Ozempic

Also known as semaglutide injection · the pen

Brand — semaglutideEvidence tier A

Ozempic is Novo Nordisk’s brand of semaglutide, approved for type 2 diabetes. It is a weekly injection, and FDA-approved — Tier A for that use.

It is the same molecule as Wegovy. The difference is the label: Ozempic is approved for diabetes, Wegovy for weight management, and their dose ranges differ. Weight loss on Ozempic is well known but is an off-label use of a diabetes drug — the weight-management evidence was gathered under the Wegovy label.

What’s reported as a downside. A 2024 FAERS analysis found semaglutide carried the strongest signal in its class for metabolic and nutritional adverse events, such as nausea and vomiting.[1] FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove cause.

For what it actually costs by route, see the cost calculator.

References

  1. (FAERS disproportionality analysis) Metabolic and nutritional adverse events of GLP-1 receptor agonists: a FAERS pharmacovigilance study (semaglutide reporting odds ratio 3.34) Front Pharmacol. 2024. Source.