If you've recently started Ozempic (semaglutide) or are considering it for weight loss or treating type 2 diabetes, you might be wondering: How long does it take for Ozempic to work? It's a common question, and understanding the timeline can help you manage your expectations and track your progress effectively.
What is Ozempic (Semaglutide)?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly subcutaneous injectable medication that helps manage blood glucose levels and reduces heart disease and stroke risk. Ozempic (semaglutide) is one of the most popular prescription drugs for treating Type 2 diabetes on the market. It was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 to manage blood sugar for people with Type 2 diabetes. Since then, it has also been approved for two additional uses: to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease and to lower the risk of worsening kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drug Ozempic received FDA approval for use in adults with type 2 diabetes in late 2017.
Ozempic vs. Wegovy: What's the Difference?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for semaglutide and injectables. But they’re not exactly the same. “Wegovy is FDA-approved for the treatment of overweight and obesity,” Kumar says. “Wegovy contains a higher dose of semaglutide, [2.4 mg], than Ozempic and was developed specifically for the treatment of overweight and obesity.”
The active ingredient, semaglutide, is approved for weight loss under the trade name Wegovy,” Seltzer says. In October 2022, Elon Musk tweeted that Wegovy helped him lose weight.
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How Does Ozempic Work?
Ozempic is a drug that helps stabilize blood sugar levels and control hunger. It does this by slowing down the digestive process and promoting insulin production. Semaglutide is a medication that belongs to the GLP-1 agonist class and is designed to mimic the body’s natural GLP-1 hormone. The medication works by regulating blood sugar levels in the body, preventing sugar release into the bloodstream, and delaying stomach emptying. Ozempic mimics a hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), that helps decrease your appetite and slows gastric emptying, or the rate at which food leaves the stomach.
Semaglutide works by activating GLP-1 receptors, which help reduce appetite and slow stomach emptying. These effects help control hunger, leading to fewer cravings and smaller portion sizes. Over time, the reduction in appetite helps you maintain a calorie deficit, which is essential for weight loss.
The Timeline for Weight Loss with Ozempic
The timeline for experiencing the effects of semaglutide, also known as Wegovy or Ozempic (they are the same medicine), can vary from person to person and is influenced by several factors. Typically, it takes several weeks before significant weight loss is observed. This is because semaglutide is introduced gradually, starting with a low dose that is increased over time to minimize side effects.
Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. It may take four to eight weeks for the full effects of Ozempic to kick in, or sometimes longer.
When starting Ozempic, most patients begin with a lower dose, typically 0.5 mg per week injections, to allow their bodies to adjust. The dose is gradually increased over time to reach the maintenance dose, which helps achieve long-term results.
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Initial Weeks: Getting Started
In your first month, you’ll start on a low dose of 0.25 mg while your body gets used to the medication. During this period, you may not experience any noticeable changes in your glucose levels. This is perfectly normal. The medication needs time to reach a steady level in your system. You might not even see full effectiveness until you titrate up to the maximum dose of 2 mg.
In the initial weeks, weight loss may be slow. However, many people start to notice a decrease in hunger and cravings. Semaglutide works gradually, so you may not see significant weight loss immediately, but you will feel less inclined to overeat.
Weeks 4-8: Noticing Changes
By weeks 4 to 8, many individuals lose 5-10 pounds. Appetite suppression continues to help control calorie intake, and you may begin to notice steady weight loss.
Weeks 8-16: More Significant Weight Loss
Between weeks 8 and 16, you can expect more significant weight loss, typically 10-15 pounds or more. As hunger continues to be suppressed, weight loss tends to become more consistent.
Beyond 16 Weeks: Maintenance
By week 16, you may have lost 15-20 pounds or more, depending on your starting weight. The maintenance phase begins, and your semaglutide dosage may be adjusted to help maintain your weight loss.
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Most people start seeing noticeable weight loss within three to four months, with the best results achieved over six months to a year.
Factors Influencing How Quickly Ozempic Works
Several factors can influence how quickly and effectively Ozempic works for weight loss:
- Dosage: Part of this is that people do not begin taking all 2.4 mg of Wegovy at once. Instead, they start at a dose of 0.25 mg per week and increase every four weeks, maxing out at 2.4 mg. The dose is gradually raised every four weeks to lessen the likelihood of side effects. It’s essential to follow your healthcare provider’s dosing instructions to decrease side effect risks.
- Individual Response: Experts share that the answer to this question will vary from person to person.
- Lifestyle Changes: To maximize the effectiveness of semaglutide, you should plan to make gradual lifestyle changes that will help you maintain your results long-term. Lifestyle tweaks like diet and exercise are often recommended as first-line treatments, but they do not work for everyone. While Ozempic (semaglutide) can be a valuable tool for achieving weight loss goals, it is vital to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits alongside its use.
The Importance of a Holistic Approach
First, Fitch notes that any treatment for obesity should be non-judgmental and lean into shared decision-making. “Obesity is a lifelong chronic disease for most people and should be treated in a compassionate and comprehensive patient-centered way, such as shared decision making around taking medication or having surgery with the risks and benefits in mind,” Fitch says.
Long-term care is essential. “Since obesity is a chronic disease, you must treat it chronically, ongoing in a coordinated comprehensive way,” Fitch says. “Patients must work with their doctor for a holistic approach to metabolic health, weight management, and primary care.”
Combining Ozempic with Lifestyle Changes
Semaglutide can be an effective tool in your weight loss journey when used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle.
Therefore, rather than thinking of Ozempic or Wegovy as a weight loss “cure”, it should be approached as an add-on to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical exercise. When used in such a manner Ozempic or Wegovy can have excellent long-term results.
Potential Side Effects
Like any medication, Ozempic comes with potential side effects. Ozempic is generally considered safe in doses up to 2 mg. for adults with type 2 diabetes, but experts share that some people should not take it. “It should be avoided in many populations, including but not limited to people with a history of pancreatitis, people who have had medullary thyroid cancer or who are at increased risk for medullary thyroid cancer,” Seltzer says.
Fitch says common ones include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
Maintaining Weight Loss After Ozempic
Discontinuing semaglutide may lead to a reversal of the weight loss achieved while on the medication. Without the appetite-suppressing effects of Ozempic, individuals may experience an increase in hunger and a return to previous eating habits, potentially resulting in weight regain. Additionally, abruptly stopping semaglutide without medical supervision can have implications for blood sugar control in individuals with diabetes.
A trial of nearly 2,000 people published in 2022 indicated that people who stopped taking 2.4 mg doses of semaglutide had regained two-thirds of the weight they had lost one year after cessation. “Once the drug is stopped or loses its effectiveness, the same issues that got the people into trouble in the first place will still be there, and the weight will come right back on,” Seltzer says.
Fitch agrees, “Whatever you do as a person to help with weight loss, you have to keep doing, or the weight will come back,” Fitch says. “This is the way the human body is engineered. It is built to protect its weight at all costs.”
Long-Term Use and Maintenance
Kumar says semaglutide is safe for long-term use, and Fitch says continuing to take it may help a person maintain weight loss. “You have to continue the medication you take if it has helped you to lose weight, just like you continue cholesterol medication once your cholesterol is lower. If you stop it, your cholesterol goes back up,” Fitch says.
If Ozempic works for you, your healthcare provider may indefinitely keep you on a maintenance dose. Consistent, weekly injections will positively affect your weight, keep your blood sugar controlled, and reduce your risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Who Should Consider Ozempic?
Semaglutide is suitable for individuals who are looking to lose weight and can commit to the treatment plan. It is not recommended for people with certain health conditions, such as a history of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, or other severe medical issues.
Your doctor can help you determine if you are a good candidate for Ozempic.
The Risks of Off-Label Use
“People are talking about them because there is a trend of celebrities and influencers increasingly turning to off-label use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic for weight loss by people who are not obese or diabetic,” says Dr. Rekha Kumar, a New York City-based endocrinologist and head of medical affairs at the weight care program Found. Kumar says this is particularly problematic. “The trend of medispas, boutique weight loss practices, and illegitimate telehealth businesses liberally prescribing to people who don’t meet criteria is not only irresponsible prescribing but could interfere with getting the medication to those who need it the most,” Kumar says.
Kumar notes that, despite what some celebrities and social media influencers may claim, these drugs are not meant for people looking to lose a couple of pounds. “Normal-weight patients without diabetes might lose weight if they take GLP-1s, but the risks of the medication outweigh the benefit of weight loss just to be thin versus treating a disease,” Kumar says. “GLP-1s have not been studied in this population, and we will likely see more side effects with this type of inappropriate use.” Experts share that people who are not diabetic or obese should not use Wegovy or Ozempic for any reason, including to lose small amounts of weight.