What is the recommended dose for Ozempic (semaglutide)?

From the Guidelines

Ozempic (semaglutide) should be started at a dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for the first 4 weeks, then increased to 0.5 mg once weekly, and further increased to 1 mg once weekly if needed, with a maximum dose of 2.4 mg once weekly for weight management, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. The dosing regimen for Ozempic is designed to minimize gastrointestinal side effects, with a gradual titration schedule.

• The initial dose of 0.25 mg once weekly is administered for the first 4 weeks.
• The dose is then increased to 0.5 mg once weekly for at least 4 weeks.
• If additional glycemic control is needed, the dose can be further increased to 1 mg once weekly.
• For weight management, the maximum dose is 2.4 mg once weekly, which is reached after 16 weeks of gradual titration 1. It is essential to administer Ozempic subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and rotate the injection site to minimize the risk of adverse effects. The medication should be administered on the same day each week, though the time of day can be changed if needed. If a dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible within 5 days after the missed dose; if more than 5 days have passed, the missed dose should be skipped and the next dose taken on the regularly scheduled day, as recommended by clinical guidelines 1. Ozempic works by mimicking the incretin hormone GLP-1, which stimulates insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon release, and slows gastric emptying, helping to lower blood glucose levels and potentially assist with weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Recommended Dosage • Start OZEMPIC with a 0.25 mg subcutaneous injection once weekly for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dose is intended for treatment initiation and is not effective for glycemic control. • After 4 weeks on the 0.25 mg dose, increase the dosage to 0.5 mg once weekly. • If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose, the dosage may be increased to 1 mg once weekly. The maximum recommended dosage is 1 mg once weekly.

The recommended dose for Ozempic (semaglutide) is:

• 0.25 mg once weekly for the first 4 weeks
• 0.5 mg once weekly after 4 weeks
• 1 mg once weekly if additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose The maximum recommended dosage is 1 mg once weekly 2.

From the Research

Recommended Dose for Ozempic (Semaglutide)

The recommended dose for Ozempic (semaglutide) is as follows:

• The dose of semaglutide is 0.5 or 1.0 mg once weekly, administered via subcutaneous injection 3
• The dose can be escalated from 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg once weekly for additional glycemic control 4
• A higher dose of 2.0 mg once weekly has also been studied and shown to be effective in reducing HbA1c and body weight, with a similar safety profile to the 1.0 mg dose 4

Administration and Titration

• Semaglutide is administered via subcutaneous injection, and the dose can be titrated to achieve optimal glycemic control 5
• The medication is presented as prefilled pens for subcutaneous injection, and the dose is reached after a fixed dose-escalation regimen 6

Efficacy and Safety

• Semaglutide has been shown to be effective in reducing HbA1c and body weight, with a similar safety profile to other GLP-1 receptor agonists 7, 6
• The most commonly reported adverse events with semaglutide are gastrointestinal disorders, such as nausea and diarrhea 4, 6