There's no “best” place to inject Ozempic. You can choose between three injection sites — under the skin on your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Reach out to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about how or where to inject Ozempic.
“The active ingredient in Ozempic—semaglutide—will still work in the body in the same way, regardless of where it is injected,” Abelovska told Verywell. Semaglutide can be safely administered in the upper arms, the abdomen, or the front of the thigh area with the same level of efficacy.
Choose your injection site
Most people prefer to inject Ozempic in the stomach area, but it can also be injected in the upper thigh or upper arm. Pick an area that has some extra fat, as it will be more comfortable and easier to inject. Make sure to rotate injection sites to avoid skin irritation.
Eating a balanced diet low in calories, fat, and sugar is essential when using Ozempic for weight loss. This is because certain types of foods can interact with the medication, reducing its effectiveness and potentially causing weight gain.
What is the best time to take Ozempic®? Administer Ozempic® once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals.
You should inject Ozempic once a week — on the same day of the week, every week. It doesn't make a big difference whether you take it in the morning or at night. It's possible to change the day of the week you inject Ozempic. The general rule is to avoid injecting it with less than 2 days in between shots.
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.
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.
If you're taking Ozempic, try to limit or avoid these foods. Some foods to avoid include greasy and fatty foods, foods that are high in sugar, ultra-processed carbohydrates, and alcohol.
Higher doses do not provide additional body weight reduction benefits but may increase side effects. It can take 3-4 months to achieve the maximum weight loss at a stable dose. Weight loss may continue for up to 2 years on Ozempic based on studies.
You'll likely notice some changes in appetite and reductions in food cravings within the first week.
Weight loss—whether through medication or diet—may lead to a loss of muscle mass, which can be especially concerning for older adults. While muscle mass declines naturally with age, shedding a lot of weight in a short time with drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy can lead to reduced strength and bone density.
Ozempic is a once-weekly semaglutide injection. One of the great benefits of the Ozempic pen is that you can take it any time during the week, with or without food.
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.
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.
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.
It can boost your metabolism, lower your cholesterol, and improve hormone levels related to obesity. This substance may also help lower your blood sugar by reducing how much carbs your body absorbs.
It's used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The starting dose of Ozempic is 0.25 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks. Then, your dose is moved up to 0.5 mg once weekly.
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.
Can I enjoy a drink while on Ozempic medication? The short answer is yes: You can drink alcohol while taking Ozempic.
Lean protein sources from eggs, low-fat cheese, Greek yogurt, chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, tofu, and beans are all excellent ways to bulk up on protein while eating healthy if you take Ozempic. Lean proteins usually require little to no insulin (if you're on insulin), and are a great building block of a healthy meal.