Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection is available in 3 multiuse pens for more A1C control1
The Ozempic® injection is supplied as a clear, colorless solution in a prefilled, disposable, single-patient-use pen in the following packaging configurations:
Thinnest once-weekly GLP-1 RA needle (32G, 4 mm) included with each pen1
Red label
Pen that delivers doses of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg
INCLUDES
x6
- Contains 2 mg of Ozempic®
- Delivers only the starting dose of 0.25 mg and a maintenance dose of 0.5 mg
Blue label
Pen that delivers doses of 1 mg
INCLUDES
x4
- Contains 4 mg of Ozempic®
- Delivers only the maintenance dose of 1 mg
Yellow label
Pen that delivers doses of 2 mg
INCLUDES
x4
- Contains 8 mg of Ozempic®
- Delivers only the maximum maintenance dose of 2 mg
Steps to deliver your dose1
No matter if a patient is initiating, maintaining, or escalating their Ozempic® dose, inform them to follow these steps for proper administration. Instruct your patients to use a new needle for each injection and to never share pens to avoid contamination or infection.
1Prepare
- Wash hands with soap and water
- Check the name and colored label on the pen and ensure the Ozempic® medicine is clear and colorless
- Take a new needle and push onto the pen and turn to tighten
- Always use a new needle with each injection. Instruct patients to never reuse or share needles with other people. Never use a bent or damaged needle
2Select
- For first-time use with each new pen, check the flow by turning the selector until the dose counter shows the flow-check symbol () then press and hold the dose button until a drop appears at the needle tip
- Only check the Ozempic® flow on the first-time use of each new pen
- Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops and shows the correct prescribed dose
3Inject
- Insert the needle into the skin and make sure you can see the dose counter
- Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0, and continue pressing the dose button while keeping the needle in the skin
- Count 6 seconds while keeping the dose button pressed. If the needle is removed earlier, a stream of OZEMPIC® may come from the needle tip. If this happens, the full dose will not be delivered
- After injection, carefully remove the needle and dispose of it properly, then put the cap back on the pen and store properly
Using the pen
Ozempic® is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm (NOT into a muscle or vein). Patients should change (rotate) the injection site with each injection and not use the same site for each injection. Tell your patients to choose the injection site and wipe the skin with an alcohol swab and to let the injection site dry before they inject their dose.
PDF
Ozempic® Dosing Brochure
Detailed dosing and other information for each Ozempic® pen, including escalation schema, EHR information, and savings offers.
Ozempic® Pen Instructions for Use
An overview for patients on how to use the Ozempic® Pen, this easy-to-follow video illustrates how they can administer Ozempic®. You may also view illustrated step-by-step instructions.
Learn how to dose and prescribe Ozempic®
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Important Safety Information for Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection
WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS
- In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether Ozempic® causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.
- Ozempic® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of Ozempic® and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (eg, a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with Ozempic®.
Indications and Limitations of Use
Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established CV disease.
- Ozempic® has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Consider other antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis.
- Ozempic® is not indicated for use in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Important Safety Information cont.
Contraindications
- Ozempic® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2, and in patients with a hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any of the excipients in Ozempic®. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with Ozempic®.
Warnings and Precautions
- Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors: Patients should be referred to an endocrinologist for further evaluation if serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated or thyroid nodules are noted on physical examination or neck imaging.
- Pancreatitis: Acute and chronic pancreatitis have been reported in clinical studies. Observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back with or without vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue Ozempic® promptly, and if pancreatitis is confirmed, do not restart.
- Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: In a 2-year trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, more events of diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with Ozempic® (3.0%) compared with placebo (1.8%). The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy.
Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy. The effect of long-term glycemic control with semaglutide on diabetic retinopathy complications has not been studied. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy. - Never Share an Ozempic® Pen Between Patients: Ozempic® pens must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed. Pen-sharing poses a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
- Hypoglycemia: Patients receiving Ozempic® in combination with an insulin secretagogue (eg, sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Inform patients using these concomitant medications of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- Acute Kidney Injury: There have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure, which may sometimes require hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Some of these events have been reported in patients without known underlying renal disease. A majority of the reported events occurred in patients who had experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration. Monitor renal function when initiating or escalating doses of Ozempic® in patients reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions.
- Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylaxis, angioedema) have been reported in patients treated with Ozempic®. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue use of Ozempic®; treat promptly per standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. Use caution in a patient with a history of angioedema or anaphylaxis with another GLP-1 receptor agonist.
- Acute Gallbladder Disease: Acute events of gallbladder disease such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis have been reported in GLP-1 receptor agonist trials and postmarketing. In placebo-controlled trials, cholelithiasis was reported in 1.5% and 0.4% of patients treated with Ozempic® 0.5 mg and 1 mg, respectively, and not reported in placebo-treated patients. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated.
Adverse Reactions
- The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with Ozempic® are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.
Drug Interactions
- When initiating Ozempic®, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin secretagogue (such as sulfonylureas) or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.
- Ozempic® causes a delay of gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications, so caution should be exercised.
Use in Specific Populations
- There are limited data with semaglutide use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for adverse developmental outcomes. Discontinue Ozempic® in women at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy due to the long washout period for semaglutide.
Please click here for Ozempic® Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.
Reference:
- Ozempic® [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc.