Ozempic is a well-liked kind 2 diabetes remedy that helps decrease blood sugar ranges (sugar), enhance A1C ranges (a measure of glucose management over the previous 2-3 months), and helps you lose or preserve your weight.
What’s ozempic?
Ozempic (Semaglutide) is the model title for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists accepted by the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA).
This injectable drug is taken solely as soon as per week as a result of its long-term results.
What are the benefits of Ozempic?
Ozempic gives three most important advantages for individuals with diabetes:
Enhance blood glucose management
This drug reduces blood glucose and A1C ranges by growing insulin manufacturing from the pancreas and lowering the discharge of glucagon (storaged glucose) from the liver.
Weight reduction or upkeep
Ozempic helps customers shed weight and preserve weight by lowering urge for food and slowing digestion. Typical dose medical trials have proven a mean weight lack of 4-5%.
(Wegovy, one other semaglutide-based drug remedy, particularly accepted for weight reduction, makes use of a better dose, with a mean weight lack of 14.9%.)
Ozempic can also be prescribed “out-label” for weight reduction for kind 1 diabetic sufferers or these with out diabetes.
Low danger of heart problems
Ozempic reduces the danger of main cardiac occasions akin to coronary heart assaults, strokes and dying in adults with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Why do you get prescribed Ozempic?
Ozempic is particularly FDA accepted for individuals with kind 2 diabetes. Individuals with kind 2 diabetes should not prescribed Ozempic, as many individuals can handle their blood sugar ranges with food regimen, train, and generally with insulin remedy or different drugs.
Nonetheless, you probably have problem sustaining blood glucose ranges inside a wholesome vary utilizing present drugs, or in case you are coping with insulin resistance, your physician could prescribe Ozempic as a complement to your therapy plan.
Moreover, many individuals with kind 2 diabetes and present coronary heart illness are prescribed Ozempics as they assist cut back the danger of stroke, coronary heart assault and early dying on this inhabitants.
What are the unwanted effects?
Widespread unwanted effects embrace:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- constipation
- Weight reduction
- Hypoglycemia (particularly in case you are utilizing insulin)
Uncommon however severe problems embrace:
- Thyroid tumors (together with most cancers)
- Pancreatitis
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient (superior diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney issues
- Extreme allergic reactions
If you happen to expertise fever, poor imaginative and prescient, weak point, or ache after taking remedy, see a health care provider instantly.
For extra data: Ozempic Aspect Results: Issues You Must Know.
Dosage
Ozempic is accessible as a liquid answer of a permeable disposable pen for subcutaneous (subcutaneous) injection, taken as soon as per week, with or with out meals.
Pen has many benefits:
| Pen energy | It’s administered with every injection |
| 2 mg/1.5 ml (1.34 mg/ml) | 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg |
| 2 mg/3 ml (0.68 mg/ml) | 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg |
| 4 mg/3 ml (1.34 mg/ml) | 1 mg |
| 8 mg/3 ml (2.68 mg/ml) | 2 mg |
How a lot Ozempic ought to I take?
Your dosage will fluctuate primarily based in your well being historical past and targets. Most docs begin as soon as per week at 0.25 mg (mg) and improve to 0.5 mg after a couple of weeks whether it is properly tolerated.
If needed, the dose could improve to 1 mg and as much as 2 mg every week. It is very important take Ozempic on the identical time every week.
See extra particulars: Ozempic Dosage Information: How a lot ought to it value?
What occurs if there are too many Ozempics?
Overdose can result in severe unwanted effects akin to extreme nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and harmful hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia), particularly in case you are utilizing insulin.
These circumstances will be life-threatening if not handled instantly. In case you are taking an excessive amount of Ozempic, contact your physician or search emergency medical consideration instantly.
Do you miss the dose?
If you happen to missed the dose, you may take it inside a couple of days. Nonetheless, if it takes greater than 5 days, skip the missed dose and proceed with the following scheduled dose.
One missed dose won’t trigger insulin resistance or weight achieve, however ought to keep away from lacking doses repeatedly as they may work finest when taken persistently.
Tips on how to inject Ozempic
Earlier than injecting, verify the liquid within the pen for particles and discoloration. Don’t use a pen whether it is current.
Scrub the injection website and clear it with alcohol and rotate the injection website weekly to stop pores and skin injury.
Ozempics are often injected underneath the pores and skin of the thighs, stomach, or higher arms. Seek the advice of your healthcare supplier about the most effective injection websites and rotation strategies.
See extra particulars: Ozempic Infusion: The place and Tips on how to Inject.
Who mustn’t take Ozempic?
Take Ozempic provided that your physician prescribes it. It isn’t beneficial in case you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
If you happen to should not have diabetes, or you probably have pre-diabetes or kind 1 diabetes with out steering out of your physician, keep away from utilizing Ozempic.
If you happen to or your loved ones have a historical past of medulla thyroid most cancers (MTC) or a number of endocrine neoplastic syndrome kind 2 (male 2), don’t use Ozempic.
Moreover, in case you are allergic to semaglutide, keep away from ozempic. In case you are allergic, chances are you’ll think about Victorza, which accommodates one other GLP-1 agonist, liraglutide.
How do I cease taking Ozempic?
Given the unwanted effects, the price, or the way it feels, you would possibly think about stopping Ozempic.
Nonetheless, at all times seek the advice of your physician earlier than abolishing diabetes remedy. Suppliers advocate tapering the dose relatively than all of the sudden stopping.
Please observe that stopping ozempic can result in restoration insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar ranges, meals cravings and weight achieve.
It is very important have different plans akin to different drugs, train, and dietary methods to handle these results.
How does Ozempic enhance diabetes administration?
Ozempic helps in managing diabetes, facilitating and sustaining reducing blood sugar ranges, serving to to scale back and preserve weight, and serving to to scale back A1C ranges.
Research have proven that low A1C is related to a decrease danger of long-term diabetes problems.
By addressing insulin resistance, ozempic helps stabilize blood sugar, and related weight reduction could make bodily exercise extra manageable.
Moreover, the drug reduces the danger of coronary heart assaults, strokes and early dying in individuals with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness, and considerably improves total well being outcomes.
Can Ozempic change insulin?
No, Ozempic isn’t a substitute for insulin.
When you’ve got just lately been prescribed Ozempic, don’t cease taking different diabetes drugs except directed by your physician. Ozempic lowers blood glucose ranges over time, however doesn’t trigger the speedy lower in blood glucose ranges that insulin does.
Normally, when you take insulin in your food regimen, it is best to proceed doing it. Chances are you’ll discover a decline in your insulin wants a couple of months after Ozempic, however it’s unlikely you could utterly cease utilizing insulin for diabetes administration.
Can I take Ozempic with different diabetes drugs?
Sure, Ozempic will be taken with different diabetes drugs akin to metformin and insulin.
Nonetheless, at all times seek the advice of your physician to make sure that it doesn’t contradict the remedy you might be presently accumulating. Earlier than beginning Ozempic, make sure that your physician is conscious of all of the drugs he makes use of.
It is very important observe that Ozempic shouldn’t be mixed with different GLP-1 agonists akin to Wegovy, Victoza (Liraglutide), Trulutide (Dulaglutide), or Mounjaro (Tirzepatide).
ozempic and food regimen
When taking Ozempic, it is very important concentrate on how sure life-style decisions, akin to alcohol consumption and food regimen, have an effect on therapy and total well being.
Understanding the interplay between ozempic and alcohol and figuring out which meals to keep away from can assist you handle diabetes extra successfully and cut back the danger of antagonistic results.
For extra data: Ozempic and Alcohol: Can I take Ozempic whereas I am taking Ozempic? and Meals to Keep away from When Taking Ozempic.
Do Ozempic should be refrigerated?
Sure, Ozempics must be saved within the fridge at temperatures between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and eight°C). As soon as opened, it may be used for as much as 56 days.
How a lot is Ozempic?
The quantity you pay every month, referred to as joint funds, is dependent upon your insurance coverage plan. Use a prescription or medical card, in addition to an Ozempic protection and joint wage calculator to find out a selected co-payment.
As a diabetic drug, Ozempic is broadly coated by main well being plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid (not coated for weight reduction functions).
When you’ve got any questions relating to protection or joint cost prices, you may contact Ozempic Assist at 1-833-Ozempic (1-833-693-6742).
For certified people, the Affected person Help Program (PAP) gives free medicines. For extra details about this program, please name Novo Nordisk’s PAP toll free quantity at 1-866-310-7549.
How do I get a prescription?
In case you are fascinated by prescriptions, discuss to your physician. When you’ve got kind 2 diabetes and are coping with weight reduction or insulin resistance, your physician can prescribe it.
When you’ve got one other type of diabetes and are coping with insulin resistance, talk about therapy choices along with your supplier.
If you do not have diabetes and are searching for weight reduction options, ask your physician about FDA-approved weight reduction drugs which can be safer and extra acceptable than Ozempic.
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