Ozempic® is the brand name for semaglutide when prescribed primarily for type 2 diabetes. It is a once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist.saxenda-weight-loss

What It’s Used For

• Approved:

  • To improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes

  • To lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease

• Not officially approved for weight loss, but many patients experience significant weight reduction (that indication is branded separately as Wegovy®).

How It Works

Ozempic mimics the gut hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which:

• Stimulates insulin release when blood sugar is high

• Reduces glucagon secretion (lowers liver glucose output)

• Slows gastric emptying (prolongs fullness)

• Acts on the brain to reduce appetite

Dosing

• Injection under the skin (subcutaneous) once a week (stomach, thigh, or upper arm)

• Usual titration:

  • Start: 0.25 mg weekly (not effective for blood sugar, just for tolerability)

  • Increase to 0.5 mg, then 1 mg

  • Maximum: 2 mg weekly

Benefits

• Reduces HbA1c by ~1–1.5%

• Helps with weight loss (average ~5–10% of body weight in diabetes patients)

• Provides cardiovascular protection in high-risk patients

Side Effects

Common (mild, usually improve over time):

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation

• Loss of appetite

• Stomach pain, bloating

Serious (less common):

• Pancreatitis (severe abdominal pain)

• Gallbladder disease

• Kidney problems (from dehydration)

• Possible thyroid C-cell tumors (seen in animals → avoid if personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2)

• Risk of low blood sugar when used with insulin or sulfonylureas

✅ Bottom line: Ozempic is a once-weekly injection for type 2 diabetes that lowers blood sugar, protects the heart, and often leads to weight loss. For weight management specifically (without diabetes), the higher-dose version Wegovy® is prescribed.semaglutide-weight-loss,glp-1-fat-loss-jab,amitriptyline-25mg,victoza-weight-loss.