For example, you may be taking certain medications that cause weight gain and slow your weight loss. If you have type 2 diabetes, which Ozempic treats, you may also lose weight slower than those who are taking Ozempic solely to treat their obesity, and who do not have type 2 diabetes.
You may be expecting a dramatic shift from your starting weight within a short space of time. It takes a few weeks before the medication takes full effect. On the other hand, not losing weight on Ozempic may be down to a dosage problem, or lifestyle and dietary reasons.
Wegovy and Ozempic are not for everyone. Ozempic is approved for people with Type 2 diabetes. And Wegovy is approved for people with obesity or those who are overweight and have health problems related to excess weight.
Aim for foods and drinks that do not quickly raise or lower blood sugar. This helps keep your blood sugar steady and lets Ozempic (and other diabetes medications) work to their best ability. It's also a good idea to stick to lower fat, non-greasy foods because these are less likely to irritate the gut.
Age, amount of regular exercise, dietary habits, and other medical conditions that impact weight can play a role in why someone may not be losing weight despite taking a weight loss medication like Wegovy.
While Ozempic has proven to be very effective at weight loss, some people don't lose as much weight as they expect on Ozempic.
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
“Another side effect is hypoglycemia or low blood sugar,” she explains, which may occur in those taking Ozempic alongside other medications like insulin or sulfonylureas. “Symptoms of hypoglycemia can include weakness, drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness,” she notes.
Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss. But because of how it works, some people taking Ozempic lose weight as a side effect. If you don't have diabetes, taking Ozempic for weight loss is considered an off-label use. Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, is approved to help people manage their weight.
Popular Ozempic alternatives for blood sugar control include Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and Rybelsus (semaglutide). If you're looking for Ozempic alternatives with the goal of losing weight, Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) might be an option for you.
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.
It is important to have your blood sugar levels checked regularly. This is the only way to know if Ozempic is working properly for you. Your doctor will recommend how frequently you should do this. Store unused Ozempic pens in the fridge at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
Key Points. Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using Ozempic (semaglutide) at your regular maintenance dose. However, the full effect can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week.
Like many drugs, the effects don't last after patients go off them, so people tend to regain most of the weight they lost if they stop taking the medication. Grunvald said many patients are under the false impression that they can stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy after they hit their goal weight.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
Food that is high in sugar may also increase the risk of nausea or other possible gastrointestinal side effects when taking Ozempic. If you have type 2 diabetes or other health conditions, including elevated A1C levels, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, you may want to avoid sugary foods for health reasons.
You can assist Ozempic by lowering your overall calorie intake, moving your body where possible and limiting your alcohol consumption.
The most common side effect with Ozempic is nausea and occurs in about 15% to 20% of people. Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
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.
A study found that at the highest dose of Wegovy (2.4 mg), patients lost on average 15% of their total body weight after 1 year. In patients with diabetes, one study showed that taking Ozempic at the highest dose of 2 mg led to on average ~15 lbs (6.9 kg) weight loss after 40 weeks.
Ozempic is also used off-label for weight loss. In particular, it can help reduce the amount of belly fat. This is because Ozempic works by making you feel fuller for longer, which can help you resist overeating by controlling cravings and hunger.