Semaglutide

Ozempic can be prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes to:

• lower certain risks in people who also have heart disease, including heart attackand stroke
• help manage blood sugar levels, along with lifestyle improvements in diet and exercise

Doctors may also prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss or weight management. (With off-label use, a drug that’s approved for certain conditions is prescribed for another purpose.)

Ozempic basics

Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.

Ozempic works in several ways to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The drug also lowers heart-related risks in people with both diabetes and heart disease.

The drug does this by:

• Increasing the amount of insulin your body makes after a meal so that your blood sugar levels won’t get too high. Insulin is a hormone that lowers your blood sugar levels.
• Slowing the movement of food through your stomach to prevent a big increase in your blood sugar levels.
• Lowering the amount of sugar released into your bloodstream.

You might lose weight while you’re taking Ozempic. That’s because the medication decreases your appetite.

In some cases, Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight management, though this isn’t likely. (With off-label use, a drug that’s approved for certain conditions is prescribed for another purpose.) It’s more likely that your doctor would prescribe Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, called semaglutide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Wegovy is FDA-approved to be prescribed for weight management.

How Ozempic may lead to weight loss

Ozempic may lead to weight loss because:

• It slows down how quickly your stomach empties after eating. This slows your digestion process and can help you feel fuller for longer.
• The drug mimics a hormone called GLP-1 that your body naturally produces. This hormone increases feelings of satiety (feeling full or satisfied after eating).

Is Ozempic safe and effective for weight loss? How much weight could I lose with Ozempic?

As long as you use Ozempic as your doctor prescribes, it should be safe to use for weight loss.

The amount of weight you might lose during Ozempic treatment depends on a variety of factors, including how long you use Ozempic and what your diet and exercise routine is like. It also depends on how your body responds to the drug.

For more information about Ozempic’s effectiveness for weight loss, talk with your doctor. They can discuss Ozempic’s studies in more detail, and how your lifestyle might affect your weight management treatment.