Call 1-877-322-0281 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re here to answer your questions about Ozempic®
Hearing about Ozempic® and want to know the facts? Find out below.
Considering Ozempic®
Ozempic® in the media
Compounded "semaglutide" safety & information
Taking Ozempic®
How Ozempic® works
Savings & support
Living with type 2 diabetes
Considering Ozempic®
Ozempic® is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Is Ozempic® right for me?
There are a number of reasons that Ozempic® could be right for you if you are an adult who has type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic® is proven to lower blood sugar and A1C along with diet and exercise
Ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults who also have heart disease
Ozempic® lowers the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease, in adults who also have chronic kidney disease
Ozempic® may also help you lose weighta
Ozempic® is not a weight-loss drug
aAcross studies looking at A1C, adults lost on average from 7.1 lb to 14.1 lb with Ozempic®. While many people in medical studies lost weight, some did gain weight.
Ask your health care professional if Ozempic® is right for you. Download a discussion guide to help get the conversation started.
What is Ozempic®?
Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is an injectable prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose). It also lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease, and lowers the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have chronic kidney disease.
It is not known if Ozempic® is safe and effective for use in children.
Ask your health care professional if Ozempic® is right for you. Download a discussion guide to help get the conversation started.
Ozempic® in the media
Is Ozempic® currently available?
All doses of Ozempic® are now available to retail pharmacies nationwide for appropriate patients with type 2 diabetes. However, pharmacies may experience normal delays given the time required to order the product from their local distribution center and geographical variabilities.
Is Ozempic® for weight loss? Will I regain weight if I stop using Ozempic®?
Ozempic® is approved by the FDA for adults with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar, along with diet and exercise, reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease, and lower the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have chronic kidney disease. People respond to medicines differently. That's why it is important to talk to your health care professional about any questions you may have about your treatment plan.
Ozempic® is not FDA approved for weight loss or chronic weight management.
At this time, Novo Nordisk has not conducted studies to evaluate the effect on weight after discontinuation of Ozempic®.
Learn more about A1C and weight data.
If you are interested in a medicine which is FDA approved for chronic weight management from Novo Nordisk, learn more here.
Novo Nordisk is committed to responsible use of our medicines. Learn more by visiting semaglutide.com.
Are people, including celebrities, using Ozempic® strictly for weight loss?
We cannot control which specific patients receive our prescription-only medicines. What we can do is ensure that we reinforce who our medicines are intended to treat, based on their medical trials and FDA-approved indications, in support of responsible use of these medicines. We take that responsibility seriously—and that is reflected in our communication and promotional efforts. You can learn more about our commitment to responsible use of our medicines by visiting semaglutide.com.
Ozempic® is approved by the FDA for adults with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar, along with diet and exercise, reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease, and lower the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have chronic kidney disease.
Can I get Ozempic® through telehealth services?
Some health care professionals may offer telehealth services and virtual consultations to assess treatment options. Check with your health care professional to determine the availability of these services.
Is Ozempic® the only product made by Novo Nordisk that contains semaglutide?
No—other Novo Nordisk products exist that contain semaglutide. If you are not sure which semaglutide product may be right for you, you should contact your health care professional to discuss your treatment options.
Compounded "semaglutide" safety & information
What is compounded GLP-1 or compounded "semaglutide"?
Compounded GLP-1s or compounded “semaglutide” are preparations made in a setting such as a compounding pharmacy.
Compounded drugs have historically been intended to address unique medical needs of some individually-identified patients for whom an FDA-approved drug is not appropriate. However, compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. This means the FDA does not review these drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Illegitimate or fake compounded drugs are a far cry from FDA-approved medications that have gone through rigorous clinical trials and have labels that communicate the known benefits and risks.
Novo Nordisk is the only manufacturer of FDA-approved semaglutide medicines, including Ozempic®.
Get more facts about compounded "semaglutide" at semaglutide.com.
Can I get Ozempic® (semaglutide) from Novo Nordisk at a compounding pharmacy?
No. We are aware that there are companies claiming to have availability of compounded Ozempic® (semaglutide). We want consumers to know that Novo Nordisk does not directly or indirectly distribute the semaglutide active ingredient in its FDA-approved medicine for use in compounding.
Learn more about compounded "semaglutide" and our commitment to responsible use of our medicines by visiting semaglutide.com.
Are there reports of counterfeit or fake Ozempic®?
Yes, there have been reports of counterfeit or fake Ozempic®. At Novo Nordisk, patient safety is paramount. We are the only company in the US with FDA-approved medications containing semaglutide. No generic versions of semaglutide currently exist.
The FDA has also shared safety information on compounded and counterfeit "semaglutide" on their website here, with the most recent counterfeit report here (April 2025).
For the most up-to-date counterfeit information from Novo Nordisk, please visit semaglutide.com.
How do I identify counterfeit Ozempic®?
For a comprehensive overview, please click here to learn how to identify counterfeit Ozempic® .
For a quick overview, please see the pictures and details below to identify differences between an authentic FDA-approved Ozempic® pen in the US and some of the counterfeit products.
Authentic Ozempic® Pens
With Cap
The Ozempic® pen has a blue dial and gray end cap, which doesn’t expand out when dialed.
The dose amount and/or “-“ is shown in the dose dial window.
Without Cap
The Ozempic® pen has a gray cover over the medicine cartridge.
Counterfeit Product
With Cap
This counterfeit pen has a white dial and purple end cap. The label on this pen may be of poor quality.
Without Cap
Numbers are seen around the medicine cartridge.
Incorrect scale that expands when setting the dose.
Authentic Ozempic® Needle
Paper tab on authentic needle is solid blue and labeled only with lot number.
Authentic inner needle cover is transparent.
Paper tab on authentic needle is labeled with “NovoFine® Plus.”
Counterfeit Needle Example
Paper tab on counterfeit needle is partially blue and labeled with product carton lot number NAR0074.
Counterfeit inner needle cover has a blue transparent color.
Paper tab over counterfeit needles is labeled only with “NovoFine®.”
Authentic Ozempic® Carton
0.25 mg or 0.5 mg dose
Authentic box has appropriate NDC and batch/lot numbers.
An authentic box will include 4 needles, except the Ozempic® 0.25/0.5 mg dose carton, which has 6 needles.
1 mg dose
2 mg dose
Counterfeit Carton Example
Counterfeit cartons can use authentic lot numbers with inauthentic serial numbers. Recently seized counterfeit products feature lot number PAR0362 and illegitimate serial numbers beginning with the first eight digits 51746517 (illustrated above). Lot number PAR0362 is an authentic lot number. Only when the lot number is coupled with a serial number with the first eight digits 51746517, it is counterfeit and should not be used.
Counterfeit box is missing content (or text) such as 0.5 mg dose and "for single patient use only," along with incorrect or missing lot/batch numbers.
May also contain misspellings as well as not having tamper-resistant markings.
What is the difference between real, authentic, FDA-approved Ozempic® and compounded "semaglutide"?
FDA-approved drugs are different than compounded drugs in many ways.
FDA drugs, like Ozempic®:
- Undergo rigorous review and inspection
- Meet the FDA’s gold standard of safety, effectiveness, and quality for their intended use according to their FDA-approved labeling
- Are subjected to extensive marketing requirements, including drug supply chain security and adverse event (side effect) reporting requirements
Compounded drugs, like compounded "semaglutide":
- Do not undergo FDA approval or review before being distributed
- May not require inspection for manufacturing quality
- May not meet the FDA’s gold standard for safety, effectiveness, and quality
- May lack adequate direction on how to use
- May not meet drug supply chain security requirements
- May not be subjected to rigorous regulation and side effect reporting
Only Novo Nordisk manufactures the active ingredient semaglutide that goes in Ozempic®, which has been reviewed and approved by the FDA.
What does real, authentic Ozempic® look like?
Once-weekly Ozempic® comes in a pre-filled pen with 4 different dose options: 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg.
Ozempic® pens come in a box, and each authentic box will contain a pre-filled pen and needles. The box will include 4 needles, except the box with Ozempic® 0.25 mg/0.5 mg, which has 6 needles.
Authentic Ozempic® does not come in a syringe or vial.
0.25 mg or 0.5 mg dose
1 mg dose
2 mg dose
What are the risks of taking compounded "semaglutide"?
There are potential significant safety risks associated with taking compounded "semaglutide". Novo Nordisk has tested some compounded "semaglutide" found in the marketplace, and what we found was very concerning.
Some samples of compounded "semaglutide" contained:
- Unknown impurities, sometimes as high as 33%
- Substances on the FDA-banned list
- Different dose strength than what was labeled
- In one case, no semaglutide at all
The FDA has linked compounded "semaglutide" products to accidental overdoses of 5 to 20 times the intended dose.
Lastly, compounded "semaglutide" has been associated with unprecedented numbers of adverse event (side effect) reports, many of which were classified as "serious".
Your health deserves the real thing. Learn more about the risks of compounded "semaglutide" at semaglutide.com.
Does compounded "semaglutide" work?
Compounded "semaglutide" is not real FDA-approved medicine, and it’s not proven safe or effective.
Compounded "semaglutide" products have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. With an FDA-approved medicine like Ozempic®, health care professionals and patients have the clarity and confidence in knowing that what they are using has undergone rigorous review for safety, effectiveness, and quality.
Get the truth about compounded "semaglutide" at semaglutide.com.
Taking Ozempic®
How do I take Ozempic®?
You take Ozempic® once weekly with an Ozempic® pen, as prescribed and instructed by your health care professional. Read the Medication Guide and Instructions for Use that come with Ozempic® for additional information. For questions, you should speak with your health care professional.
Your health care professional should show you how to use Ozempic® before you use it for the first time. Ozempic® is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. Do not inject Ozempic® into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously).
What are the most common side effects of Ozempic®?
The most common side effects of Ozempic® may include:
Nausea
Stomach (abdominal) pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Vomiting
With any medicine, it’s very important to talk to your health care professional about side effects—talk to yours about any side effect that bothers you or doesn't go away.
If you experience nausea, here are some general nausea tips that you might find helpful:
Eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, and rice
Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin
Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods
Avoid lying down after you eat
Go outdoors for fresh air
Eat more slowly
Drink clear or ice-cold drinks
For a complete list of possible side effects of Ozempic®, see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide. For medical advice about side effects, talk with your health care professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How long should I take Ozempic®?
Ozempic® is safe and effective when used as indicated for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar, along with diet and exercise, reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease, and lower the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have chronic kidney disease.
See the Prescribing Information and Medication Guide. For medical advice about side effects, talk with your health care professional. You may also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What can I expect when taking Ozempic®?
When taken as instructed, Ozempic®, along with diet and exercise, may help lower your blood sugar and A1C.
Ozempic® can lower the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease.
Ozempic® lowers the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have chronic kidney disease.
Ozempic® may also help you lose weight. Ozempic® is not a weight-loss drug. Across studies looking at A1C, adults lost on average from 7.1 lb to 14.1 lb with Ozempic®. While many people in medical studies lost weight, some did gain weight.
While taking Ozempic®, you may experience some side effects.
Have questions about Ozempic®? Get live one-on-one support from a Diabetes Health Coach.
Are there long-term risks to using Ozempic®?
Ozempic® has been studied across 13 different multinational clinical trials and has been on the market for 8 years. Please click here for the safety profile and talk to your health care professional.
See the Prescribing Information and Medication Guide. For medical advice about side effects, talk with your health care professional. You may also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How do I store Ozempic®?
How to store your Ozempic® pen
Store your new, unused Ozempic® pens in the refrigerator between 36 °F to 46 °F (2 °C to 8 °C).
How can I get more needles for my Ozempic® pen?
Ozempic® pen package comes with NovoFine® Plus 32G 4 mm needles. If you have any more questions, please call our Customer Care Center at 1-800-727-6500. Our operators can help you and are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
How can I get samples of Ozempic®?
Samples of Ozempic® (semaglutide) may be available through your health care professional. Be sure to ask them about Ozempic® at your next visit.
If you are a health care professional looking for samples of Ozempic®, you may be able to order samples by visiting the NovoMedLink™ site or talking to your Novo Nordisk rep.
What will my Ozempic® dosage be?
Ozempic® is taken once a week, exactly as prescribed by your health care professional.
Getting started
The beginning dose is 0.25 mg once a week for the first 4 weeks. This will help give your body a chance to get used to the medicine.
At Week 5, your health care professional will increase the dose to 0.5 mg once a week.
For people who also have chronic kidney disease, after at least 4 weeks at 0.5 mg, your health care professional may recommend increasing the dose to 1 mg.
Additional blood sugar control
Your A1C needs may shift as your type 2 diabetes changes. That’s why Ozempic® offers pens that deliver doses of 1 mg or doses of 2 mg to give you additional A1C control. And while your dose may change, nothing will change about how you take Ozempic®—the 1 mg and 2 mg dose pens are the same as the pen you already use.
The maximum dose of Ozempic® is 2 mg once a week. Always follow your health care professional's instructions on how to dose Ozempic®.
Once prescribed Ozempic® for my type 2 diabetes, how long will I have to take it to help me lower my blood sugar?
You should take Ozempic® exactly as prescribed by your health care professional. If you have any questions about your A1C and blood sugar goals, or changes to your treatment plan, talk with your health care professional. Never make changes to your treatment plan without consulting your health care professional first.
How Ozempic® works
Is Ozempic® proven to lower A1C?
Ozempic® provides powerful A1C reduction.a
A majority of adults taking Ozempic®, along with diet and exercise, reached an A1C under 7% and maintained it.b
aIn 2 different studies, adults with type 2 diabetes lowered A1C, on average, by:
- Ozempic®: 1.4% (0.5 mg) and 1.6% (1 mg) vs placebo: 0.1%
- Ozempic®: 1.9% (1 mg) and 2.1% (2 mg), taking 1 or 2 diabetes pills
from a starting average A1C of 8.0% and 8.9%, respectively.
bIn the same 2 studies, the majority of people reached an A1C under 7%:
- Ozempic®: 73% (0.5 mg) and 70% (1 mg) vs placebo: 28%
- Ozempic®: 56% (1 mg) and 64% (2 mg)
The American Diabetes Association recommends that a reasonable goal for most adults with type 2 diabetes is an A1C less than 7%. Your health care professional will tell you what goal is right for you.
How does Ozempic® compare with other type 2 diabetes medicines?
Click here to find head-to-head results.
Has Ozempic® been studied for cardiovascular risk?
Yes. A study showed that in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death.
Has Ozempic® been studied for lowering the risk of chronic kidney disease getting worse?
Yes. A study showed that in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, Ozempic® lowers the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease.
How does Ozempic® work to lower blood sugar?
Non-insulin Ozempic® works with your body’s own ability to lower blood sugar and A1C. Ozempic® helps your body release its own insulin. And it's designed to respond when your blood sugar rises.
Ozempic® works in 3 ways to lower blood sugar:
Helps your pancreas produce more insulin when your blood sugar is high
Helps prevent your liver from making and releasing too much sugar
Slows down food leaving your stomach
Savings & support
How much does Ozempic® (semaglutide) cost? Is it cheaper overseas?
Look up your co-pay and see how much Ozempic® will cost you: Find out now. In the US, eligible patients with private or commercial coverage for Ozempic® can access a savings card and pay as little as $25 for a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply of Ozempic® for up to 48 months.a
Health care systems vary from country to country, which can result in different list prices. However, it’s important to note that a drug’s list price does not always reflect the actual out-of-pocket cost for a patient, which is determined based on specific insurance coverage and region.
aSavings card offer applies to eligible commercially insured patients with coverage for Ozempic®. Maximum savings of $100 for a 1-month prescription, $200 for a 2-month prescription, and $300 for a 3-month prescription. Month is defined as 28 days. Offer is good for up to 48 months. Eligibility and other restrictions apply.
How can I save on Ozempic®?
With the Ozempic® Savings Card, eligible patients may pay as little as $25 for a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply for up to 48 months.a
aSavings card offer applies to eligible commercially insured patients with coverage for Ozempic®. Maximum savings of $100 for a 1-month prescription, $200 for a 2-month prescription, and $300 for a 3-month prescription. Month is defined as 28 days. Offer is good for up to 48 months. Eligibility and other restrictions apply.
How can I participate in the support program?
With Ozempic®, you get access to TexT2Connect—a free savings and support program. After signing up, you’ll get text support with reminders, inspiration, and resources to help you start and stay on Ozempic®.
Text BEGIN to 21848 to get started.
Message and data rates may apply. Check with your mobile service provider. See Terms and Conditions of Use.
Give us a call for one-on-one live support from a Diabetes Health Coach—and to learn more about taking Ozempic®.
Call 1-877-322-0281 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
Can I get live phone support for my questions about Ozempic®?
You can speak with a Diabetes Health Coach by calling 1-877-322-0281.
The Diabetes Health Coach will be happy to answer your questions about Ozempic®.
Living with type 2 diabetes
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or doesn’t respond to insulin properly. To understand type 2 diabetes, you need to know what insulin is and why your body needs it.
What is GLP-1?
The main ingredient in Ozempic® is called semaglutide, a man-made version of the human GLP-1 molecule, with some changes.
GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a natural hormone that helps your body keep blood sugar in balance. GLP-1 treatments work like this naturally occurring hormone.
How can I learn about healthy eating?
Ozempic® and My Type 2 Transformation offer videos, recipes, and more to help you learn about healthy eating. Ozempic®, along with diet and exercise, can help lower A1C for adults with type 2 diabetes.
How can I learn about staying active and exercising?
Ozempic® and My Type 2 Transformation offer videos and more to help you stay active. Ozempic®, along with diet and exercise, can help lower A1C for adults with type 2 diabetes.
How can I learn about managing stress and staying motivated?
Ozempic® and My Type 2 Transformation offer videos and more to help you learn techniques for dealing with stress and staying motivated as you manage your type 2 diabetes.
