From the Guidelines
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a highly effective medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management, with a strong evidence base supporting its use for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and improving glycemic control 1. 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. Some key points to consider when prescribing Ozempic include:
- Gradual dose titration to minimize the risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects, as recommended in the AGA clinical practice guideline on pharmacological interventions for adults with obesity 1
- Administration of the medication on the same day each week in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm using a pre-filled pen injector
- Common side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation, which often improve over time
- The importance of monitoring blood sugar levels regularly and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, including diet and exercise
- Contraindications, such as type 1 diabetes, a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of semaglutide in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, with a hazard ratio of 0.80 (95% CI 0.72-0.90) in the SELECT study 1. Additionally, semaglutide has been shown to be effective in weight management, with a mean weight loss of 14.9% (placebo, 2.4%; difference, 12.4%; 95% CI, 11.5%-13.4%) in the STEP 1 trial 1. Overall, Ozempic is a valuable treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes and those seeking weight management, with a strong evidence base supporting its use.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Ozempic (Semaglutide) Overview
- Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes 2, 3.
- It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which helps to lower blood sugar levels and reduce body weight 3.
Efficacy and Safety
- Semaglutide has been shown to be effective in reducing HbA1c levels and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes 2, 3.
- The medication has a similar safety profile to other GLP-1 receptor agonists, with the most common adverse events being gastrointestinal disorders 2.
- However, there have been concerns about the potential risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer with GLP-1 receptor agonists, although the evidence is still limited and inconclusive 4, 5.
Potential Risks
- A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found no association between GLP-1 receptor agonists and the risk of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer 4.
- However, another study found that GLP-1 receptor agonists may increase the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, although the evidence was based on reported adverse events and not randomized controlled trials 5.
- A study in mice found that GLP-1 receptor agonists can mediate C-cell effects in the thyroid, but this was not associated with RET activation 6.