How do I call in an Ozempic (semaglutide) 2mg weekly prescription?

Prescribing Ozempic 2mg Weekly

The maximum FDA-approved dose of Ozempic for type 2 diabetes is 1 mg weekly, not 2 mg weekly—you cannot prescribe Ozempic at 2 mg weekly as this exceeds the approved dosing. 1

FDA-Approved Dosing for Ozempic

The FDA label clearly specifies the following dosing schedule for Ozempic (semaglutide) 1:

• Initiation: 0.25 mg subcutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks (this dose is for treatment initiation only and is not effective for glycemic control) 1
• Maintenance: After 4 weeks, increase to 0.5 mg once weekly 1
• Maximum dose: If additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg, increase to 1 mg once weekly—this is the maximum recommended dosage 1

Available Pen Strengths

Ozempic is available in pre-filled pens that deliver specific doses 1:

• 2 mg/1.5 mL pen: delivers 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg doses
• 2 mg/1.5 mL pen: delivers 1 mg doses
• 4 mg/3 mL pen: delivers 1 mg doses

None of these pens can deliver a 2 mg dose. 1

If You Need 2.4 mg Weekly Dosing

If you are seeking higher-dose semaglutide for weight management (2.4 mg weekly), you must prescribe Wegovy, not Ozempic 2, 3, 4:

• Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management at doses up to 2.4 mg weekly 3, 4
• The titration schedule for Wegovy differs from Ozempic and reaches the 2.4 mg target dose 2
• Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly has demonstrated approximately 15% weight loss at 68 weeks 3, 4

Administration Instructions When Prescribing

When calling in any Ozempic prescription, specify 1:

• Administer subcutaneously to abdomen, thigh, or upper arm
• Inject once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals
• Use a different injection site each week within the same body region
• If using with insulin, administer as separate injections (never mix), though they can be in the same body region if not adjacent 1

Common Pitfall

Do not attempt to prescribe Ozempic 2 mg weekly—this is off-label and not supported by available pen devices. If your patient needs higher-dose semaglutide for weight loss, switch to Wegovy 2.4 mg weekly instead. 1, 3