Ozempic dosage guide: How to use Ozempic

Curious about Ozempic® dosages? Wondering why your prescribed doses of Ozempic may increase over time, how injectable doses for weight loss and type 2 diabetes differ, or what to do if you miss a dose? 

Here’s a quick guide to help you:

• Understand the four Ozempic dosages, from the standard starting dose to Ozempic’s maintenance and maximum doses
• Compare doses of Ozempic (approved for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy® (approved for weight loss)
• Know what to do if you miss your Ozempic dose or want to change your dosing schedule
• Understand situations that may require an adjustment of your Ozempic dosages
• Learn the risks—and side effects to watch for—when taking injectable GLP-1s like Ozempic for weight loss or type 2 diabetes

How does Ozempic (semaglutide) work?

Ozempic is an injectable prescription drug that’s approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk and part of the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) drug class, Ozempic is also prescribed off-label for weight loss. (Off-label use is when a drug that’s been FDA-approved for one condition or disease is used for another. It’s common, legal, and effective.)

Ozempic’s active ingredient, semaglutide, mimics one of the body’s naturally occurring gut hormones, GLP-1. In clinical trials, semaglutide has been shown to help people with type 2 diabetes on many fronts: Regulating their blood sugar, increasing satiety with smaller portions, and losing weight—as well as decreasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other adverse cardiovascular events in those with heart disease.

What are typical Ozempic dosages?

Ozempic is prescribed as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection in one of four dosages ranging from 0.25 mg to 2 mg. The starting dose of Ozempic is the lowest: 0.25 mg. The manufacturer recommends this dose for the first four weeks to help minimize Ozempic’s side effects. This gives your body time to get used to the medication. (Your provider may personalize your dose in a different way.) 

From there, the next dose is 0.5 mg. It’s typically prescribed for the second four weeks, depending on how you respond to the Ozempic starting dose. Some people remain on the 0.5-mg maintenance dose of Ozempic indefinitely. 

Those needing additional blood glucose control who tolerate the 0.5-mg dose may be prescribed a 1-mg dose for maintenance or, after four weeks on 1 mg, a bump up to a 2-mg dose, Ozempic’s maximum maintenance dose.  

How many doses are in an Ozempic pen?

Ozempic comes in multi-use pre-filled pens with separate needle caps. 

• The red-labeled Ozempic pen contains enough for eight 0.25-mg doses or four 0.5-mg doses. It has a dial so you can select your prescribed Ozempic dose. 
• The blue-labeled pen contains four 1-mg doses of Ozempic. 
• The yellow-labeled pen contains four 2-mg doses. 

For each subcutaneous injection, use a fresh needle cap and inject the medication just under the skin on your upper arm, thigh, or stomach.

What else might affect my Ozempic dosage?

The manufacturer’s published Ozempic dosages (above), approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are recommended for most Ozempic candidates. Still, your health care provider may advise a different dose based on your conditions, medications, how long you’ve been taking Ozempic, or other specifics unique to you. 

Suppose you have type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, for example. In that case, your health care provider may keep you on the starting dose longer and/or monitor your kidney function closely before ramping up to a higher dose of Ozempic. If you’re taking other medications for type 2 diabetes, you may need a smaller Ozempic dosage to keep your blood glucose at the right level. Prescriptions and dosage amounts are up to a medical provider’s discretion. 

How do Ozempic dosages compare to Wegovy dosages for weight loss? 

Like Ozempic, Wegovy’s active ingredient is semaglutide.  Wegovy is also a once-weekly injection, but the FDA approved it specifically for weight loss, along with diet and exercise, for people, with or without type 2 diabetes, with a body mass index (BMI) of 27+ and at least one weight-related health issue or a BMI 30+. The FDA also approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in adults with excess weight or obesity who have cardiovascular disease.

Wegovy comes in five increasing dosages, with a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg per injection, slightly higher than Ozempic’s maximum 2 mg dose. 

What if I miss a weekly dose of Ozempic? 

According to the manufacturer, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, as long as it’s within five days of when you should have taken the missed dose and at least two full days before your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take two doses within 48 hours of each other because you risk having too much of the medication in your system, which may cause your blood sugar to drop too low.

For example, if you usually take your Ozempic dose on Monday morning but remember on Thursday morning that you forgot to take your injection, you can take your missed dose right away and resume your normal once-weekly dosing schedule the following Monday.

Can I change my weekly Ozempic injection day?

Yes. If you want to change, the manufacturer advises you can do so as long as it’s been at least 48 hours (but not more than five days) since your last dose of Ozempic. ‍

What if I accidentally take too much Ozempic? 

If you’ve taken too much semaglutide, you might drive your blood sugar too low and experience symptoms and side effects of hypoglycemia like dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. These side effects can cause or worsen kidney, pancreas, gastrointestinal, and neurological problems.

If you suspect you may have taken too much semaglutide, call your health care provider or the national poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222. They may advise you to take steps to reverse low blood sugar (such as drinking juice or sucking on a hard candy). If you are experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms, they may advise you to call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.

What are the potential side effects and risks of Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide)?

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation. More serious but less common side effects include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, and vision changes.

Although rare, in animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors. The “black box” on both Ozempic and Wegovy warns of the risk of these thyroid tumors. If you have trouble swallowing, develop hoarseness, or feel swelling or a lump in your neck, contact your health care provider immediately.

The FDA also warns not to take Ozempic or Wegovy if you have or have a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), insulin-dependent diabetes, or diabetic ketoacidosis. So, if that’s you, Ozempic and Wegovy aren’t the right fit. Be sure to use a reliable form of birth control while taking a GLP-1. Find detailed side effect and risk information on our Ozempic and Wegovy medication pages. 

‍About Found

Found is among the largest medically-supported telehealth weight care platforms in the country, having served more than 250,000 members to date. To start your journey with Found, take our quiz.

GLP-1 prescriptions filled through your local pharmacy are now available as part of Found's weight-loss toolkit. While GLP-1s can be effective for weight loss, like all medicines, they are not clinically appropriate for everyone. Eligibility for a GLP-1 is based on a thorough evaluation of your medical history and lab work. If a GLP-1 is not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile. Prescriptions are up to a medical provider’s discretion. This content does not provide medical advice and does not substitute for a consultation with a doctor or healthcare provider.