Ozempic San Diego is a medication that helps manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It also lowers the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems. Ozempic comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled injection pens. You inject it yourself under your skin in the thigh or abdomen. Your doctor will show you how to do this.
What is ozempic?
Ozempic is a medication that has been approved to treat type 2 diabetes. It is also used for weight loss and has been shown to be effective in helping people lose weight and keep it off, when combined with other lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. It is the only injectable medication of its kind that has been proven to work for weight loss, and as a result it is very popular and there are shortages across the country.
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which has been studied in people who are overweight or obese and found to help them lose weight. It is thought to affect parts of the brain that control appetite, so it makes people feel full after eating and decreases cravings for certain foods that are high in calories. This can help people eat less and make it easier to lose weight.
Other benefits of Ozempic include the ability to lower blood sugar levels, which can reduce the risk for heart or blood vessel problems associated with diabetes. It can also help improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It may also help prevent kidney disease in people who have diabetes.
It’s important to talk with your doctor before taking this medication, especially if you have any preexisting health conditions or other medications that you are currently using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies. You should also let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you could become pregnant in the future.
There is limited data on the use of Ozempic in pregnancy, and there are concerns that it may increase the risk for birth defects if it is given to an unborn baby. It is recommended that women avoid becoming pregnant while on this medication or for two months after stopping it. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids while taking this drug, as it can cause dehydration.
This medication comes as a liquid solution inside of prefilled, disposable pens. The pens are available in several different strengths, which are written as the amount of semaglutide per milliliter of solution (mg/mL). Your doctor will determine the right strength for you. You will inject Ozempic once each week, and you should try to do this on the same day each week.
How does ozempic work?
If you have diabetes, you may already know that the medication semaglutide — also known as Ozempic — works to dial down food cravings and make it easier for patients to stick with their dietary changes. But the drugmaker is facing questions from lawsuits filed by people who claim it’s causing serious side effects, including ileus (a bowel blockage) and gallbladder problems.
As a type of GLP-1 receptor agonist, Ozempic works by increasing the amount of insulin your body makes when blood sugar levels are high. This helps the glucose in your blood pass from your liver into cells, where it can be used as energy.
But some people who’ve taken Ozempic have gotten serious side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, that prevent them from being able to stick with their diet plans. That’s led to some patients stopping treatment, including Barbie Jackson-Williams, 54, of Des Moines, Iowa, who said that she started taking Ozempic in 2021 to lose weight and manage her Type 2 diabetes. But in early 2022, she stopped taking the injections after a year because of the nausea.
Her doctor advised her to continue with other medications to treat her diabetes, but she wasn’t able to make enough progress with those drugs alone. In late 2022, she got a sleeve gastrectomy and began to see improvement in her nausea, but she was still not able to eat the amount of food needed to get to her target weight.
She started taking the Ozempic again in early 2023 and has lost about 10 pounds so far, but she says her gastrointestinal issues — particularly reflux that causes her to need antacids twice a day — are the main reason she’s continuing on with the medication.
Other possible side effects of Ozempic include low blood sugar, gallbladder problems, and a decrease in appetite. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. You should also tell your doctor if you take other medicines to treat diabetes, such as sulfonylureas or insulin, because they may increase your risk of low blood sugar.
What are the possible side effects of ozempic?
Almost everyone who takes Ozempic experiences mild side effects like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and constipation. However, these symptoms should not last long and are easily managed with medication and diet. More serious side effects of Ozempic may include a rash, gallbladder problems and jaundice. If you experience these symptoms, call your doctor right away.
In one clinical study, more people taking Ozempic (3%) developed diabetic retinopathy than those who received a placebo treatment (1%). Diabetic retinopathy is a condition where the blood vessels that supply blood to the retina of the eye are damaged by high levels of glucose and can lead to blindness. This form of retinopathy is more common in people with type 2 diabetes and in those who have had the condition for a longer time than others.
Ozempic is sometimes used to help reduce the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes and other conditions, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It works by stimulating the release of insulin after a meal or snack, helping to regulate blood sugar levels. It is also used along with other medications, such as sulfonylureas and oral diabetes medicines, to treat type 2 diabetes.
There are also concerns that Ozempic and another medication in the same class, liraglutide (Victoza), can increase the risk of thyroid cancer in some people. While it is unclear whether the drug itself is to blame for these cases, if you have any risk factors for thyroid cancer, such as a family history of thyroid disease or thyroid surgery, you should not take this medication.
A recent FDA warning also cautions that Ozempic can lead to a rare side effect called ileus, a condition where your intestines become blocked and make it difficult or impossible for you to have bowel movements. However, it is not clear why this happens, and Betul Hatipoglu, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, says the medication should still be beneficial for most people. The FDA is currently investigating the link between ileus and Ozempic.
How should I take ozempic?
It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions when using Ozempic. Your healthcare provider will show you where to inject the medicine, usually in your stomach, thigh or upper arm. You can change the injection site each week if you like. If you’re having trouble with the injection, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can offer suggestions or offer training on how to use the pens properly.
In animal studies, this medication caused thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. It’s not known if this will occur in people. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It’s also not clear if Ozempic will harm your unborn baby. Also let your doctor know if you have a family history of medullary thyroid cancer or a rare endocrine condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
You can take Ozempic with or without food, but it’s best to eat something before taking it. Before giving yourself an injection, wash your hands with soap and water. Priming a new pen is a good idea, and always use a clean needle each time. Keep extra pens and new needles in case you lose or break one. Before you inject, check the liquid medicine to make sure it’s clear, colorless and free of particles.
Some medicines, foods, vitamins and supplements can affect how Ozempic works. Tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you are taking. Especially tell your doctor if you take other diabetes medications or any other blood sugar control medicines. It’s best to start with a low dose of Ozempic and gradually increase it over the course of 4 weeks, as directed by your doctor.
If you have health insurance, the cost of Ozempic may be covered by your plan. But if you don’t, the price of this drug can be high. You might be able to find a coupon or savings program that helps lower the cost of your prescription. For example, you can get a discount on your prescription with a company such as Optum Perks*. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to learn about their support options.