From the Guidelines
Ozempic (semaglutide) is primarily indicated for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycemic control, alongside diet and exercise, and is also approved for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease, with a standard dosing of 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then increasing to 0.5 mg weekly, with potential further increase to 1 mg weekly if needed for glycemic control 1.
Medical Indications for Ozempic
The medication works by mimicking the incretin hormone GLP-1, which stimulates insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, and increases satiety.
- Ozempic is indicated for:
- Improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease
- While not FDA-approved for this purpose, Ozempic is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight management in patients without diabetes, with a dosing of 2.4 mg once weekly, as suggested by the AGA clinical practice guideline on pharmacological interventions for adults with obesity 1.
Important Considerations
- Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation
- Ozempic is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- The medication should be used cautiously in patients with pancreatitis history, severe gastrointestinal disease, or diabetic retinopathy, as reported in the 2020 expert consensus decision pathway on novel therapies for cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes 1
- The medication has been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, as reported in a meta-analysis 1
From the FDA Drug Label
OZEMPIC is indicated: • as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus [see Clinical Studies (14. 1)]. • to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease [see Clinical Studies (14. 4 )].
The medical indications for Ozempic are:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults.
- Cardiovascular risk reduction: to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease 2.
From the Research
Medical Indications for Ozempic
Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a medication that has been approved for several medical indications, including:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Semaglutide has been shown to be effective in reducing HbA1c levels and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes 3.
- Obesity: Semaglutide has been approved for the treatment of obesity in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition 4, 5.
- Weight management: Semaglutide has been shown to be effective in reducing body weight and improving cardiovascular risk factors in patients with overweight or obesity 5, 6.
Dosage and Administration
Semaglutide is available in several formulations, including injectable and oral forms. The dosage and administration of semaglutide vary depending on the indication and formulation:
- Injectable semaglutide: The recommended dose is 0.5-1 mg once weekly for type 2 diabetes, and 2.4 mg once weekly for obesity 4, 5.
- Oral semaglutide: The recommended dose is 14 mg once daily for type 2 diabetes 7.
Safety and Efficacy
Semaglutide has been shown to be generally safe and effective in clinical trials:
- Common adverse events include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and injection-site reactions 4, 5, 3.
- Serious adverse events, such as pancreatitis and diabetic retinopathy, have been reported, but are rare 4, 3.
- Semaglutide has been shown to be effective in reducing HbA1c levels, body weight, and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity 4, 5, 3.