Ozempic is a well-liked sort 2 diabetes drug that lowers blood sugar (sugar) ranges, improves A1c ranges (a measure of blood sugar management over the previous two to a few months), and helps folks lose or preserve weight.
What’s Ozempic?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a industrial glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist permitted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to assist handle blood sugar ranges in adults with sort 2 diabetes along with weight-reduction plan and train. It is a title. .
This injection has long-lasting results and solely must be taken as soon as per week.
What are the advantages of Ozempic?
Ozempic gives three foremost advantages to diabetics.
Improved blood sugar management
This drug lowers blood sugar and A1c ranges by growing insulin manufacturing from the pancreas and lowering the discharge of glucagon (a storage type of glucose) from the liver.
weight reduction or upkeep
Ozempic helps customers lose or preserve weight by decreasing urge for food and slowing digestion. Medical trials utilizing typical doses have proven a mean weight lack of 4 to five %.
(Wegovy, one other semaglutide-based drug, is permitted particularly for weight reduction and makes use of larger doses, leading to a mean weight lack of 14.9 %.)
Ozempic can be prescribed “off-label” for weight reduction in folks with sort 1 diabetes or with out diabetes.
Lowered threat of heart problems
Ozempic reduces the chance of main cardiac occasions resembling coronary heart assault, stroke, and loss of life in adults with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Why is Ozempic prescribed?
Ozempic is particularly permitted by the FDA for sufferers with sort 2 diabetes. Ozempic just isn’t prescribed for all sort 2 diabetics as a result of many individuals can handle their blood sugar ranges with weight-reduction plan, train, and typically insulin remedy and different drugs.
Nevertheless, if you’re having hassle maintaining your blood sugar ranges inside a wholesome vary with the drugs you’re at the moment taking, or if you’re coping with insulin resistance, your physician could prescribe Ozempic as an adjunct to your remedy plan. .
Moreover, Ozempic is prescribed to many individuals with sort 2 diabetes or pre-existing coronary heart illness. It’s because it helps scale back the chance of stroke, coronary heart assault, and early loss of life on this inhabitants.
What are the uncomfortable side effects?
Widespread uncomfortable side effects embody:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdomen ache
- constipation
- weight reduction
- Hypoglycemia (particularly if utilizing insulin)
Though uncommon, severe problems could happen, together with:
- Thyroid tumors (together with most cancers)
- pancreatitis
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient (worsening of diabetic retinopathy)
- kidney issues
- extreme allergic response
Should you expertise fever, worsened imaginative and prescient, weak spot, or ache after taking the drugs, see your physician instantly.
See beneath for extra info. Ozempic uncomfortable side effects: what you have to know.
dosage
Ozempic is out there as an answer in a prefilled disposable pen for subcutaneous (underneath the pores and skin) injection and is taken as soon as per week with or with out meals.
Pens come in several strengths.
| energy of pen | Dosage per injection |
| 2mg/1.5mL (1.34mg/mL) | 0.25mg or 0.5mg |
| 2mg/3mL (0.68mg/mL) | 0.25mg or 0.5mg |
| 4mg/3mL (1.34mg/mL) | 1mg |
| 8mg/3mL (2.68mg/mL) | 2mg |
How a lot Ozempic ought to I take?
Dosage varies relying in your well being historical past and targets. Most docs begin with 0.25 milligrams (mg) as soon as per week and improve to 0.5 mg after just a few weeks whether it is nicely tolerated.
If wanted, the dose might be elevated by 1 mg weekly as much as a most of two mg. It is very important take Ozempic on the identical day and on the similar time each week.
For extra info, see: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to I Take?
What occurs if you happen to take an excessive amount of Ozempic?
Overdosage, particularly when used with insulin, could cause severe uncomfortable side effects resembling extreme nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, and dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
These signs might be life-threatening if not handled instantly. When you have overdosed on Ozempic, contact your physician or search emergency medical remedy instantly.
Is it okay if I neglect to take it?
Should you miss a dose, you may take it inside just a few days. Nevertheless, if greater than 5 days have handed, skip the missed dose and take the subsequent scheduled dose.
Though one missed dose won’t trigger insulin resistance or weight acquire, the drugs is simplest when taken persistently, so be sure you bear in mind to take it usually.
Ozempic injection methodology
Earlier than injecting, test the liquid within the pen for particles or discoloration. Don’t use the pen if there are particles or discoloration.
Clear the injection web site with rubbing alcohol and rotate the injection web site weekly to forestall pores and skin harm.
Ozempic is often injected underneath the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm. Speak to your healthcare supplier about the very best injection websites and rotation methods.
For extra info, see: Ozempic injection: the place and the best way to inject it.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic?
Ozempic ought to solely be taken if prescribed by your physician. Not really helpful if you’re pregnant, planning to change into pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Keep away from utilizing Ozempic with out your physician’s steerage if you’re not diabetic or have prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes.
Don’t use Ozempic if you happen to or your loved ones has a historical past of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or a number of endocrine neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2).
Moreover, keep away from Ozempic if you’re allergic to semaglutide. When you have allergic reactions, you could need to think about Victoza, which comprises one other GLP-1 agonist, liraglutide.
How do I cease taking Ozempic?
You might think about discontinuing Ozempic due to uncomfortable side effects, price, or how you are feeling.
Nevertheless, be sure you seek the advice of your physician earlier than discontinuing your diabetes remedy. Your well being care skilled will seemingly advocate tapering your dose progressively fairly than stopping it abruptly.
Remember that discontinuing Ozempic could lead to relapse of insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar ranges, elevated urge for food, and weight acquire.
To handle these results, it is very important develop different plans resembling completely different drugs, train, and dietary methods.
How does Ozempic enhance diabetes administration?
Ozempic helps handle diabetes by reducing blood sugar ranges and supporting weight reduction or upkeep, making it simpler to attain and preserve decrease A1c ranges.
Analysis exhibits that decrease A1cs reduces the chance of long-term diabetic problems.
Ozempic helps stabilize blood sugar ranges by addressing insulin resistance, and the related weight reduction makes bodily exercise extra manageable.
Moreover, the drug reduces the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely loss of life in folks with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness, considerably enhancing their general well being.
Can Ozempic exchange insulin?
No, Ozempic just isn’t an insulin substitute.
When you have just lately been prescribed Ozempic, don’t cease taking your different diabetes medicines except directed by your physician. Ozempic lowers blood sugar ranges over time, but it surely doesn’t trigger a sudden drop in blood sugar ranges like insulin.
Should you usually take insulin with meals, it’s best to proceed to take action. After taking Ozempic for just a few months, you could discover that your want for insulin decreases, however it’s unlikely that it is possible for you to to utterly cease utilizing insulin for diabetes administration.
Can I take Ozempic with different diabetes medicines?
Sure, Ozempic might be taken with different diabetes drugs resembling metformin and insulin.
Nevertheless, be sure you ask your physician if it would battle with any drugs you’re at the moment taking. Earlier than beginning Ozempic, be sure that your physician is aware of all of your drugs.
It is very important observe that Ozempic shouldn’t be used with different GLP-1 agonists resembling Wegovy, Victoza (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), as they are often probably harmful.
Ozempic and weight-reduction plan
When taking Ozempic, it is very important concentrate on how sure life-style decisions, resembling alcohol consumption and weight-reduction plan, can have an effect on your remedy and general well being.
Understanding how Ozempic interacts with alcohol and figuring out which meals to keep away from can assist you handle your diabetes extra successfully and scale back your threat of uncomfortable side effects.
See beneath for extra info. Ozempic and Alcohol: Can I drink alcohol whereas taking Ozempic? and Meals to keep away from whereas taking Ozempic.
Does Ozempic have to be refrigerated?
Sure, Ozempic must be saved within the fridge at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to eight°C). As soon as opened, it may be used for as much as 56 days.
How a lot does Ozempic price?
The quantity you pay every month, referred to as your deductible, varies relying in your insurance coverage plan. To find out your particular copay, use your prescription or medical card and Ozempic’s protection and copay calculator.
Ozempic is broadly lined by main medical health insurance plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid, as a diabetes drug (however not for weight reduction functions).
When you have any questions on protection or copays, please contact Ozempic Help at 1-833-OZEMPIC (1-833-693-6742).
For individuals who qualify, free remedy is offered via the Affected person Help Program (PAP). For extra details about this program, name Novo Nordisk’s PAP toll-free quantity 1-866-310-7549.
How do I obtain my prescription?
In case you are considering a prescription, please discuss to your physician. Your physician can prescribe it if in case you have sort 2 diabetes and are coping with weight reduction or insulin resistance.
When you have one other type of diabetes and are coping with insulin resistance, talk about remedy choices together with your physician.
In case you are not diabetic and are searching for a weight reduction answer, ask your physician about FDA-approved weight reduction drugs which may be safer and extra applicable than Ozempic.
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