Ozempic (semaglutide) helps manage blood sugar levels, lowers cardiovascular risks, and treats chronic kidney disease (CKD). Ozempic is a solution given as a subcutaneous injection. Dosages can vary from person to person.

Ozempic is a brand-name drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:

Ozempic belongs to a drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists). Ozempic is not available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Ozempic, including its strengths and how to inject the medication.

Boxed warning: Thyroid cancer

Ozempic has a boxed warning about a possible risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

In animal studies, Ozempic increased the risk of thyroid tumors (masses of cancerous tissue). But animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in people. It’s not known if Ozempic causes thyroid tumors in people.

The manufacturer of Ozempic advises against using the drug if:

• you have a rare form of cancer called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or
• you or an immediate family member has had medullary thyroid cancer

If you do use Ozempic, tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of a thyroid tumor. These can include trouble breathing or swallowing, a lump or mass in your neck or throat, and a hoarse voice.

For more information about this boxed warning, talk with your doctor.

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The Ozempic dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on the type and severity of the condition you’re using Ozempic to treat. They’ll prescribe the lowest dosage that’s effective for you.

Keep reading for an Ozempic dosage guide for common dosages.

Ozempic forms

Ozempic comes as a liquid solution in prefilled single-patient-use pens. You receive the drug as a subcutaneous injection. After a healthcare professional has shown you how to inject Ozempic correctly, you may be able to give yourself the injections at home.

Ozempic strengths

Ozempic prefilled single-patient-use pens are available in three strengths:

  • 2 milligrams (mg) per 3 milliliters (mL) of liquid solution. The pen with this strength delivers doses of either 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg.
  • 4 mg/3 mL of liquid solution. There’s one pen with this strength, and it delivers 1-mg doses.
  • 8 mg/3 mL of liquid solution. There’s one pen with this strength, and it delivers 2-mg doses.

Typical dosage schedules

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then, they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for managing blood sugar and lowering cardiovascular risks

For blood sugar management and reduction of cardiovascular risks, the dosing schedule for Ozempic is as follows:

  • You’ll start with a dosage of 0.25 mg once per week. You’ll inject this dosage for 4 weeks.
  • Then, your doctor will typically increase your dosage to 0.5 mg once per week. They’ll usually have you receive this dosage for at least 4 weeks.
  • It’s possible that the 0.5-mg dosage may not manage your blood sugar well enough after 4 weeks. If this happens, your doctor may increase your dosage to 1 mg once per week. Or your doctor might recommend the maximum dosage of 2 mg once per week. But if the 0.5-mg dose works for you, your doctor will typically have you keep receiving it.

Dosage for CKD

For people with CKD, Ozempic’s dosing schedule is as follows:

  • You’ll start with 0.25 mg once per week, for 4 weeks.
  • After this, your doctor will increase your dosage to 0.5 mg per week, for at least 4 weeks.
  • Then, your doctor will likely increase your dosage again to 1 mg once per week. This is the recommended maintenance (ongoing) dosage.

Long-term use

Ozempic is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Ozempic is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Ozempic dosages.

What is Ozempic’s dosage per pen?

Ozempic prefilled single-patient-use pens have different strengths and dosages. For details, see “Ozempic strengths” in the “Ozempic dosage” section.

If you’re outside of the United States, you may hear Ozempic referred to as Ozempic DualDose. This refers to the pen that delivers 0.25-milligram (mg) or 0.5-mg doses.

To learn more about Ozempic’s dosages, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What is Ozempic’s dosage for weight loss?

Ozempic is not approved by the FDA for weight loss. But the drug may be prescribed off-label for this use. “Off-label” use is when a drug is prescribed to treat a condition other than one it’s approved for.

The active drug in Ozempic, semaglutide, is also the active drug in the medication Wegovy. And Wegovy is approved for weight management. The dosage of Wegovy for weight management is similar to Ozempic’s dosage for diabetes. But there are some differences.

As with Ozempic, Wegovy’s dosage starts at 0.25 mg once per week, and is typically increased in intervals of 4 weeks. But unlike Ozempic, Wegovy dosages can be increased up to 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once per week. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.

It’s important to note that you should not use both Ozempic and Wegovy at the same time. Because both medications contain semaglutide, using Ozempic and Wegovy could increase your risk of side effects.

If you’re interested in learning more about using Ozempic for weight loss or Wegovy for weight loss, talk with your doctor.

Ozempic comes as a liquid solution in prefilled single-patient-use pens. You receive the drug as a subcutaneous injection. After a healthcare professional has shown you how to inject Ozempic correctly, you may be able to give yourself the injections at home.

Ozempic may be injected just under the skin of your:

  • abdomen
  • upper thigh
  • back of your upper arm

If you also self-inject insulin for type 2 diabetes, you can inject Ozempic and the insulin in the same body part, such as your upper thigh. But you should not use the same spot for both injections. Using different spots can help prevent skin irritation. And keep in mind that you should not mix insulin and Ozempic together into the same injection.

Be sure to inject Ozempic on the same day each week. But you can receive your dose at any time of day, with or without food.

For instructions about how to self-inject Ozempic, see the drug’s prescribing information. You can also see detailed instructions and a dosage video on the manufacturer’s site.

If you have more questions about how to use Ozempic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you miss a dose of Ozempic, try to inject it as soon as you remember. You can receive a missed dose up to 5 days after you were originally supposed to inject it.

If more than 5 days have passed since your missed dose, skip the missed dose. Wait and administer your next dose at the regular time. You can then resume your usual dosing schedule with Ozempic.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too.

It’s important that you do not use more Ozempic than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you inject more than the recommended amount of Ozempic

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve used too much Ozempic. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.