semaglutide
Brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
Ozempic is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the risk of heart problems in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$311.86/unit
Generic Available
No
NOVO
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ozempic is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Ozempic may cause thyroid C-cell tumors.
How It Works
Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by helping your body release insulin when your blood sugar is high. It also slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach.
How to Take It
Inject Ozempic once a week, at any time of day, with or without food. Start with 0.25 mg for 4 weeks. Your doctor may then increase your dose to 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg once weekly to control your blood sugar. Inject it under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm, and use a different injection spot each week.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There is limited information about the safety of Ozempic during pregnancy. Ozempic may pose a risk to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible within 5 days of the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
Storage
Store Ozempic in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 52,256 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 72,117 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2013–2025.
Total Reports
72,117
Death-Related Reports
1,213
Hospitalization Reports
14,700
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 10,666 |
| 2 | VOMITING | 6,913 |
| 3 | OFF LABEL USE | 6,532 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 6,093 |
| 5 | DECREASED APPETITE | 4,428 |
| 6 | CONSTIPATION | 4,344 |
| 7 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 3,931 |
| 8 | FATIGUE | 3,312 |
| 9 | HEADACHE | 3,156 |
| 10 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 2,881 |
| 11 | WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS | 2,774 |
| 12 | BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED | 2,752 |
| 13 | ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER | 2,751 |
| 14 | IMPAIRED GASTRIC EMPTYING | 2,711 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 2,631 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Ozempic may cause thyroid C-cell tumors. Animal studies showed that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, caused thyroid tumors in rodents. It is not known if Ozempic causes thyroid tumors in humans. You should not take Ozempic if you or your family have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Tell your doctor if you notice a lump in your neck, have trouble swallowing, have trouble breathing, or have a hoarse voice that won't go away.
Common Questions
What should I do if I experience severe stomach pain?
Can Ozempic be used for weight loss?
What happens if my blood sugar gets too low?
Can I share my Ozempic pen with others?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can Ozempic cause allergic reactions?
Does Ozempic interact with other medications?
How often should I check my blood sugar?
What are the symptoms of thyroid tumors?
What should I do if I am planning to have surgery?
What are the common side effects of semaglutide?
What drug class is semaglutide?
Is semaglutide safe during pregnancy?
Has semaglutide been recalled?
Active Recalls
Presence of Particulate Matter: Hair was found in a prefilled syringe
Novo Nordisk Inc.
Presence of Particulate Matter: Hair was found in a prefilled syringe
Novo Nordisk Inc.
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of Processing Controls.
AEQUITA PHARMACY
Lack of Processing Controls.
AEQUITA PHARMACY
Lack of Processing Controls.
AEQUITA PHARMACY
Lack of Processing Controls.
AEQUITA PHARMACY
Subpotent Drug
Boothwyn Pharmacy LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Thrive Health and Wellness, LLC, dba Thrive Health Solutions (Colorado)
Temperature abuse: Wegovy product was potentially exposed to temperatures outside of the products labeled storage conditions due to a shipping error involving a Cardinal Health distribution center. More specifically, product was removed from refrigerated storage for an extended period of time and inappropriately released.
Cardinal Health Inc.
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
ProRx LLC
Lack of assurance of sterility.
Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
TMC Acquisition LLC dba Tailor Made Compounding
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bromocriptine
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colesevelam
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Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
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What the FDA Data Shows for semaglutide
The FDA label for semaglutide (sold under brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist class. Ozempic is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 52,256 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 18 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 22, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages