Ozempic for weight loss: Is it a safe and effective weight loss treatment?

An Ozempic pen is a self-injectable device. It’s prefilled with medication and can be used to inject multiple doses of Ozempic. Ozempic pens are prescription-only treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic for diabetes

For diabetes, Ozempic stops your blood sugar from spiking. The semaglutide in Ozempic works the same way as the natural hormones your body releases after you’ve eaten to control your blood sugar levels.

Ozempic for weight loss

For weight loss, the semaglutide in Ozempic can also make you more full from less food. It slows down how fast food travels through your body, making you feel fuller for longer. As you're less hungry, it’s easier to stick to a diet without overeating, helping you lose weight. Since Ozempic is licensed for diabetes treatment and can only be prescribed off-licence for weight loss, a better choice might be Wegovy. Wegovy has the same active ingredient and is licensed for weight loss.

Ozempic is only licensed in the UK for managing weight for people who have type 2 diabetes. This means that unless you have type 2 diabetes, it can only be prescribed off-licence for weight loss in the UK. If you want to lose weight but don’t have type 2 diabetes, there are other weight loss treatment options available, like Wegovy, Saxenda, Orlistat or Xenical.

If your doctor agrees to give you a prescription for Ozempic, either on- or off-licence, you can get it filled at most pharmacies. Some online services may also let you order Ozempic online.

Prices for Ozempic will be different depending on how it’s prescribed to you. It’s available on the NHS for people with type 2 diabetes, so it can cost as little as the standard NHS prescription cost, or it can be free if you don’t pay for your prescriptions. But, if it’s offered as an off-licence private prescription, you’ll need to pay full price.

Can you buy Ozempic over-the-counter?

No, Ozempic is a prescription-only medication. This means that it needs to be prescribed by a doctor before you can get it from a pharmacy. Over-the-counter medication can be bought from a pharmacy without seeing a doctor first.

Ozempic is prescription-only because a doctor needs to check if treatment will be safe and effective for you.

What is the generic for Ozempic for weight loss?

There is currently no generic Ozempic available. Generic medications cost less than branded ones like Ozempic, but they’re only available once a patent for a branded medication has run out. The earliest an Ozempic generic will be available in the UK is probably December 5th 2031.

Even when a generic version of Ozempic becomes available, it may still only be licensed for treating diabetes and not for weight loss.

The semaglutide in Ozempic can support weight loss by making you feel fuller after you eat. This reduces your appetite and makes it easier to stick to your diet and avoid overeating or snacking as often. However, since Wegovy also contains semaglutide, has the same effect on appetite and is licensed for weight loss, it can be a better weight loss treatment option.

How quickly does Ozempic work for weight loss?

• Around 2 to 3 weeks after starting treatment. You should start feeling fuller after your first 2 to 3 doses.
• Different people react differently to Ozempic, but you should definitely notice a difference by 6 weeks at the latest if Ozempic works for you.

Although you should start feeling fuller within a number of weeks, it can still take some time to notice a difference in your weight. A major study showing weight loss on Ozempic lasted 68 weeks, so it’s a good idea to expect at least 5% weight loss after just over a year of treatment.

Depending on what you’re using Ozempic for, if you don’t notice any difference after 6 or 8 weeks you can discuss whether to continue or whether to switch to another treatment with your doctor.

The evidence for Ozempic shows that it can reduce blood sugar levels by around 22% and it can reduce the blood sugar spike people experience after eating by 36%.

How much weight can you lose on Ozempic pens?

Studies have shown that Ozempic can be an effective treatment for weight loss that works for around 45% of people who use it, with 17% of users losing more than 10% of their starting weight.

In a 30-week study of Ozempic’s active ingredient semaglutide, at the maintenance dose for Ozempic (1mg):

• 45% lost at least 5% weight
• 17% lost at least 10% weight

What are the Ozempic reviews like?

Online patient reviews can help show how other people have experienced Ozempic treatment. Ozempic is rated:

• 5.6 out of 10 for diabetes on drugs.com
• 3.5 out of 10 for weight loss on drugs.com
• 3.7 out of 5 stars for all treatments on wedmd.com

You should take your Ozempic once a week on the same day of the week if possible. You can use it any time of day, no matter when you’ve eaten.

Always use Ozempic as your doctor has advised you to. Also check the information leaflet that comes with your medication. For more in-depth advice on using your Ozempic see this patient information leaflet.

What happens when you start taking Ozempic?

Some people notice an effect right away, for others it may take a few doses before they see a reduction in their appetite. You should also notice a reduction in your blood sugar after the first week, if you’re diabetic. It can take 8 weeks to see the full effect of Ozempic.

You may also notice some mild side effects when you first start taking Ozempic, as well as when you increase your dose. This can include stomach-related effects like nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting or constipation. These usually go away as your body adjusts to Ozempic.

What happens if you take too much Ozempic?

If you realise you’ve taken too much of your Ozempic, talk to a doctor as soon as possible. You might get side effects like feeling sick. You may also be at risk of rare and more serious side effects. Always take the dose you’ve been prescribed and don’t change your dose without discussing it with a doctor first.

How long can you take Ozempic for weight loss?

Ozempic is safe to use long-term for diabetes. It has not been licensed for weight loss alone so there is no official advice about how long to use it for this purpose. Your doctor will let you know when you’re ready to come off your medication. Don’t stop using your medication without talking to your doctor, unless you have serious side effects. If you’re not sure whether you still need Ozempic, your doctor will be able to advise you.

Can you take Ozempic permanently?

Ozempic can be used as a long-term treatment for type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t have to be permanent though. If lifestyle changes are able to bring weight and blood sugar levels under control, Ozempic treatment can be discontinued.

What foods should be avoided in the Ozempic diet?

No foods will react badly with Ozempic, so nothing is off the table. But, a bad diet can make some of the side effects of Ozempic more likely. Also, a good diet is an important part of managing weight and blood sugar. So, we recommend:

• avoiding high sugar foods, even ones that are sold as healthy, like breakfast bars
• avoid sugary drinks
• avoid high fat foods as well
• avoid foods that are calorie-dense, like big portions of carbohydrates and red meats

Is it safe to mix Ozempic and alcohol?

Alcohol doesn’t react with Ozempic, but they can both lower your blood sugar so watch out for dizziness if you do drink on your treatment.

Excessive drinking can increase your risk of complications from diabetes so it’s a good idea to limit drinking anyway. Also, alcohol has a lot of calories and often leads to overeating so there are a lot of benefits to cutting down on alcohol when taking treatments like Ozempic.

There are 4 doses of Ozempic used for treating diabetes. You start on the lowest dose and then move up to higher doses during the start of your treatment.

How many doses are in an Ozempic pen?

Each pen is only meant to deliver 3 doses. As your dosage increases from 0.25mg, to 0.5mg, and to 1mg, the amount of medication in each pen also goes up.

Ozempic vs other medications

Here are some other medications that are also used for weight loss or diabetes:

Ozempic for weight loss:

• Wegovy is another semaglutide injection medication which is approved for treating weight loss in people who don’t have diabetes as well.
• Saxenda is another similar medication for reducing appetite that uses a similar but slightly different ingredient called liraglutide.

Ozempic for Diabetes:

• Rybelsus is a tablet form of semaglutide which works in a similar way to the injections, but like Ozempic it’s only for people with diabetes.
• Metformin tablets are another kind of diabetes treatment that works by lowering your blood sugar levels.
• Trulicity is similar to Metformin but comes as an injection instead of a tablet.
• Insulin is the hormone your body makes to manage blood sugar itself, but it’s also available as a diabetic medication as well.

If you’re looking to lose weight with medications similar to Ozempic and you don’t have diabetes, you could consider Wegovy or Saxenda.

Other weight loss medications that work slightly differently to Ozempic include branded Xenical and generic Orlistat.

For some people, managing weight loss and controlling blood sugar can be done without medication. Instead, it can be done through:

• diet
• exercise
• weight loss programmes

Even if you are using medication, lifestyle changes like the ones listed above can help improve the effectiveness of your weight loss and blood sugar treatment.

Ozempic can cause side effects like any medication. Most of these side effects are mild but there is a risk of some serious ones too.

Signs of serious Ozempic side effects and what to do

Serious side effects of Ozempic can include:

• complications of diabetic eye disease
• inflamed pancreas
• severe allergic reaction

See a doctor straight away if you get:

• eye problems or changes to your sight
• severe pain in your stomach and back that doesn’t go away
• breathing problems, swelling in your face, lips, tongue or throat and difficulty swallowing, or a fast heartbeat

Other Ozempic side effects

Very common side effects that affect more than 10% of users:

• feeling sick
• diarrhoea

Common side effects that affect up to 10% of users:

• throwing up
• low blood sugar
• gallstones

Uncommon side effects that affect up to 1% of users:

• change in how food tastes
• a fast pulse
• reactions where you use your injection, like bruises or irritation
• allergic reactions, like hives or a rash
• delayed gastric emptying

Does Ozempic always have side effects?

Some side effects like bloating go away after a few weeks, but some will stay as long as you’re taking Ozempic. If you stop Ozempic, these side effects will usually stop once Ozempic leaves your system, which takes about 5 weeks.

What drugs can’t you take with Ozempic pens?

It’s important to tell your doctor if you’re using warfarin or insulin before you start using Ozempic. You should also tell your prescribing doctor about any other prescriptions or herbal treatments you’re using.

Ozempic is not known to interact with cannabis, but if you’re using weed or any other drugs recreationally, your doctor will need to know to make sure your treatment is safe.

Ozempic pens can be an effective treatment for diabetes. They can also support weight loss alongside diet and exercise. But, since Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss treatment in people without diabetes, Wegovy may be a better option. Wegovy is licensed for weight loss in people without diabetes.