Introduction
If dieting, weight loss, and diabetes interest you, we’re sure the names Ozempic and Wegovy will ring a bell. The two injectable medicines, which share the same active ingredient, semaglutide, have practically achieved buzzword status.
That’s because Hollywood celebrities, A-listers, and even famous head honchos credit these for their notable weight loss effect. You’ve got the likes of British TV personality Sharon Osbourne and tycoon Elon Musk citing the drug’s effectiveness.
While many people’s lives have improved because of Ozempic and Wegovy, many may still doubt its safety. Are semaglutide injections safe?
If you’re considering taking semaglutide injections for either type 2 diabetes or weight management, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we take a deep dive into semaglutide’s efficacy and safety profile. Additionally, we will also zoom in on its injectable variants, Ozempic and Wegovy.
How does semaglutide work?
Before we learn how to administer semaglutide and how safe it is, we must understand what it is.
Semaglutide is a drug that is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1 Ra for short. It mimics the actions of a hormone in our gut, called GLP-1. Whenever blood sugar levels are too high or medications can’t properly control these, semaglutide triggers the pancreas to release just insulin. Insulin is another hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.
Apart from helping regulate blood sugar levels, semaglutide also slows down digestion, making those taking it feel fuller for longer. As a result of this effect, people don’t feel like eating as much and eventually lose weight in the process.
Dosages and efficacy
Now, we know what semaglutide is and how it works. Hence, we have a better understanding of why many people have started taking Ozempic and Wegovy.
Dosages
Ozempic, semaglutide’s brand treating type 2 diabetes, comes in injectable pen format and people should administer it once a week. It comes in 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg doses and is only available for purchase with a prescription.
Novo Nordisk, meanwhile, markets Wegovy as a weight loss drug. Just like Ozempic, Wegovy also comes in an injectable pen format, but in five different dose strengths, from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. The different doses come in different pen colors.
Similar to Ozempic, your doctor will start you on small doses, gradually increasing this until you reach a maintenance dose. Wegovy is also a once-weekly injection.
Efficacy
A growing body of research illustrates the benefits of taking semaglutide injections for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Moreover, studies have also found that it potentially has a positive impact on other health conditions.
Scientists looked at the efficacy of semaglutide in treating people who were overweight. 40 percent of participants— those on semaglutide once weekly—lost at least 15 percent of their body weight over 68 weeks. Those in the placebo group, meanwhile, lost significantly less weight.
Another study, in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology investigated the effectiveness and safety of semaglutide in treating type 2 diabetes. Some of the participants took semaglutide, while others took other diabetes medications. The study’s results showed that semaglutide was able to lower blood sugar levels more successfully than other diabetes drugs.
Clinical studies show that apart from treating type 2 diabetes, Ozempic also helps reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular problems. This includes the likes of heart attack, stroke, or death.
Wegovy, meanwhile, helps reduce markers of heart disease, from high cholesterol to high blood sugar levels, and hypertension.
Semaglutide injections’ safety profile
A safety profile is a thorough review and summary of a drug’s overall safety, including potential risks and side effects. Clinical trials help determine the safety and efficacy of a drug, as well as its dosage and administration.
Positive effects of subcutaneous semaglutide
A June 2023 study in Frontiers in Endocrinology examined the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous semaglutide with varying dosages. It also looked at its efficacy and safety with and without lifestyle interventions.
Participants in the group without lifestyle interventions had a higher incidence of hypoglycemia than the group with lifestyle interventions. Semaglutide injections also had notable benefits on weight loss as well as on heart health.
Common side effects
The most common adverse effects of subcutaneous semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, or abdominal pain. Healthcare providers may start you on small doses and work your way up to bigger doses to help manage symptoms.
Serious side effects
The more serious side effects of semaglutide injections include allergic reactions, hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, kidney problems, and thyroid c-cell tumors.
Allergic reactions
Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you develop any of the following: itching or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat; rashes; extreme dizziness; or difficulty breathing.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
In combination with other anti-diabetic medicines, semaglutide may trigger hypoglycemia, a condition wherein the blood sugar is lower than normal. Hypoglycemia can trigger shaking, perspiration, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, a faster heart rate, and extreme hunger pangs.
Pancreatitis
Although less common, one of semaglutide’s serious potential side effects is acute pancreatitis. This is, a condition wherein the pancreas becomes undergoes inflammation over a short period.
Kidney problems
A 2021 study in Kidney Medicine reported cases of acute kidney injury in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients taking semaglutide. Researchers believe weight loss by semaglutide may have contributed to the patient’s decline in kidney function.
Thyroid C-cell tumors
In a study involving lab rats, researchers found these developed thyroid tumors or medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) after taking semaglutide. Despite these results, experts still don’t know whether semaglutide may also potentially cause the same in humans.
Who should avoid semaglutide injections?
If you are considering taking semaglutide, it’s important to understand whether or not you are eligible for it. People with the following conditions or medical histories should avoid both semaglutide injections and tablets altogether.
1. Pregnant or planning to get pregnant
Taking semaglutide injections while pregnant may result in the baby’s birth defects, growth problems, or death.
2. Breastfeeding
Semaglutide as medication has a way of seeping into breast milk and passing onto the baby.
3. Drinking alcohol
Drinking regularly while diabetic can mess up your blood glucose levels, causing either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
4. Taking other medication
Some drugs with insulin may clash or have a negative side effect when taken alongside Ozempic. These include antibiotics, antifungals, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, sulfonylureas, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
5. Undergoing a surgery or procedure that requires an empty stomach for anesthesia
According to a PBS report, some anesthesiologists observed patients would inhale food and water in their lungs while sedated. This was the case even after receiving instructions to stop eating six to eight hours before the surgery or procedure.
6. History of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
When one has MTC, it triggers the production of calcitonin. Despite no direct negative side effects of having too much calcitonin in the blood, MTC can metastasize and affect tissues. Particularly the lymph nodes, which are responsible for filtering unhealthy cells such as cancer cells.
7. History of gallbladder disease
A study observed a higher incidence of acute cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) among those taking GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide.
8. History of pancreatitis
Although rare, patients who take semaglutide run the risk of getting pancreatitis, or the inflammation of the pancreas.
9. History of diabetic retinopathy
A two-year trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and heart problems showed a higher incidence of diabetic retinopathy. It occured in patients taking Ozempic than those on placebo. Diabetic retinopathy is blindness due to diabetes.
10. Acute kidney injury and chronic renal failure
Some reports note that the condition of patients with chronic renal failure worsened while taking Ozempic. Others developed acute kidney injury.
While semaglutide has side effects, the common ones are typically mild and manageable and the serious adverse effects are rare.
General instructions
If you’re new to Ozempic or Wegovy, you may be nervous about having to inject yourself with the medication.
These drugs come with risks and potential side effects, however, the mild ones are manageable and the serious ones rare. There are also certain health conditions which make some persons ineligible to take them.
Fully disclose your medical history to your healthcare provider and follow the drug manufacturer’s instructions. If you follow these, you should be fine.
Prepping the pen
Before administering, check that the product (visible in the pen through a window part) is clear, colorless, and not cloudy. Air bubbles are completely normal and are not a cause of concern.
Administering the product
You can inject both Ozempic and Wegovy subcutaneously (under the skin) in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Make sure that you are not injecting into a muscle or vein. It is best to use a different injection site with every injection. However, if you want to use the same injection site, pick a different spot in that area.
You can take semaglutide injections with or without meals at any time of the day. For best results, it is best to take semaglutide along with a balanced diet and exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have some concerns or clarifications about injecting yourself with Ozempic or Wegovy. Keep in mind that the proper dosage, administration, and storage of semaglutide injections contribute to its safety and efficacy. For any questions, consult your healthcare provider.
What should you do if you miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of Ozempic, don’t worry. Just take the missed dose immediately within five days after the day of the missed dose. If it’s been over five days, skip the missed dose and resume your next dose on its regular scheduled day.
On the other hand, if you miss a dose of Wegovy and the next dose is over two days away, take the missed dose ASAP.
If the next dose is less than two days away, take the next dose of Wegovy as scheduled. If you miss a dose for more than two weeks, use it on the next scheduled day of the dose. You may also want to consult your doctor about restarting the treatment.
What if you inject the semaglutide into a muscle or vein?
There are serious consequences if you inject Ozempic or Wegovy into a muscle or intravenously. You would be putting yourself at risk for allergic reactions, erratic blood sugar levels, infection, or even organ damage. The damaged organs would be the liver or kidneys.
How should you store semaglutide?
Store new Ozempic and Wegovy pens in a refrigerator 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 8 degrees Celsius).
After the first use, store your Ozempic pen at room temperature between 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, you may also refrigerate it between 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can you share semaglutide injection pens?
No. You must never share Ozempic and Wegovy pens, even if you change the needle attachment. Doing so runs the risk of spreading blood-borne diseases.
Conclusion
Semaglutide has two brands that come in injectable pen formats: Ozempic (for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (for obesity).
As a general rule, you must properly prepare, administer, and store semaglutide pens to prevent any complications. You must never share or inject it into the muscle or vein.
Although rare, subcutaneous semaglutide comes with potentially serious side effects. Note that there are certain conditions or medical histories which will make certain people ineligible to take semaglutide.
Close coordination with your healthcare provider will help you stay safe and use the proper dosage of semaglutide injections.
