From the Guidelines
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, for weight management, with a recommended dose of 2.4 mg with lifestyle modifications for adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related complications, as suggested by the American Gastroenterological Association 1.
Key Points
- Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that work by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite.
- The medication works by stimulating insulin release when blood sugar is high, slowing stomach emptying, and reducing appetite by acting on the brain's hunger centers.
- Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation, which often improve over time.
- Patients should maintain proper diet and exercise while using Ozempic and monitor blood sugar regularly.
- Those with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not use this medication.
Usage and Dosage
- The typical starting dose is 0.25 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly for four weeks, then increased to 0.5 mg weekly, with possible further increases to 1 mg or 2 mg weekly if needed for glycemic control.
- Ozempic comes in a pre-filled pen injector and should be administered on the same day each week in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
Benefits and Risks
- Ozempic has been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death, in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease 2, 3.
- The medication has also been associated with significant weight loss and improvement in weight-related comorbidities in adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related complications 4.
- However, Ozempic may increase the risk of pancreatitis and gallbladder disease, and patients should be monitored for these potential side effects.
From the FDA Drug Label
OZEMPIC is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated as: • an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus • to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease
The use of Ozempic (semaglutide) is:
- Improving glycemic control: as an adjunct to diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Reducing cardiovascular risk: to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease 5.
From the Research
Use of Ozempic (Semaglutide)
The use of Ozempic (semaglutide) is primarily for the management of type 2 diabetes. Key points about its use include:
- Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that is available in both subcutaneous and oral dosage forms 6.
- It has been approved as a second-line treatment option for better glycemic control in type 2 diabetes and is also under consideration for anti-obesity purposes 6.
- Semaglutide has been shown to reduce various cardiovascular risk factors in patients with established cardiovascular disorders 6.
- It is well-tolerated with no risk of hypoglycemia in monotherapy but can cause gastrointestinal adverse effects 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Efficacy and Safety
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes:
- Once-weekly semaglutide was superior to sitagliptin at improving glycemic control and reducing body weight in participants with type 2 diabetes on metformin, thiazolidinediones, or both 7.
- Semaglutide 2.0 mg was superior to 1.0 mg in reducing HbA1c, with additional body weight loss and a similar safety profile 8.
- Oral semaglutide was non-inferior to subcutaneous liraglutide and superior to placebo in decreasing HbA1c, and superior in decreasing body weight compared to both liraglutide and placebo 9.
- Semaglutide was superior to dulaglutide in improving glycemic control and reducing body weight, with a similar safety profile 10.
Administration and Dosage
Semaglutide can be administered subcutaneously or orally: