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Over the last 15 years, Semaglutide has been used to treat type 2 diabetes. Recently, it has been approved by the FDA to help manage weight loss in obese or overweight adults with additional risk factors, under the brand name Wegovy. This treatment should be used in combination with diet and exercise.

Semaglutide is injected once weekly under the skin, using a small insulin needle. It can be taken at any time of day, with or without food, and should be injected on the same day each week.

With the help of Semaglutide, you could lose up to 25 pounds in just two months. In four months, you could lose up to 50 pounds or more. You can repeat this program as many times as you wish.

As this medication was initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes, we typically recommend taking it alongside our intermittent fasting diet.

IMPORTANT WARNING

Semaglutide injection may increase the risk of developing thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), which is a type of thyroid cancer. Tumors were found to develop in laboratory animals that were given semaglutide. However, it is unknown whether this medication increases the risk of tumors in humans.

If you or anyone in your family has MTC or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), which is a condition that causes tumors in more than one gland in the body, inform your doctor. Your doctor will most likely advise you not to use semaglutide injection.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath.

Make sure to keep all of your doctor’s and laboratory appointments. Your doctor may order certain tests to assess your body’s response to semaglutide injection.

When you start your treatment with semaglutide injection and each time you refill your prescription, your doctor or pharmacist will provide you with the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, read the information carefully and consult your doctor or pharmacist. You can obtain the Medication Guide by visiting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website or the manufacturer’s website.

Discuss the risks of using semaglutide injection with your doctor.

Reasons for Prescribing this Medication

Semaglutide injection (Ozempic) is used in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with a diet and exercise program, to control blood sugar levels when other medications did not control the sugar levels well enough. This injection also lowers the risk of stroke, heart attack, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart or blood vessel disease. Doctors do not use it to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated and the body cannot produce insulin to control the amount of sugar in the blood). Semaglutide injection is also not used to treat people with diabetes who require insulin.

Semaglutide injection (Wegovy) is used in conjunction with an individualized low-calorie, low-fat diet, and exercise program to help overweight adults who also have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol lose weight. It belongs to a class of drugs known as incretin mimetics. When blood sugar levels are high, it helps the pancreas release the appropriate amount of insulin. Insulin aids in the transport of sugar from the bloodstream to other body tissues where it is used for energy. Semaglutide injection works by slowing the passage of food through the stomach, which can reduce appetite and cause weight loss.

Controlling diabetes can prevent serious or fatal complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney issues, nerve damage, and vision problems. Medication, lifestyle changes, and routine blood sugar checks can help manage diabetes and lower the risk of these complications. Our healthcare professionals can discuss the best approach to managing diabetes.

How should this medicine be used?

Semaglutide injection is a liquid solution in a prefilled dosage pen for subcutaneous injection. It is typically injected once a week, at any time on the same day each week, regardless of meals. If it has been more than 48 hours since your last dose, you may switch the day of the week on which you take it. Always follow your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain anything you do not understand. Do not use semaglutide injections more or less often than your doctor prescribes.

Your doctor will likely start you on a low dose of semaglutide injection and may increase it after four weeks depending on how your body reacts. After another four weeks, they might increase your dose once more.

Semaglutide injection manages diabetes and promotes weight loss, but it’s not a permanent solution. Keep using it as directed, even if you feel better. Don’t discontinue semaglutide injections without consulting your physician.

Before injecting, carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions for use that come with the medication. Inspect the semaglutide solution before injecting it, and do not use it if it is colored, cloudy, thickened, or contains solid particles, or if the expiration date on the bottle has passed.

Never reuse needles or pens, and never share them. Always remove the needle immediately after injecting your dose, and dispose of the needles in a puncture-resistant container. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about proper disposal of the container.

You can inject semaglutide into your upper arm, thigh, or stomach, but with each injection, rotate the injection site. You can inject semaglutide and insulin in the same area of the body, but not right next to each other. If the pen was stored in the refrigerator, allow it to warm to room temperature before injecting.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking semaglutide injection,

  • If you are allergic to semaglutide, albiglutide (Tanzeum, no longer available in the US), dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Bydureon, Byetta), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), lixisenatide (Adlyxin, in Soliqua), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in semaglutide injection, inform your doctor and pharmacist. Consult your pharmacist or the Medication Guide for a list of ingredients.
  • Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or planning to take. Semaglutide may affect how your body absorbs medications, so it is important to inform your doctor of all medications you take orally.
  • Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation), diabetic retinopathy (eye damage caused by diabetes), gallbladder disease, or kidney disease. Inform your doctor if you have recently experienced diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, or if you are unable to drink liquids by mouth, as this may lead to dehydration (loss of a large amount of body fluids).
  • Inform your doctor if you plan to become pregnant. Your doctor may advise you to stop using semaglutide injection for two months before a planned pregnancy.
  • Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Contact your doctor if you become pregnant while using semaglutide injection.
  • If you experience significant changes in your diet, exercise, weight, illness, infection, fever, stress, or injury while taking semaglutide, consult your doctor. These factors can affect your blood sugar levels and the dosage of semaglutide you need.
  • Using semaglutide injection for weight loss may affect your mental health and increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. Contact your doctor right away if you experience symptoms such as depression, withdrawing from loved ones, or unusual changes in behavior or mood. Inform your family or caregiver about these symptoms so they can seek help if needed.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

You will need to make changes to your daily lifestyle in order to maximize your results. This includes changing your diet, specifically swapping out fast-digesting carbohydrates for foods that provide a more sustainable energy source (such as foods rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats).
Our food program promotes a healthy, sustainable way of eating that promotes weight loss and prepares you for long-term health by focusing on the quality of foods and ensuring that your body receives the building blocks it requires while also assisting you in feeling in control.

Our food philosophy will assist you in achieving the following results:

  •  Eat less sugar, fast-digesting carbs, and processed foods to limit disease-promoting foods.
  • Increase your intake of health-promoting foods by eating more of them in the right proportions.
  • Develop a positive relationship with food in general.

Dosing

This medication’s dosage will vary depending on the patient. Follow your doctor’s orders or the label’s instructions. This information only includes the average doses of this medication. If your dose differs, do not change it unless your doctor instructs you to.

The strength of the medicine determines the amount of medicine you take. In addition, the number of doses you take each day, the time between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine are all determined by the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • To treat type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke:
    • For injection (Ozempic® solution) dosage form:
      • Adults—For the first four weeks, 0.25 milligrams (mg) were injected under the skin once a week. As needed, your doctor may increase your dose. However, the usual dose is no more than 2 mg once a week.
      • Children—Your doctor will determine the appropriate use and dosage for your child.
  • For weight management:
    • For injection dosage form (Wegovy™ solution):
      • Adults—Initially, 0.25 milligrams (mg) were injected under the skin once a week for four weeks. Your doctor may increase your dose every four weeks. However, the dose is usually limited to 2.4 mg once a week.
      • Children—Use and dosage must be determined by your doctor.

What should I do if I missed a dose?

If you take semaglutide injection (Ozempic), take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it has been more than 5 days since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. Do not inject a second dose to compensate for a missed one.

If you are taking semaglutide injection (Wegovy) and your next dose is more than two days (48 hours) away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. In case you miss a dose of semaglutide injection (Wegovy) and the next scheduled dose is within 2 days (48 hours), skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. If you miss a dose of semaglutide injection (Wegovy) for more than two weeks, contact your doctor.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Side effects from semaglutide injection are possible. Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or persistent:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • constipation
  • heartburn
  • burping

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

  • ongoing pain that begins in the upper left or middle of the stomach but may spread to the back, with or without vomiting
  • rash; itching; swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, tongue, or throat; or difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • decreased urination; or swelling of legs, ankles, or feet
  • vision changes
  • fainting or dizziness
  • pain in upper stomach; yellowing of skin or eyes; fever; or clay-colored stools (in those receiving semaglutide [Wegovy] for management of weight loss)
  • rapid heartbeat

Semaglutide injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

If you have a serious side effect, you or your doctor can report it to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Storage

Keep out of children’s reach.

Do not keep expired or no longer needed medications.

Inquire with your healthcare provider about how to properly dispose of any medications you no longer require.

Refrigerate until needed. Do not become paralyzed.

Refrigerate your new, unused medicine pen in its original carton. Do not become paralyzed. The opened Ozempic® pen can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 56 days, and the opened WegovyTM pen can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 28 days. Even if the medicine is still in the pen, throw it away after 56 days for Ozempic® or 28 days for WegovyTM.

Dispose of used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot penetrate. Keep this container out of reach of children and pets.

In case of emergency/overdose

In the event of an overdose, dial 1-800-222-1222 for poison control. There is also information available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Dial 911 immediately if the victim collapses, has a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be awakened.

What other information should I know?

Do not give your medication to anyone else. If you have any questions about refilling your prescription, ask your pharmacist.

It is crucial that you keep a written record of all prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. Whenever you go to the doctor or are admitted to the hospital, you should bring this list with you. It is also important to have this information on hand in case of an emergency.