What is the recommended initiation dose and administration schedule for Ozempic (semaglutide) 1 MG doses from a 4 MG/3 ML subcutaneous solution?

Ozempic Dosing and Administration

Start Ozempic at 0.25 mg subcutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks, then increase to 0.5 mg once weekly, with further titration to 1 mg once weekly if additional glycemic control is needed after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose. 1

Initial Dosing Phase

• Begin with 0.25 mg subcutaneously once weekly for exactly 4 weeks to allow gastrointestinal tolerance to develop; this dose is not effective for glycemic control and serves only as a treatment initiation phase 1, 2
• The 4 MG/3 ML concentration means each mL contains approximately 1.33 mg of semaglutide, allowing for precise dose delivery through the pre-filled pen device 1

Maintenance Dosing Schedule

• After completing 4 weeks at 0.25 mg, increase to 0.5 mg once weekly as the first maintenance dose 1, 2
• If additional glycemic control is required after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg, increase to 1 mg once weekly, which is the maximum recommended dose for type 2 diabetes 1, 3
• For weight management specifically, the target dose is 2.4 mg once weekly, reached after 16 weeks of gradual titration (0.25 mg → 0.5 mg → 1 mg → 1.7 mg → 2.4 mg, each for 4 weeks) 3, 4

Administration Instructions

• Administer once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals 1, 5
• Inject subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotating injection sites each week within the same body region 1
• The day of weekly administration can be changed if necessary, provided at least 48 hours (2 days) pass between doses 1
• If a dose is missed and fewer than 5 days have passed, administer immediately; if more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule 1, 2

Missed Dose Management

• If 2 consecutive doses are missed and the patient previously tolerated the medication well, resume at the same dose 2, 4
• If 3 or more consecutive doses are missed, restart the titration schedule from 0.25 mg 2, 4

Special Population Considerations

• No dose adjustment is required for renal impairment, including end-stage renal disease 3, 5, 3
• No dose adjustment is required for hepatic impairment, though use caution in severe hepatic impairment due to limited data 2, 5
• No dose adjustment is required based on age in elderly patients 2

Critical Drug Interactions and Contraindications

• Do not use Ozempic with other GLP-1 receptor agonists or DPP-4 inhibitors 2, 4
• When combining with insulin or sulfonylureas, reduce doses of these medications to minimize hypoglycemia risk and monitor closely 3, 2, 4
• Ozempic delays gastric emptying, which may impact absorption of oral medications requiring rapid onset 2, 6
• Contraindicated in patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 5

Peri-Operative Management

• Consider withholding Ozempic before elective surgery due to delayed gastric emptying and increased aspiration risk, even with prolonged fasting 3
• Case reports document regurgitation and aspiration in patients who fasted appropriately but were taking semaglutide, including one patient who stopped the medication 6 days before surgery 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never skip the 0.25 mg initiation phase—jumping directly to 0.5 mg or higher significantly increases gastrointestinal adverse events 2, 1
• Do not mix Ozempic with insulin in the same syringe; administer as separate injections, though they can be given in the same body region if not adjacent 1
• Inspect the solution before each use—it should be clear and colorless; discard if particulate matter or discoloration is present 1
• Some patients achieve adequate glycemic control at 0.5 mg and do not require escalation to 1 mg; avoid unnecessary dose increases if treatment goals are met 2