Ozempic: Uses, How It Works, and Common Side Effects

Ozempic is used in adults for type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar levels and also to lower the risk of stroke or heart attacks in adults with type 2 diabetes and who have heart disease. It should be used together with diet and exercise.

The Ozempic pen is an injection that you can administer to yourself once a week.

Ozempic works by helping the pancreas make more insulin, decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes, and slowing the rate food passes through your body, making you feel full longer. This helps to lower blood sugar levels and lowers the risk of a major cardiovascular event. It may also reduce your appetite but it is not an FDA-approved weight loss medicine.

This medicine should not be used for type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Common side effects include low blood sugar (in people with type 2 diabetes), upset stomach, heartburn, burping, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, runny nose or sore throat, stomach flu symptoms or headache, dizziness and tiredness.

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider.