Ozempic 2 mg dose for weight loss

Ozempic is not approved for weight loss but it’s used off label for weight loss in people with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk

Does Ozempic cause weight loss? | How does Ozempic help you lose weight? | Who can take Ozempic for weight loss? | Ozempic alternatives for weight loss | How to maximize Ozempic benefits

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a pre-filled injectable pen approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to help manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with Type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is a medication that belongs to a drug class called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists that are non-insulin treatments for people with Type 2 diabetes. It is not meant to treat people with Type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is the result of insulin resistance. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is developed later in life and obesity is a significant risk factor. Diabetes medications are important for balancing blood sugar levels and improving symptoms, but healthy weight management is also important. Some diabetes medications help people lose weight, including Ozempic. In this article, we’ll discuss using Ozempic for weight loss: its efficacy, safety, and alternatives.

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While Ozempic lowers blood sugar, it also can help the body lose weight.

How does Ozempic help you lose weight?

In the SUSTAIN clinical trials, semaglutide consistently demonstrated blood sugar control and weight loss in participants with Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Ozempic was found to reduce appetite and food cravings. Additionally, it lowered relative preference for fatty, energy-dense foods. These findings were incredibly important in people with Type 2 diabetes as it’s crucial for diabetes management to maintain healthy body weight. And in some instances, the body’s ability to control blood sugar may even return to normal with proper weight management.

Further studies were conducted to focus on Ozempic and weight loss aside from diabetes management. The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) program was conducted to study people without diabetes and either overweight or obese. The study used once weekly semaglutide dosed at 2.4 mg. The results showed a weight loss of 14.9% from baseline after 68 weeks (about 16 months) of semaglutide in addition to lifestyle changes. More specifically, about 70% of participants achieved a weight loss of at least 10%, about 50% achieved a weight loss of at least 15%, and about 33% of participants lost at least 20%. For reference, after one to three years after sleeve gastrectomy (a form of bariatric surgery), there is an approximate 20% to 30% weight loss.

These findings are important because weight loss of 10% to 15% (or more) is recommended in overweight and obese people with associated complications (such as prediabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea). The current study results suggest that the recommended goal of weight loss and obesity treatment can be achieved with semaglutide. 

Ozempic dosing can be preferable to other weight-loss medications as it’s dosed as a once-weekly injection versus a daily, twice daily, or three times daily dosing of some other medications. 

Furthermore, Ozempic was well-tolerated in studies. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal including nausea, constipation, and diarrhea that were typically temporary and mild-to-moderate in severity.

Who can take Ozempic for weight loss?

Currently, Ozempic is approved only for use in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with both Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

After the significant results from clinical trials and despite not being approved for weight loss, some healthcare professionals have begun using Ozempic off-label for weight loss. However, Ozempic should not be used for everyone. Ozempic should not be used in people with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of cancer) or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.

Ozempic alternatives for weight loss

Wegovy

In 2021, the FDA approved the brand name Wegovy (semaglutide) for weight loss as another injectable medication with the same active ingredient as Ozempic. Wegovyis indicated for weight loss and chronic weight management in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obesity) or a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. These comorbid conditions include hypertension (high blood pressure), Type 2 diabetes, or dyslipidemia. The condition of dyslipidemia is an imbalance of lipids such as cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

The difference between Ozempic and Wegovy is the dose. Ozempic dosing for weight loss can be dosed up to 1 mg once a week whereas Wegovy can be dosed up to 2.4 mg once a week. The higher doses of semaglutide available in Wegovy are associated with greater weight loss. In the specific population studied for Wegovy, on average people lost 35 pounds after 68 weeks (about 16 months). Whereas in the specific population studied for Ozempic, people lost about 9 pounds with the 0.5 mg dose, and people lost about 12 pounds with the 1 mg dose.

* Average weight loss in specific population studied.

Rybelsus

Additionally, an oral tablet form of semaglutide, Rybelsus, was approved in 2019. This is the first approved oral GLP-1 receptor agonist and gives people with Type 2 diabetes a non-injectable option. Like Ozempic, Rybelsus currently is only approved for use in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve blood sugar control. Rybelsus has also demonstrated weight loss in people with an average weight loss of 8 pounds observed in a 6-month study.

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Trulicity

Ozempic and Trulicity are both GLP-1 receptor agonist medications and are effective at lowering blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Like Ozempic, Trulicity has been shown to cause weight loss but is not FDA-approved as a weight-loss medication. Just as Ozempic has demonstrated, the higher the dose of Trulicity, the more weight loss is expected. In Trulicity studies, an average weight loss of 6.6 pounds occurred with the 1.5 mg dose, a weight loss of 8.4 pounds occurred with the 3 mg dose, and a weight loss of about 10 pounds occurred with the 4.5 mg dose. The manufacturer of Trulicity does state that on average, study participants experienced weight loss, but some did not lose weight. While Ozempic has shown evidence of slightly greater amounts of average pounds lost, both medications may help people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight.

Metformin

Metformin is a common oral medication used in people with Type 2 diabetes to help lower blood sugar. With evidence that some people have lost weight while taking metformin, studies with mixed results have been performed to investigate if metformin is an effective weight-loss treatment in people without Type 2 diabetes. 

In the study Effectiveness of Metformin on Weight Loss in Non-Diabetic Individuals with Obesity, it was determined that metformin can be an effective drug to reduce weight in an outpatient setting in insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant overweight and obese patients. The study found an average weight loss in the metformin-treated group after six months was 5.8 kg (about 12.8 pounds). 

Like Ozempic, metformin is not approved as a weight-loss medication but is sometimes used off-label by prescribers in people trying to lose weight. For people not interested in using an injectable medication like Ozempic, metformin may be considered for weight loss.

Other diabetic medications that may cause weight loss

Several other diabetic medications have been shown to cause weight loss. This can often be a desirable effect of these medications for people with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetic medications that may cause weight loss include:

• Metformin
• GLP-1 receptor agonists:
  • Byetta (exenatide)
  • Bydureon (exenatide extended release)
  • Adlyxin (lixisenatide)
  • Victoza (liraglutide)
  • Trulicity (dulaglutide)
• Amylin mimetics:
  • Symlin (pramlintide)
• SGLT2 inhibitors:
  • Invokana (canagliflozin)
  • Jardiance (empagliflozin)
  • Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
  • Steglatro (ertugliflozin)

How to maximize Ozempic benefits

1. Inject Ozempic pre-filled pens on the same day each week

Ozempic is given once a week as an injection into the fatty part of the skin. The best spots to inject Ozempic include the top of the thigh, belly area, or upper arm. For people who have never given themselves an injection, a healthcare provider can help demonstrate and explain the best techniques. It’s best practice to rotate injection sites each week.

If a missed dose occurs, the dose should be taken as soon as possible. If it is less than 48 hours until the next dose, the dose should be skipped and returned to the normal time.

2. Inspect the pre-filled pen before each injection

Ozempic pre-filled pens should have a clear, colorless solution. Do not use the pen if the solution looks cloudy, is leaking, changes color, or has particles. The prescribing information can be reviewed for more information about the appearance of Ozempic.

3. Store Ozempic in the refrigerator before using

Ozempic should be stored between 36- and 46-degrees Fahrenheit in the refrigerator prior to first use. Do not freeze Ozempic pre-filled pens. After using the pen for the first time, it can be stored for 56 days at controlled room temperature (59 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) or in a refrigerator. Keep the pen cap on when not in use. The pens should be protected from excessive heat and sunlight.

4. Take Ozempic with or without food

Eating food or having an empty stomach does not affect the way Ozempic works. The dose of Ozempic can be taken at any time of day so that it’s most convenient for the person.

5. Use caution when drinking alcohol

While Ozempic isn’t known to interact with alcohol, consuming excess amounts of alcohol can lower blood sugar. For people with diabetes, monitoring low blood sugar is important to prevent symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).

RELATED: What are normal blood glucose levels?

Additionally, Ozempic may increase the risk for pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Heavy alcohol consumption can also increase the chance of pancreatitis. In order to help avoid pancreatitis, heavy alcohol use should be avoided while taking Ozempic.

6. Review all medications with a healthcare professional

When starting a new medication, it’s important to review all current medications with a healthcare professional such as the prescribing doctor or a pharmacist. This includes meds that are prescriptions, over-the-counter, and supplements. With Ozempic, this is especially important as there are dose adjustments that may need to occur while using it with insulin or sulfonylureas (such as glipizide or glimepiride).