Ozempic Diabetes Injection: Uses, Indications, Warnings

Ozempic is a prescription drug used to control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes in combination with weight loss and exercise. Previously, Ozempic created a "fever" with the trend of using this drug to lose weight. However, this left many consequences such as drug shortages for diabetic patients and risks from side effects.

Learn basic information about Ozempic through the following article to know how to use it correctly!

Active ingredient: Semaglutide

Drug group: Drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes by imitating the incretin hormone (Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist)

Content and dosage form: Solution in injection pen containing semaglutide with contents of 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg

Other excipients: Disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, distilled water for injection

Manufacturer: Novo nordisk (Denmark).

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a diabetes medication used in conjunction with diet and exercise to treat adults with type 2 diabetes who have not controlled their blood sugar (glucose) levels well. This is a prescription drug, so you should only take this medication after your doctor has evaluated your dosage, risk of side effects, and treatment plan to ensure the medication is effective and safe.

Ozempic has also attracted attention for its weight loss effects. However, using it without a doctor's guidance can be very risky.

What is Ozempic used for?

The main active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide. This is a substance with a structure similar to GLP-1 (a hormone produced in the intestines), which helps control blood sugar levels by:

Increasing levels of incretin hormones, which help the body produce more insulin in response to food. This means that the drug only increases insulin secretion during and after meals, thereby limiting the condition of low blood sugar when fasting, unlike some other type 2 diabetes drugs.
Inhibiting the production of glucose in the liver helps reduce blood sugar levels.
People with type 2 diabetes who use Ozempic can lose weight because the drug:

Reduces appetite so you eat less
Slows the movement of food through the intestines, meaning you stay full longer.

Indications

What is Ozempic indicated for?

As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
To reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes and coexisting cardiovascular disease.
Limitations of indication:

Ozempic is not recommended as first-line therapy in patients whose glycemic control is inadequate on diet and exercise due to concerns about the development of thyroid tumors in animal studies.
Ozempic has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Consider alternative antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis.
Ozempic is not a substitute for insulin. It is not indicated for use in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis as it will not be effective in these conditions.

Contraindications

Ozempic is contraindicated in patients with:

A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
Allergy or serious hypersensitivity to semaglutide or to any of the excipients. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with Ozempic.

Dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before deciding to use the medicine.

Recommended dosage of Ozempic pen
Start with a dose of 0.25 mg once a week for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dose is used to start treatment and is not effective in controlling blood sugar.

After 4 weeks, increase the dose to 0.5 mg once a week.
If additional blood sugar control is needed, after at least 4 weeks of treatment at 0.5 mg, the dose may be increased to 1 mg once a week.
If additional blood sugar control is needed, after at least 4 weeks of treatment at 1 mg once a week, the dose may be increased to 2 mg once a week. The maximum recommended dose is 2 mg once a week.
Take Ozempic once a week, on the same day of the week, as directed by your doctor. The day of the week can be changed if necessary, but it is important to ensure that there is a minimum of 2 days (48 hours) between doses.

You can take the medicine at any time of the day, with or without food.

How to use

How should you take Ozempic?
Ozempic is injected under the skin into areas such as the abdomen, thighs or upper arms. Patients must inject at different sites each week and inject into the same area of ​​the body.
Do not inject into a muscle (intramuscular injection) or a vein (intravenous injection).
Inspect the product visually before use. Normally, the solution in the pen is clear and colorless. Do not use Ozempic if there are visible particles or the solution is colored.
When using Ozempic with insulin, the two drugs must be injected separately and the products must never be mixed. You can inject Ozempic and insulin into the same area of ​​the body, but the injections must not be close together.

What should you do in case of overdose?

Overdose may cause severe nausea, vomiting, or low blood sugar.

In case of emergency or overdose, call 115 Emergency Center immediately or go to the nearest local health station.

In addition, you should write down and carry a list of medications you have taken, including prescription and non-prescription drugs.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and within 5 days of the missed dose. If it has been more than 5 days, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as planned.

Side effects
What side effects will I experience when taking Ozempic?

Most medicines can have side effects, and Ozempic is no exception. Common side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) can include constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and nausea.

If you have diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) and are taking insulin, Ozempic may cause worsening of your vision. Tell your doctor if you have diabetic retinopathy or if you develop eye problems during treatment.

Other rare reactions:

Injection site reactions, such as injection site discomfort, erythema, etc.

Increased Amylase and Lipase
Gallstones
Increased heart rate
Tiredness, taste changes and dizziness.

See also Warnings and precautions for other side effects.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. If you have any questions about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Risks of using Ozempic for weight loss

The indiscriminate use of Ozempic for weight loss may lead to a shortage of the drug for patients treating diabetes. Therefore, the purchase of this drug is now strictly controlled.

The manufacturer has developed another product with the same active ingredient (semaglutide) as Ozempic called Wegovy. Wegovy was approved by the FDA in June 2021 for weight loss in some subjects. The main difference between these two drugs is the dosage: the dose for weight loss is usually higher than the dose for controlling diabetes.

However, they are both drugs and there is always a risk of side effects when using them. In addition to the side effects mentioned above, you may experience other side effects when using semaglutide for weight loss including:

A visibly gaunt face
Changes in the size of the lips, cheeks, and chin
Wrinkles
Sunken eyes
Sagging skin around the jaw and neck.
This is a common side effect of losing fat too quickly. If the weight is lost gradually, these changes may not be noticeable. If these side effects are severe, they may need to be treated with cosmetic surgery.