Description

1. What Ozempic is and what it is used for
Ozempic contains the active substance semaglutide. It helps your body reduce your blood sugar level
only when blood sugar is too high and can help prevent heart disease.
Ozempic is used:
• on its own – if your blood sugar is not controlled well enough by diet and exercise alone, and
you cannot use metformin (another diabetes medicine) or
• with other medicines for diabetes – when they are not enough to control your blood sugar levels.
These other medicines may include: oral antidiabetics (such as metformin, thiazolidinediones,
sulfonylureas, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor) or insulin.
It is important that you continue with your diet and exercise plan as told by your doctor, pharmacist or
nurse.
2. What you need to know before you use Ozempic
Do not use Ozempic
• if you are allergic to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in
section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using this medicine.
This medicine is not an insulin and should not be used if:
• you have type 1 diabetes – a condition where your body does not produce any insulin
• you develop diabetic ketoacidosis – a complication of diabetes with high blood sugar, breathing
difficulty, confusion, excessive thirst, a sweet smell to the breath or a sweet or metallic taste in
the mouth.
Ozempic® is not an insulin and should therefore not be used as a substitute for insulin.
Effects on the digestive system
During treatment with this medicine, you may feel sick (nausea) or be sick (vomiting), or have
diarrhoea. These side effects can cause dehydration (loss of fluids). It is important that you drink
plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. This is especially important if you have kidney problems. Talk
to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, as it is not known if it may affect your unborn
child. Therefore, it is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you wish to
become pregnant, you should stop using this medicine at least two months in advance. If you become
pregnant when using this medicine, talk to your doctor right away, as your treatment will need to be
changed.
Do not use this medicine if you are breast-feeding, as it is unknown if it passes into breast milk.
Driving and using machines
Ozempic is unlikely to affect your ability to drive and use machines. If you use this medicine in
combination with a sulphonylurea or insulin, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) may occur which may
reduce your ability to concentrate. Avoid driving or using machines if you get any signs of low blood
sugar. See section 2, ‘Warnings and precautions’ for information on increased risk of low blood sugar
and section 4 for the warning signs of low blood sugar. Talk to your doctor for further information.
Sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-
free’.
3. How to use Ozempic
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or
nurse if you are not sure.
How much to use
• The starting dose is 0.25 mg once a week for four weeks.
• After four weeks your doctor will increase your dose to 0.5 mg once a week.
• Your doctor may increase your dose to 1 mg once a week if your blood sugar is not controlled
well enough with a dose of 0.5 mg once a week.
• Your doctor may increase your dose to 2 mg once a week if your blood sugar is not controlled
well enough with a dose of 1 mg once a week.
Do not change your dose unless your doctor has told you to.
How Ozempic is given
Ozempic is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Do not inject it into a vein
or muscle.
• The best places to give the injection are the front of your thighs, the front of your waist
(abdomen), or your upper arm.
• Before you use the pen for the first time, your doctor or nurse will show you how to use it.
Detailed instructions for use are on the other side of this leaflet.