If you take Ozempic or other medications like it, it’s important to understand how long the drug will stay in your system. Ozempic, in particular, has a half-life of 7 days, meaning a decent amount of the drug will stay in your body for 7 days before taking another dose.
So, how long will it take for Ozempic to start showing results? Will Ozempic’s weight loss effects last after stopping treatment? And how long does Ozempic stay in your system? Below, we detail how Ozempic works, how long it takes your body to process it, and what to expect if you stop Ozempic.
Ozempic is an incredibly popular medication, but it has recently been linked to serious life-threatening medical conditions. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries from taking Ozempic, call the Houston Ozempic lawyers at Reich & Binstock.
We are prepared to go head to head with the drug’s pharmaceutical company to help you recover fair compensation for your injuries. Call us at (713) 622-7271 and schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced drug injury attorneys.
What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a diabetes medication that is administered through a subcutaneous injection once a week. Ozempic pens are designed to allow those using the drug to inject Ozempic themselves safely.
What Is Ozempic Used to Treat?
Ozempic is a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes by balancing a person’s blood glucose levels.
Blood Sugar Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
In clinical trials, Ozempic has been proven to improve blood sugar control in those with type 2 diabetes. That’s why Ozempic has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as a diabetes treatment.
Ozempic Is Not FDA Approved as a Weight Loss Drug
While it is designed to treat diabetes, some doctors prescribe Ozempic to certain patients for weight loss. Many diabetes medications have the added benefit of helping patients lose weight and keep it off for the duration of their treatment plan.
While Ozempic can help people drop some weight, it is not approved by the FDA for weight loss. It can cause those who do not have blood sugar control problems to experience excessively low blood sugar levels, among other side effects.
How Does Ozempic (Semaglutide) Work?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy, a drug specifically used for weight loss, are semaglutide medications. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medication. It works by mimicking a naturally occurring peptide to generate additional insulin, which lowers a person’s blood glucose level.
Since those with diabetes suffer from high blood sugar, this kind of medication can help bring their blood sugar to a safe level. At higher doses, semaglutide can also slow gastric emptying, meaning it can slow a person’s digestion. This can make them feel full for longer, which can also help them lose weight.
How Long Does It Take to See Results on Ozempic?
While Ozempic can begin to lower a person’s blood sugar after their first dose, it can take six to eight weeks for a person to lose weight while taking Ozempic. It can also take three to six months to see the maximum effect of the medication.
It can take four to five weeks to reach a “steady state” with Ozempic, which is when a person’s body is eliminating the drug at the same rate it is being given the drug. After someone taking Ozempic reaches a steady state, they may begin losing weight and experience consistent and lower blood sugar levels. It’s important to be aware of what happens if you take too much Ozempic. Serious side effects may occur, so patients should never take an extra dose without first consulting with their doctor.
How Long Does It Take Until Ozempic Suppresses Appetite?
Since it takes about four to five weeks for a person to reach a steady state, Ozempic may only start suppressing appetite four to five weeks after starting treatment.
Can You Regain Weight If You Stop Taking Ozempic?
Yes, if you stop taking Ozempic, you can regain the weight you lost while taking the drug. Many people experience rebound weight gain within a year of stopping Ozempic.
How Long Does It Take the Body to Absorb Ozempic?
The body begins to absorb Ozempic the same day it’s injected, but it may only start processing it within a week of a scheduled dose. Semaglutide is a relatively new medication, which means there’s not a lot of existing research on how long it would take a younger person to absorb Ozempic compared to an older person. These estimates are based on individuals younger than 60.
How Long Does Ozempic Stay in Your System?
Ozempic has a half-life of one week, meaning that if you take a 2mg dose on a Sunday, you’ll have 1mg of semaglutide left in your system by the next Sunday. Since Ozempic can stay in your system for so long, it’s not necessary to take it every single day, which is why it’s prescribed in weekly doses.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Ozempic?
If you miss a dose of Ozempic, you should take your missed dose within 5 days of when you were originally scheduled to take it. After missing that window of time, skip that missed dose and wait until your next scheduled dose to take the drug. If you miss more than two doses, contact your healthcare provider and ask when to take your next dose.
When Will the Side Effects of Ozempic Stop?
Side effects should lessen or disappear after a few days of Ozempic treatment, but in some cases, it may take a few weeks for side effects to stop. In certain extreme cases, Ozempic side effects may never go away.
People taking Ozempic may experience worsened side effects if they are taking a higher dose of the medication. Alcohol consumption can also make Ozempic side effects worse. If you experience any bad side effects of Ozempic, contact your doctor immediately.
What Happens If You Stop Taking Ozempic?
If you stop taking Ozempic, you’ll likely regain any body weight you lost while taking Ozempic, and your blood sugar levels may rise. Ozempic establishes a “new normal” for you and your body, so if you stop taking Ozempic, over time, your body will revert to how it functioned before starting Ozempic.
Most doctors will slowly wean you off of the medication to help curb withdrawal side effects, so it’s important to consult with your doctor before you stop Ozempic. They may put you on a lower dose for a week or two before stopping treatment.
When Should I Stop Taking Ozempic?
Most healthcare professionals will advise you to stop taking Ozempic if you develop a serious allergic reaction after taking the medication. Allergic reactions to Ozempic can cause:
- Trouble breathing
- Rashes
- Itching
- Swelling
- Dizziness
Ozempic can also cause people to experience injection site reactions. So, be sure to alert your doctor if you experience redness, swelling, or a rash around the injection site. Your healthcare provider may also recommend stopping Ozempic if you plan to get pregnant.
Before taking Ozempic, notify your doctor if you have any pre-existing medical problems or a history of medical problems. Examples of medical conditions to notify your doctor about include the following.
- Diabetic retinopathy (changes in vision)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (excess ketones in blood)
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (thyroid cancer)
- Type 1 diabetes
How Long Can Ozempic Side Effects Last?
The most common side effects of Ozempic, such as nausea and constipation, will lessen after a few days. However, some can last for weeks or even months. For most patients, Ozempic side effects will lessen in severity over time. If you experience mild Ozempic side effects for longer than a few weeks, or if they worsen, talk to your doctor about modifying your treatment.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Ozempic?
Ozempic can have many serious long-term side effects, including:
- Thyroid cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
- Gallbladder problems
- Hypoglycemia
- Worsening kidney disease
- Decreased liver function
- Hair loss
If you experience any of the above long-term effects, contact our Houston personal injury attorneys. You may be able to file a claim against the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, for compensation.
How Does Ozempic Cause Stomach Paralysis?
Ozempic has been known to cause serious gastrointestinal injuries like gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis. Ozempic slows digestion. But, if it slows the digestive process too much, it can cause the stomach to completely stop digesting food. Stomach paralysis causes severe and painful symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive vomiting
- Acid reflux
- Malnutrition
- Severe weight loss
What to Do If You Suffer Gastrointestinal Injuries on Ozempic
Gastroparesis requires surgery to resolve, which can cause serious physical, emotional, and financial stress on a person. When drug manufacturers cause severe pharmaceutical injuries like gastroparesis, they should be held accountable and financially responsible for failing to test their drugs properly.
If you or a loved one has suffered from severe gastrointestinal injuries as a result of taking Ozempic, contact a personal injury law firm that specializes in litigation against pharmaceutical companies, like Reich & Binstock. We can help you file a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and ensure you receive financial compensation for your losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Contact an Ozempic Lawyer at Reich & Binstock
When popular medications cause patients to suffer from serious, life-threatening medications, the negligent drug manufacturers must be held responsible for their actions. If you have suffered from injuries from taking Ozempic, the legal professionals at Reich & Binstock have the experience necessary to help you seek justice.
At Reich & Binstock, we strive to treat every injury case with the care and compassion it deserves. Additionally, we have helped our Houston clients file claims against major pharmaceutical companies, such as Gilead Sciences and Sanofi. So, you can rest assured that your claim is in capable hands.
Call our law firm at (713) 622-7271 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our team.
