatment option to better control blood sugar and improve HbA1c levels.
There are different doses available and which one you take will depend on your health history and health goals, lifestyle and why you are taking Ozempic.
It may take some time to work out how much Ozempic to take and should always be a joint decision with your doctor.
This article explains everything you need to know about dosing Ozempic.
What dose do you usually start with?
If you are new to Ozempic or semaglutide in general, your doctor will want to start with a low dose. This is because Ozempic can cause side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, low blood sugar and suppressed appetite, which can be difficult and debilitating.
To minimize the likelihood of side effects, starting with a lower dose is the best way to ensure your body gets used to the drug without overloading your body.
According to the manufacturer, a typical starting dose is 0.25 milligrams (mg) once a week for the first four weeks.
If you see improvements in blood sugar and insulin resistance without side effects, your doctor may increase your dose after the first four weeks.
What is the normal dose of Ozempic?
There is no ‘normal’ dose of Ozempic per se as it will vary from patient to patient. However, there are specific increments that people take Ozempic and they are as follows:
- New in treatment: 0.25 mg once a week for the first four weeks
- Ongoing treatment: 0.5 mg once a week starting from the fifth week
If your blood sugar level is still not controlled after a dose of 0.5 mg once a week, your doctor may increase your dose.
How and when can the dose be increased?
You will most likely not be able to increase your starting dose until you have been taking the medication for at least four weeks.
In the fifth week, your doctor may advise you to double your dose to 0.5 mg for the next four weeks. Monitor your blood sugar closely and watch out for any side effects when increasing your dose.
If you tolerate the 0.5 mg dose well and see no improvement in your blood sugar control, your doctor may recommend an additional dose increase.
Note that this will require a new prescription as the larger dose is in the larger semaglutide pen.
If you need a higher dose, your doctor may recommend taking 1 mg or 2 mg once a week.
What is the right dose for me?
This can only be settled between you and your doctor. Your dose may vary based on your health history, health goals, lifestyle, height, weight, insulin resistance level, diet, and daily activity level.
In general, higher doses will produce more results, such as lower blood sugar, weight loss, and improved A1C values.
However, the higher the dose, the more likely you are to experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and low blood sugar, especially in the beginning when your body is getting used to the medicine.
Keep this in mind when increasing doses and do so only under medical supervision.
What is the right dose for weight loss?
First of all: Ozempic is not FDA approved as a weight loss drug. However, studies show that Ozempic can and does help people lose weight. Since it is not approved by the FDA as a weight loss drug, there is no official dosage specifically for achieving weight loss.
Ozempic will be more effective if you combine therapy with healthy eating and exercise. If you’re concerned about your weight or want to lose weight, talk to your doctor, as there are other FDA-approved weight loss medications you can take if you have diabetes.
Wegovy, the sister drug to Ozempic, is another semaglutide that has been approved by the FDA for weight loss. The weekly dose of this drug is 2.4 mg and may help with weight loss if a care plan is agreed between you and your doctor.
What happens if I stop taking Ozempic?
Do not stop taking any diabetes medicines without your doctor’s advice. If you happen to stop taking Ozempic, unfortunately research has shown that weight loss and higher blood sugar levels (and accompanying insulin resistance) are likely.
People who stop taking Ozempic regain on average two-thirds of the weight they lost while taking the drug.
If you experience debilitating side effects, Ozempic doesn’t fit your lifestyle, or your health insurance doesn’t cover the drug, talk to your doctor about alternatives that might be a good replacement for you.
Are there different Ozempic pens?
For ease of dosing, Ozempic is available in a variety of pre-filled pens. They appear as follows:
- Injectable pen delivering 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses. The pen contains a total of 2 mg Ozempic and lasts for 1 to 2 months depending on the dose
- Injectable pen that delivers a 1 mg dose. This pre-filled pen contains 4 mg of Ozempic and lasts the patient for 1 month
- The largest pen delivers a dose of 2 mg. This pre-filled pen contains 8 mg of Ozempic and lasts the patient for 1 month
Please note that if you change your dose from 0.5 mg to 1 mg or from 1 mg to 2 mg, your doctor will need to write a new prescription for the higher dose.
What is the strongest Ozempic?
All Ozempic pens contain the exact same active ingredient, semaglutide, and the larger pens do not have a stronger drug formulation.
When people increase the dose of Ozempic, they simply increase the amount taken weekly.
What should I do if I forget to take a dose?
If you miss a dose of Ozempic, take it as soon as possible within 5 days of the missed dose. If you miss a dose for more than 5 days, skip that week and continue taking Ozempic on your regular schedule.
Missing one dose will not significantly affect your blood sugar or insulin resistance.
What is the maximum weekly dose?
The maximum dose of Ozempic is 2 mg given once a week, on the same day and at the same time. It can be taken both with and without food.
You can change the day of the week that you take Ozempic as long as you took your last dose at least 2 days ago.
Never take more Ozempic than prescribed. In the event of an overdose of Ozempic, debilitating side effects can occur, including nausea, vomiting and low blood sugar, which can be fatal (especially if you are taking insulin).
Monitor signs and symptoms of extremely low blood sugar, which include:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Accelerated heart rate
- Shallow breathing
- Trembling
- Grogginess
- Tiredness
- Unconsciousness
If you suspect you have overdosed on Ozempic, contact your doctor immediately.
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