How long can you stay on Ozempic?

Ozempic is used as a long-term treatment if you tolerate it well. You and your healthcare provider will make a shared decision about how long you should stay on treatment, whether you are using it for type 2 diabetes, weight loss or to help protect your heart or kidney.

Ozempic is injected once a week and you will start with lower doses to help reduce the risk of stomach side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which may cause you to stop treatment early.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved to:

• help lower blood sugar (glucose) levels and A1C in adults with type 2 diabetes
• to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack or death, for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease
• to reduce the risk of kidney disease worsening (eGFR decline), kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Type 2 diabetes is long-term (chronic) disease. The full beneficial effects of Ozempic on your heart require you to take your medication long-term. Your doctor may combine Ozempic with other treatments to further reduce your blood sugar levels or for added heart benefits.

Ozempic has been shown to lead to weight loss when used to treat type 2 diabetes but is not FDA-approved as a weight-loss medication.

Is Ozempic used “off-label” for weight loss?

Yes, Ozempic can be prescribed “off-label” to help with weight loss and long-term management. "Off-label" means it may be prescribed by your doctor for a generally accepted use not specifically approved by the FDA or listed in package labeling.

You may want to check with your insurance to see if Ozempic is covered as a benefit for weight loss. The cost for many drugs prescribed “off-label” are often not covered by health plans.

How long before I lose weight with Ozempic?

In research studies, patients using Ozempic lost on average 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs) to 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) more than a group taking a placebo (inactive) treatment after 30 weeks.

The effectiveness with Ozempic will vary from person to person and may take longer due to unique factors such as your age, weight, medications, other medical conditions and your kidney or liver function.

Related questions

• Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Which is right for you?
• Ozempic Side Effects to Watch For
• How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?

Is there another option to Ozempic for weight loss?

Yes, there are 2 incretin mimetics that have been specifically approved by the FDA for weight loss, Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). They are approved at higher doses than their type 2 diabetes counterparts, Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).

• The Wegovy brand of semaglutide from Novo Nordisk is approved for weight loss in patients with obesity or overweight (excess weight) who also have weight-related medical conditions, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
• The Zepbound brand of tirzepatide from Eli Lilly is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used for weight loss in adults with obesity or who are overweight and have weight-related medical conditions.

These agents work best when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Do not stop taking your treatment or adjust doses without speaking to your doctor first.

Learn more: How long does it take for Ozempic to work?

This is not all the information you need to know about Ozempic (semaglutide) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.