This pen is a device that is pre-filled with medication and makes it easier for you to give yourself the weekly injections. If you use the 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg maintenance dose per week, your pen will hold 4 doses and last for one month.
The pen that administers both the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses contains a total of 8 doses of 0.25 mg or 4 doses of 0.5 mg. Most patients use this pen to take 4 doses of the starting dose (0.25 mg) then 2 doses of the next highest dose (0.5 mg) before switching to a new pen.
If you qualify for insurance coverage, Ozempic can cost as little as $25 for a monthly supply. However, without insurance, Ozempic costs around $892.06 per month, on average (NovoCare-a, 2022). However, savings programs can sometimes help lower the cost of the medication if you qualify.
To see how much solution is left, use the dose counter: Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops. If it shows 0.5, at least 0.5 mg is left in your pen. If the dose counter stops before 0.5 mg, there is not enough solution left for a full dose of 0.5 mg.
Ozempic® Dosing
Ozempic® is taken once a week, exactly as prescribed by your health care provider, along with diet and exercise, to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
A person can stay on Ozempic® so long as they are tolerating the medication and it is deemed appropriate by their treating provider. There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
If someone only misses one weekly injection, it might be alright for them to take their next dose as usual, Buse said. But for people who have missed three or more weeks, they'll likely need to start up again on a lower dose to avoid the side effects and readjust to the medication being in their system.
This carton containing 2 pens can last you a whole month. You would only need this pen if your doctor has prescribed you the higher dose of 1 mg per week of Ozempic injection. Your Ozempic pen should be stored in the refrigerator (between 36°F to 46°F or 2°C to 8°C) until the first time you use it.
OZEMPIC® is available in a carton of 1 disposable, pre-filled, multi-dose pen delivering only doses of 1 mg, including 4 NovoFine® Plus needles. This pack size is intended to be used for maintenance treatment at the 1 mg dose only. The pen contains 3 mL solution.
“GLP-1 medications [like Ozempic] are designed to be taken long-term,” explains Dr. McGowan. “They are chronic medications for the treatment of chronic conditions (both diabetes and obesity).”
A global shortage means some people with diabetes are struggling to access the drug semaglutide, which is sold under the brand name Ozempic.
Store your pen in use for 56 days at room temperature between 59ºF to 86ºF (15ºC to 30ºC) or in a refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). The Ozempic® pen you are using should be disposed of (thrown away) after 56 days, even if it still has Ozempic® left in it. Write the disposal date on your calendar.
If Ozempic wasn't mainstream before, it definitely is now – Jimmy Kimmel joking about A-listers using the drug during the 2023 Oscars proved as much. Elon Musk and Amy Schumer have admitted to taking the weight-loss drug while other celebrities, such as Khloé Kardashian and RHOBH star Kyle Richards, have denied it.
So, on average, with the recommended starting Ozempic dose of 0.25 mg, a 500 to 1000 calorie reduced diet, and exercise 3 times a week, you can expect to lose 3-5 pounds in the first month of treatment, which works out to about 3% of body weight for most overweight or obese individuals.
To give yourself 0.5 mg turn the dosing dial to 38 clicks and administer! You will notice at around 38 clicks the notch on the dosing dial is subtly different. To give yourself the starting dose of 0.25 mg you will need to give yourself 19 clicks.
You start feeling those usual hunger pangs again, and consequently, you may start eating more to satisfy that hunger. An increase in your consumption can lead to the regaining of weight that was lost. A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
You may need a higher dosage of Ozempic
The same holds true for Ozempic's weight loss results. People taking higher doses of Ozempic tend to lose more weight. In the landmark study we cited above, people lost 7% of their body weight, on average, within a year and a half of taking 1mg of semaglutide.
Your lost weight will probably pile back on
If you stop taking Ozempic, the weight you lost will likely return, fast.
Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection is available in 3 multiuse pens for more A1C control.
In March 2023, Novo Nordisk introduced a new pen size for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg dose of Ozempic®. The previous pen was a 1.5 mL and the new pen is 3 mL. All strengths of Ozempic® now come in 3 mL pens. Pharmacies have frequently asked how this change affects patients' current prescriptions.
Once you begin using Ozempic, some people can find it takes several weeks to see any weight loss, yet others may see some weight loss within a week or 2.
Missing a dose of Ozempic
If you've missed a dose of Ozempic, inject your missed dose as soon as you remember within five days of the date you were supposed to take it. Continue your dosing schedule as usual. If it's been more than five days, skip that dose and inject your next dose per your regular schedule.
For most people, stopping Ozempic (or any medication that's meant to be taken long term) abruptly without a medical reason is not ideal. Stopping Ozempic is not directly harmful, but you may begin to notice weight gain.
The half life of Ozempic is 1 week, so if you take 2 mg on Monday the following Monday you'll have 1 mg (half the dose) in your system. One week later there will be 0.5 mg and so on. As Ozempic is long-acting, it can be dosed once a week and maintain adequate drug levels in the body rather than having to take it daily.