What is Ozempic?
Ozempic® is a weekly injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes used to control blood sugar. As a weight loss injection pen, it functions similarly to treatments like Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda®.
While Ozempic® has been shown to help its users lose weight, it is not currently licensed as a weight loss treatment in the UK.
Ozempic® is a GLP-1 agonist that contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which is also found in Wegovy®.
How does Ozempic work?
Contrary to popular belief, Ozempic® doesn’t ‘burn fat’. The semaglutide in Ozempic® assists weight loss by mimicking the action of the hormone GLP-1. This hormone is responsible for:
- Decreasing appetite
- Slowing digestion
- Regulating blood sugar
By providing the same signals as GLP-1, Ozempic® makes you feel fuller quicker. This should help you to eat less overall.
“Weight loss treatments like Ozempic® and Wegovy® assist weight loss through appetite suppression. Healthy lifestyle choices like reducing calories and increasing physical activity alongside treatment should help to provide the best results for weight loss.” – Dr Bhavini Shah
How long does Ozempic take to work?
You may start to notice the effects of Ozempic®, like a decreased appetite, shortly after your first dose. Weight loss is a more gradual process – you won’t suddenly shed pounds overnight. When used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise, you should start to notice results after a few weeks / a month.
Can you buy Ozempic in the UK?
You cannot buy Ozempic® over the counter in the UK as it is a prescription-only medicine (POM). This means you must have a prescription from a doctor in order to get Ozempic® from a pharmacy.
As mentioned above, Ozempic® is licensed in the UK as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. If you are not diabetic, Ozempic® can be prescribed off-label for weight loss. This process is not available via LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor. It is recommended if this is the case that you look for an alternative weight loss treatment.
Is Ozempic legal?
Ozempic® is legal in the UK, but only as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. It is not currently authorised for weight loss.
You should not be able to buy Ozempic® online without a prescription. Please check that any online pharmacy you use is UK registered and regulated and watch out for fake weight loss injections.
Who can take Ozempic?
Ozempic® is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes if blood sugar levels cannot be controlled on their own or by other diabetes medicines like metformin. Ozempic®’s patient information leaflet encourages that a diet and exercise plan is followed alongside treatment.
Who can’t take Ozempic?
Taking Ozempic® is discouraged if you have the following:
- Type 1 diabetes or ketoacidosis
- Kidney problems
- Stomach pain
- Low blood sugar
- Diabetic eye disease
It’s recommended that you do not take Ozempic® if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, as it’s currently unknown if or how it affects unborn children or if it can be passed into breast milk.
As with any treatment, please talk to your GP before starting Ozempic® so that they can make sure it is suitable for you. If you are due to have surgery where you will be under anaesthesia, make sure to tell your doctor you are taking Ozempic®.
How do you take Ozempic?
Talk to your GP before using an Ozempic® pen for the first time and they will show you how to use it. The best places to give an Ozempic® injections are, from top to bottom:
- Upper arm
- The front of your waist
- Front of your thighs
Always use Ozempic® the way your GP has told you.
Ozempic® should be injected once a week (on the same day if possible). There is not a recommended time to inject Ozempic®, this can be done at any point in the day.
You can change what day you take Ozempic® as long as it has been three days since your last injection.
If you feel you’re likely to forget what day you will take your Ozempic® dose, set a calendar alert on your phone or write down the information on a list you can check off.
If you forget to take Ozempic® on your scheduled day, check whether if it has been five days since you should have used it:
- If yes, take your dose as soon as possible then inject your next dose on your scheduled day
- If no, leave this dose and inject your next as usual on your scheduled day
Do not take a double dose to ‘make up’ for a missed one – you will only increase the likelihood of side effects like nausea.
If you use more Ozempic® than your dose, get in touch with your GP straight away.
Ozempic dosages
The available dosages for Ozempic® are:
- 0.25mg
- 0.5mg
- 1mg
- 2mg
The starting dose for Ozempic® is 0.25mg. You will stay at this dose for four weeks. From there your dosage should increase to 0.5mg for four weeks. This dosage can then increase to 1mg and eventually 2mg depending if additional blood sugar control is needed, though these larger doses would be used on a once-weekly basis.
“Only change your dose if you are told to do so by your GP.” - Dr Bhavini Shah
Ozempic side effects
Like all medications, some people might experience side effects if they take Ozempic®. If you experience any of these, please talk to your GP. We’ve broken down potential Ozempic® side effects below:
Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Low blood sugar
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Vomiting
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Changes to taste
- Elevated pulse
- Bruising, pain or irritation at injection site
- Minor allergic reactions like hives, rash or itching
- Delay in emptying of the stomach
Please stop taking Ozempic® and get in touch with your GP immediately if you begin to experience the following:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Complications of diabetic eye disease (retinopathy)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which can cause constant pain in the stomach and back
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
- Severe allergic reaction
Unknown frequency
- Bowel obstruction
Learn more about the side effects of Ozempic® by consulting the patient information leaflet.
